I was at a fishing/hunting/boating show this past weekend.  Was looking at the prices of a new outboard and that prompted me to think about better maintaining my own motor.  One representative from a Marina said I should have my outboard serviced every year.  But what if I use my outboard only once in awhile?   Shouldn't servicing an engine be based more on a actual hours of use rather than on the calendar?

How often, in terms of HOURS used should an outboard be serviced?

After each Outing I pull the plugs and clean them and give my motor a good going over just to keep it going another 40 or so years

I run older outboards and i tend to service my outboards more than i service my truck/car.  As far as basing more on a actual hours of use rather than on the calendar year to me this is just good preventive maintaince.

(spell wrong)

I guess it depends on the motor you have.  I have an 83' Evinrude 15hp and it is pretty easy to work on with the manual.  Even if you don't know a thing about motors its not that hard to learn.  Get your self a manual so that you can understand your motor better.  I'm not sure what is involved with servicing, but simply checking and/or change spark plugs once a year, check your wiring make sure it is not corroding, check and/or change oil, clean the motor at least once a year.   These are a few simple maintenance items that can help the longevity of your motor.  Then in the winter, if you live where it is cold you and can't use it, make sure you put fuel stabilizer in you tanks and run your motor for a while so that it can cycle through.  In some cases people recommend running your motor empty for storage, yes this works, but on occasions, I found that you can't always get all of the gas out of the carb and they sometimes get gummed up.  This is why I run a stabilizer in my tank and run the motor so that it cycles through.

Best of Luck and hope your motor lasts a long time!  

Thanks for your feedback.

I hear that the washers on the lower unit screws should be changed in addition to the oil.  Are they difficult to find (purchase)?  Are they a standard size or will I have to find them for my specific model of Evinrude?

I take my motor to Jerry Cooper in Ashland, Virginia each year to have it checked and winterized.

This year this is what Jerry found and did to the motor, boat and trailer:

1.  Checked motor's compression.

2.  Replaced the spark plugs.

3.  Replaced water pump.

4.  Load tested all three batteries.

5.  Replaced water pump drain.

6.  Replaced lower gear lube.

7.  Greased engine where needed.

8.  Replaced right trailer light.

9.  Fixed winch strap hook that #1 son broke.

10. Tightened carburator as it was ready to fall off.

11. Adjusted idle speed.

12. Replaced trailer tires.

13. Greased trailer tire bearings.

14. Replaced trim tab that fell off in the Pamunkey River.

15. Flushed cooling system.

16. Fogged engine for winter.

17. Checked bilge pump operation.

18. Checked all boat lights and gauges.

19. Oiled trailer winch, coupler and jack.

20. Sold me the prop nut kit to use to replace the motor's prop should I have to do so while on the water.

The most important thing he did was service my outboard which I have done every year.  I do not want any motor problesm on the water.

Please check the compression; idle speed; water pump; spark plugs; and that all nuts and bolts are tight.

And use only marine spark plugs.  A friend used auto spark plugs and burned up his motor.

Always be sure you have oil in the motor. Jerry told me that he has had a few guys bring their motors in after they forgot to put oil in the motor before going out.

Have fun!