While you’re out on the water in already precarious conditions, there’s nothing worse than a sudden loss of power or stubborn motor.

There are a few common issues with easy fixes that can have you up and running quickly. In worst case scenarios, you may be stranded and have to manually find your way to shore.

Emergency Repair Kit

• Multi-Tool with pliers, knife, flathead, and Phillips screwdriver heads
• Extra Hose Clamps
• Duct and Electrical Tape

Safety Equipment You Should Already Carry

• Flares
• Life jackets
• Emergency signal
• Oars

First Steps

When you lose power, hit a snag, or run into any sudden issue, kill the motor. Just turn everything off and take in your surroundings for a second. Look for any danger, currents, and obstacles and deal with those immediately. You may need to row to a safe spot before diagnosing and fixing the motor. If you are floating on calm, open water, still kill the motor before diagnosing the situation.

Pull the cowling off the motor. This is the hood piece that is usually secured by a simple latch. Check your plug caps. A loose cap will cause a loss of propulsion but the motor will often sound fine. Re-secure any loose or disconnected plug caps to restore full functionality. Never do this with the motor running unless you enjoy electrical shocks.

Check the Prop

Your boat is either driven by a propellor or thrust from jets. Props are great but they can collect debris, tangle on fishing lines, and jam from foreign objects. Damage and dents will also have a negative impact on performance. Pull the motor up and closely inspect for foreign objects and damage. Use the knife and pliers on your multi-tool to remove any obstructions. Minor dents can be worked straight with your pliers as well.

Fuel Delivery

Sputtering, coughing and idle issues are often symptoms of a bad fuel delivery system. Check your fuel hose for damage, kinks, and loose connections. Dry rot will create holes, and kinks obstruct flow. Cover any holes or rot with duct tape as a temporary solution. Straighten the line to avoid kinking and tighten down your existing hose clamps or replace with spare clamps to secure the line on both ends. If this does not solve your issue, the fuel pump may be on it’s way out. Start the motor and pump your bulb repeatedly to continually deliver fuel and sputter back to the dock.

Battery-Powered Motors

Electric motors suffer the same prop issues but diagnosing power failure is limited to the battery and electrical system. Disconnect the battery and clean the posts to create a clean connection. In the field, scraping the posts with a knife blade is convenient. Check your wires for breaks and cover with electrical tape until you can make a proper splice. Otherwise, consider rowing to shore and doing a full inspection on the electrical system off the water.