Motor Locks

Outboard Motor Locks and Lower Unit Locks - Resources & Information

A thief can steal your outboard in minutes. Or, a child can accidentally start your engine, causing severe mechanical damage and serious injury.

PartsVu offers a complete selection of Outboard Motor Locks and Lower Unit Locks from leading boating product suppliers to help you boat with peace of mind. Choose from a variety of lower unit locks and motor locks to protect your boat’s engine from theft, tampering, and unauthorized use.

Need help servicing your outboard engine? PartsVu regularly publishes helpful how-to guides and other valuable maintenance information to help boaters service their outboard engines. Browse our outboard maintenance blog for a wide range of relevant topics and see the FAQ section below, covering everything you need to know about maintaining your boat in confidence. 

Motor Locks FAQ

What should I know about Motor Locks?

Here’s some info you need to know about Motor Locks:

• Choose a quality manufacturer of motor locks that fits your particular make and model of outboard. PartsVu is proud to sell a variety of Panther locks for common outboard makes. What makes a Panther lock so effective is that tamper-resistant bolts and nuts replace your existing lower unit bolt(s) and nut, requiring the unique Tamper Resistant Tool to install and remove. Plus, a high-strength bell washer protects against utilizing any other clamping device to remove the bolt and/or nut, deterring the boldest of thieves. Choose from Panther locks for in single, twin and triple engine configurations, all constructed of marine-grade stainless steel to prevent rust and corrosion.
• An outboard motor locking system is an essential part of keeping your family members safe when your boat is not in operation. While many outboard engines have safety mechanisms built in that prevent unintentional starts, features like push-button ignition can be started by young children. Plus, older outboard motors don’t have the same safety features, which means an outboard motor lock is a must with vintage outboard engine models. 
• In truth, even the best outboard motor locks can be defeated by a determined criminal when time is on their side. However, having layers of security on top of boat motor locks ensures that you have deterrents in place that make your boat and outboard a difficult challenge. Combined with padlocks & cable locks, camera systems, and motion detection lighting, your property can be safeguarded with extra protection from a locking outboard motor when your boat is in storage or docked at the marina.

How do I perform a 100-hour service on my outboard engine?

To ensure proper engine function, it’s always best to service your outboard engine every 100 hours after the initial break-in period (first 10 hours) and after the first maintenance interval (at 20 hours). 

As an example, the following is a Suzuki outboard 100-hour service checklist to help you service your engine properly. Refer to your owner’s manual for your particular engine make and model for an exact list of 100-hour maintenance tasks:

What outboard engine tools should I have onboard?

Even if you don’t do your own maintenance, all boaters need some basic boat tools in their marine tool kits to help them out of a jam. Of course, if you plan to do your own maintenance or a portion of your own maintenance, you’ll need to be a bit better equipped.

So which boat tools should you have onboard? The following are our recommendations and the reasons behind them. Of course, the tools you should have onboard are significantly dictated by the type of boating you do. As a practical matter, a near-shore, freshwater boater needs fewer tools than an off-shore boater. While a problem close to the shore can be an annoyance, a problem off-shore might be a whole different matter.

• Fuel filter wrench—good idea to have on board if you get enough water or debris in your fuel system that a fuel filter change becomes necessary.
• Adjustable band filter wrench—you may need to change your fuel/water separating filter if you have water in your system or if you got some bad gas at the marina. US marinas nearly always sell high-quality filtered gasoline, but marinas in the Bahamas are notorious for selling contaminated gasoline.
• Prop nut wrench—carrying this wrench only makes sense if you carry a spare prop. Many boaters carry a spare inexpensive aluminum prop in case they spin a hub or bend a blade so severely that it wobbles.
• Deck fill key/deck plate key/spanner wrench—these universal tools are designed to open all types and sizes of deck fill lids and shackles. Many of these tools also include bonus tools like bottle openers. Perfect for a cold one after fishing.
• Toolkit—if you have room on your boat, all-purpose toolkits can come in handy. 
• Pliers—channel lock, standard, and needle nose
• Leatherman–a very helpful all-purpose tool.
• Rigging knife
• Serrated knife—for cutting rope, your all-purpose tool might include a serrated blade.
• Flashlight
• Emergency plug set—in case a leak manifests while you are out on the water.
• Battery booster pack
• Battery terminal cleaner
• Zip ties—because we all know that you can fix almost everything with zip ties and duct tape.
• Duct tape

Is winterizing my outboard engine important?

Properly winterizing your outboard engine is the best way to prevent damage during the offseason from both lack of use and cold winter temperatures — depending on where you live. It also helps you with a smooth start to the beginning of next season.

There are seven basic steps to a proper winterization of your outboard engine:

• Thoroughly flush your engine with fresh water
• Stabilize the entire fuel system with fuel stabilizers
• Fog your engine
• Change the spark plugs
• Change the lower unit gear lube
• Disconnect your lead acid batteries
• Cover your engine with a fitted outboard cover
• Secure your outboard with a motor lock

With your engine properly winterized, there shouldn’t be any harmful debris or materials in the engine components that can cause damage over the off-season months. Plus, with new spark plugs, oil, and fluids, your outboard should start up right away when boating season starts in the spring or Summer.

For a more in-depth look at how to winterize your outboard engine, take a look at the following articles from the PartsVu Xchange. 

• Winterizing Mercury Outboard Motor—Mercury Marine Essential Maintenance
• Winterizing Outboard Motor—Yamaha Essential Maintenance
• Boat Winterization in South Texas?
• How to Winterize a MerCruiser Sterndrive

And of course, you can find all the winterization products you need at PartsVu.com to simplify the process!

What other boat safety equipment should I have on hand?

When out on the water, the only items you have are the ones you bring. People often forget about the possibility of minor injuries, but some additional preparedness will have you ready for anything.

• Bring a first aid kit along for all outings. This is especially important when fishing.
• Since the sun reflects off the water, it is wise to consistently apply proper sun protection to make sure you don’t get burned. Sun protective clothing is a smart choice— it provides all-day protection that doesn’t need reapplying. Pro-tip: some sunscreen is toxic for the marine environment and repels fish, who can smell even trace amounts on bait. For any part of your body not covered by UPF clothing, use a sunscreen that’s both reef-safe and fish-friendly.
• While some boats are simply too large for this to be practical, carrying a paddle or two on board is a good idea in many cases. Even if you can’t paddle all the way back to a marina or dock when your engine goes, you may be able to reach the closest bit of land and wait for help. A good anchor with enough chain will also be helpful.
• We’ve written extensively on the importance of a VHF radio, but it simply can’t be overstated. Cell phones aren’t enough in many areas, and you’ll be glad to have the security.
• Be alert to changing conditions on the water and aware of weather that can change quickly. The danger of boating in a storm is no joke!
• Finally, bring plenty of drinking water for everyone on board to stay hydrated. In the face of unexpected problems, you don’t want to be caught stuck on your boat with an insufficient water supply.

Why should boaters follow boat safety regulations?

Boating on various waterways is similar to automobiles out on the roads and highways—safety devices are designed to keep people safe. Thousands of accidents occur, many of which have a high probability of injury and a substantial number of cases resulting in death.

Specifically, in 2020 the Coast Guard counted 5,265 recreational boating accidents resulting in 767 deaths, 3,191 injuries, and approximately $62.5 million of property damage. Where the cause of death was known, 75% of fatal boating accident victims drowned. Of those drowning victims with reported life jacket usage, 86% were not wearing a life jacket.

Since most accidents occur unexpectedly, there may not be sufficient time to put on a life jacket, especially when stowed away in a locker. In cases where a person is thrown overboard, it is harder than you think to get them back on board, which can be assisted with proper equipment. Always be sure personal floatation devices (PFDs) are in good and serviceable condition. For extra protection, equip your PFDs with a whistle and emergency light.