Correct terminology .... "Motor" or "Engine"?

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Correct terminology .... "Motor" or "Engine"?

A couple on here have implied or stated that only electric motors are motors. Not all motors are electric motors, though. There are hydraulic motors that make things go, like skid steers. They are supplied their hydralic fluid by a pump that is driven off an engine! Nothing confusing there, right?!

Steam motor or steam engine..So a water turbine is an electric motor? No it's a generater? Dang..what about the donkey that goes in circles attached to the big stone wheel that crushes corn? A donkey engine, no wait thats mule power...not horsepower....Oh dang..what about the water wheels that turned the old saw blades down at the mill...Speaking of Mill..Wind mills are motors too????

Man it is a slow day..I'm gonna go work on me boat

 

[lowkee]

Re: Correct terminology .... "Motor" or "Engine"?

I disagree with all of you! Even the ones that agree!

Man it is a slow day..I'm gonna go work on me boat

That's what I'm trying to avoid by posting in this nonsense thread

 

[QC]

Re: Correct terminology .... "Motor" or "Engine"?

A water turbine is not a generator . . . It is a motor (driven by water) that drives a generator. For an example look at my Avatar

 

[mattpyle]

Re: Correct terminology .... "Motor" or "Engine"?

According to the dictionary a motor is an electrical device converting electrical energy into motion. An engine is most all other devices described here. I was a mechanic for an entire career and thats how it was described.
Bill

So...I totally agree with that. But, just to make things more confusing why are motorcycles called MOTOR-cycles? Their engine (or whatever you want to call it) is the same as an I/O, or a car engine. It's certainly not driven by electricity.

 

[Viking...]

Re: Correct terminology .... "Motor" or "Engine"?

...and let us not forget.

The rules that govern many of our gasoline engine powered vehicles, are under the jurisdiction of the Motor Vehicle Act.
First and foremost, the laws are said to apply to "Motorized and motor-assisted vehicles..."

BTW, it's raining like mad here, and I don't have a garage to work on my boat

 

[mike64]

Re: Correct terminology .... "Motor" or "Engine"?

According to Webster's online, the definition of motor includes gasoline engine. There, THAT should clear it up !
--------
mo?tor
Pronunciation:
\ˈmō-tər\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
Latin, from movēre to move
Date:
1586
1: one that imparts motion ; specifically : prime mover
2: any of various power units that develop energy or impart motion: as a: a small compact engine b: internal combustion engine ; especially : a gasoline engine c: a rotating machine that transforms electrical energy into mechanical energy
3: motor vehicle ; especially : automobile

 

[QC]

Re: Correct terminology .... "Motor" or "Engine"?

I can honestly say I do not know one engineer or technician named Webster . . .

 

[highN'dry]

Re: Correct terminology .... "Motor" or "Engine"?

The generic and common usage of words is often quite different from the accepted engineering or scientific use and origin of those words. Outboard motor is a generic or common usage and is technically incorrect, it is an engine, internally combusted and self contained.

 

[QC]

Re: Correct terminology .... "Motor" or "Engine"?

Great!!! You decide to decloak after three years to apply common sense to a perfectly nonsensical thread? Great, just flippin' great

 

[lowkee]

Re: Correct terminology .... "Motor" or "Engine"?

Well this should end the discussion.. My wife, the admiral, says: "That's easy! Motors are little, engines are big."

 

[Viking...]

Re: Correct terminology .... "Motor" or "Engine"?

Well this should end the discussion.. My wife, the admiral, says: "That's easy! Motors are little, engines are big."

I have a very quotable and witty Irish friend.
I'm sure he would read this and say:

That's just fookin' brilliant.
Should have asked her two pages ago.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Correct terminology .... "Motor" or "Engine"?

I can settle this argument.

All those in favor of calling it a motor send me $100

All those in favor of the word engine send me $100

For those who Don't Care send me $100

Let's see iboats has approximately 168,891 members and if we can get enough votes from at least 1/2 of those members that will equal about 84,445 votes ...... once I have accumulated half the votes a firm determination will be made and announced.

Remember to mark your envelope with Motor or Engine on the outside..... for those of us who do not care...... you too can participate and enclose $100 but mark the envelope Don't Care.

I will gladly contribute a portion of the proceeds to the Widows and Orphans of Motors and Engines Fund!!

Start Voting!!

 

[TJDave]

Re: Correct terminology .... "Motor" or "Engine"?

What is the meaning of "correct" in this day and age.

I call outboards motors because that's the way everybody says it. My wife used to call our old Evinrude outboard: The "Robot" from the old Lost in Space tv shows.

I call my Mercruiser: "Start Dammit!"

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Correct terminology .... "Motor" or "Engine"?

Says right on the sides of most gas pumps "For use as a motor fuel only"

 

[tmh]

Re: Correct terminology .... "Motor" or "Engine"?

Well....when I started this thread I had expected a few replys, but not many - boy was i wrong.

Can i change my original question? What i really want to know is what is the accepted terminology among boat people or better yet boat mechanics? Do they call outboards "motors' and inboard engines "engines"? Do they use both or either or whatever? Is there ANY accepted terminology in the boating world or does either pass?

 

[QC]

Re: Correct terminology .... "Motor" or "Engine"?

Honestly, I think that either passes. Heck the NASCAR boys say "'the motor done blowed up" . . . but they also say, "done blowed up", so why I use them as a reference is beyond me . . .

 

[eddienyr]

Re: Correct terminology .... "Motor" or "Engine"?

the engine gets its power internally.
the motor gets its power externally.

 

[Marty Niner]

Re: Correct terminology .... "Motor" or "Engine"?

Never mind what is correct, "outboard engine" just doesn't sound correct...

 

[jonesg]

Re: Correct terminology .... "Motor" or "Engine"?

OK, this has bugged me for a while so let's see what the rest think is the correct term for an engine/motor. I heard some time many years ago that en "engine" creates it's own power (from gas, diesel, etc.) and a "motor" runs off power such as electricity. I have no idea if that's a correct differenciation or not OR if it applies to the marine stuff.

So, which is it? Is a 350 chevy in a boat an "engine" or a "motor"? What about an outboard? What do the pros call them (marine mechanics, etc.)? I see both used all the time, but I prefer to use the correct terms when talking to someone about my boat.

electric motor

internal combustion engine.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Correct terminology .... "Motor" or "Engine"?

Well....when I started this thread I had expected a few replys, but not many - boy was i wrong.

?

If you want to see no replies just post "can someone come help me rip my stringers out".