After the skier is up, settle in at your cruising speed and head for open water. When making a turn, begin by angling the boat slightly to one side, then bringing it back around in a circle to the other side. Be sure to maintain your speed throughout the turn, as the boat will naturally slow down. Once the circle is complete, straighten your boat out so you are going the opposite direction from which you came. Tomorrow we’ll go over the protocol for when the skier goes down and cover some general safety tips.

Start by dropping someone off at the dock to go get the vehicle; I recommend leaving the most experienced boater at the helm. Once you drop the person off, cruise around the no wake zone until they return with the car and trailer. After they’ve backed the trailer into the water, approach it head-on with the boat. Here is where most people go wrong; they cut the engine too soon, meaning the boat has to be guided by hand onto the trailer. Instead, coast in slowly and cut the engine after you have some momentum built up. Have the driver waiting at the trailer to quickly secure the boat. Before you leave the ramp, make sure your skis, flags, Yamaha 2W oil and other supplies are tied down and secure.

If it’s your first time launching your boat (and even if you’ve done it hundreds of times), it’s a good idea to have someone get out and help guide you into the water. It doesn’t matter if the tires of the trailer get in the water, but you’ll want to avoid submerging the wheel hubs, which can lead to rust and corrosion. Once the boat can float, undo all of the ties and cables attaching it to the trailer and secure it to the dock. That probably seemed easy, so tomorrow we’ll go over the more difficult task: getting the boat back on the trailer.  Make sure you have all your essentials in the boat, life jackets, drinking water, cell phone and extra outboard motor oil.

Begin by examining for signs of exterior damage; mismatched paint is often an indication of significant bodywork in the past. Check the upholstery, seals around windows and the entire hull thoroughly. Although you may not have an acute knowledge of marine engines, there are a few quick tricks that will give you an indication of how well the previous owner maintained the craft. Examine the oil and transmission fluid, testing for grit content, color and smell—if these fluids are in bad condition, chances are the boat wasn’t well-maintained. Also ensure the previous owner used premium products, such as Yamalube 2M oil.

Open the engine cover and check to see if there is any leakage. Lubricate all of the moving parts in the engine, including the shift and carb valves. And if your have a four-stroke engine, don’t forget to change your Yamalube 2S oil.

To receive TC-W3 certification, every two-cycle oil must pass several bench tests, which include checks for viscosity, lubricity and fluidity, among others. Ring sticking and carbon buildup on the pistons are both checked for as well. Tomorrow we will look at the various engines that are used to test the oils and take a closer look at what it takes for an oil to be approved.

When removing the oil, you will need a closeable receptacle to collect the fluid in. Look for a container that has a small opening for the hose and a sufficient volume—a milk jug is ideal. Remember, you can’t simply through away your used oil. It is important to take it to the marina or a service station that can recycle or dispose of the oil properly.

~Air Filter: the ATV needs to bring in air to mix with the fuel and Yamalube oil, and if the filter is dirty, it impedes the process.

~Exhaust: the motor also needs to release air, so make sure that the exhaust pipe is clear.

~Spark: there are several reasons why the motor might not be generating a spark when your try to start it, including the spark plugs, wires, pulse generator and the reverse or ignition switches.

~Compression: worn cylinders, rings, valves and gaskets could be keeping the compression too low.

~Carburetor: the carburetor is a critical component to any engine, maintaining the ratio of fuel, oil and water; refer to last week’s post for maintenance tips.

In the next few days, I hope to be able to do all of my preseason ATV checks. If you’ve never done this before, it is fairly simple. You’ll want to thoroughly inspect your vehicle for any cracked or loose fittings, and be sure to top off the Yamalube 2w oil and other essential fluids.

The other main spec to take into consideration is the shaft length. On outboard motors, this measurement is customized to fit 15, 20 or 25-inch transoms (the stern of the watercraft). When the shaft length is too long, there will be drag, while if the shaft is too short, it could lead to ventilation or potentially the overheating of the engine.