This page explains what Small Boat Wrench is and what it is not. Read it before you put a wrench on anything, the same way you would read the safety page in a service manual before you pull the cowling.

The short version: everything here is general information for do-it-yourself boat owners in the United States. It is not a substitute for the owner's or service manual for your exact model and serial range, and it is not professional advice of any kind.

This disclaimer is a general template for the site. It is not legal advice, and if you need legal advice you should talk to a licensed attorney.

Informational content, not a service manual

Every guide, checklist and troubleshooting article on Small Boat Wrench is published for general informational purposes. We write about common jobs on outboards from 2.5 to 150 horsepower, trolling motors and pontoons, based on common practice and manufacturer documentation.

What we publish is not the owner's or service manual for your engine. Two engines that look identical on the outside can differ by serial range, model year or market version, and the correct torque value, spark plug gap or gear oil capacity can differ with them.

Always confirm spec values in the owner's or service manual for your exact model and serial range before you start. If our wording and your manual disagree, the manual wins.

Independent publisher

Small Boat Wrench is an independent publisher. We are not a dealer, a manufacturer or a marine repair shop, and we have no affiliation with Mercury, Yamaha, Suzuki, Evinrude, Johnson, Tohatsu, Honda or any other engine or boat brand.

Brand names, model names and engine family names appear on this site only to identify which engine a guide applies to. That identification does not imply endorsement by, or partnership with, the manufacturer.

No guarantee of completeness

We work to keep every guide accurate and current, but we do not guarantee that any article is complete, error-free or up to date at the moment you read it.

Manufacturers revise service procedures, issue service bulletins and change part numbers. An older guide may describe a superseded procedure, and a job on your exact engine may involve a step we did not cover.

Use each guide as a starting point alongside your manual, not as the final word.

Work at your own risk

Working on an outboard involves rotating parts, gasoline, electricity, hot surfaces and heavy components. You are responsible for your own safety and for judging whether a job is within your skill and your tools.

Some jobs belong with a certified marine tech. Fuel system work on EFI engines, internal lower unit repairs and anything covered by an active warranty are common examples, and we say so in the guides where it applies.

When a guide tells you to stop and call a professional, that is not filler. Take the advice.

Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Small Boat Wrench and its contributors are not liable for any injury, damage or loss that results from the use of, or reliance on, the content of this site.

That includes damage to your engine, boat or other property, personal injury, lost time on the water and any costs that follow from a repair that did not go as planned.

By using this site you accept that any maintenance or repair you perform is at your own risk. If you do not accept that, do not use the guides.

Some pages link to third-party websites, such as parts catalogs, manufacturer owner portals, government resources or retailers. We link to them because they are useful for the job at hand.

We do not control those sites and are not responsible for their content, their accuracy or their privacy practices. A link is a pointer, not an endorsement.

Check the terms and privacy policy of any site you visit before you enter personal information or make a purchase.

Intellectual property

The text, structure and original photography on Small Boat Wrench are protected by copyright. You may read and print pages for your own personal use in your garage or at your slip.

You may not copy, republish, scrape or redistribute our content, in whole or in part, for any commercial purpose without written permission. Short quotes with a clear credit and a link back to the original page are fine.

Trademarks mentioned on this site, including Mercury, Yamaha, Suzuki, Evinrude, Johnson, Tohatsu and Honda, belong to their respective owners. Their use here is nominative and descriptive only.

Changes and questions

We may update this disclaimer as the site grows. The version published here is the version that applies, so check back from time to time if you use the guides regularly.

If something on this page is unclear, contact us through the contact page before you rely on any content. When in doubt, your manual and a certified marine tech outrank anything you read on the internet, including this site.