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Lots of things can ruin engines. Some that have come into the shop have been burned in fires, some have been sunk or drowned with rain (be sure to take the plug out of the boat when you store it) - a lot of things can happen. Some motors just die of old age. There isn't a lot I can do as a mechanic to stop those things from happening. I have seen a lot of motors , though, that could have been prevented from being destroyed.
Things that ruin a motor which can be prevented are over heating, carbon and deposit buildup (mainly outboards), running the motor in the wrong RPM range, using poor quality (or wrong) products (gas, oil, etc) and neglect.
Things you can do to make your motor last are use the right oil (in the right amount with outboards), be sure the gas is good and it is fresh, make sure the boat is correctly propped and not operated above it's RPM range, don't let the motor over heat (and if it does over heat don't keep running it)and keep maintenance in.
A basic understanding of what the boat needs is a good starting point. Add to that a couple of gauges to monitor engine conditions and round things out with spending some time caring for the boat (and an occasional trip to the boat shop for some basics). This makes a good formula for long engine life.
If this all sounds a bit simple that's because it is. Things you've probably heard many times over. But it's the only magic you'll need to know to give your boat a fighting chance.
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