Boating | Outboard Motor Oil - Part 20

Marine Spring Cleaning: Part One

Last week we covered some of the most crucial talking points of boating safety on the water, and this week we’ll be going over some of the most important system checks before leaving the dock this season. We’ll cover the basics like changing your outboard motor oil as well as tips for basic maintenance procedures that can extend the life of your craft.

Begin by inspecting the hull and applying a coat of wax, which will protect the exterior throughout the season. When going over the hull, don’t neglect to check the rub rails, swim platform and the rudder. Also be sure to clean the windows and the metal and wood furnishings. The ground tackle, winches and other miscellaneous fittings and safety equipment should all be examined as well. Now that the exterior is done, tomorrow we will begin to examine the engine and electrical systems.

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Boating Safety: Part Five

If you have never owned a boat before, enrolling in a boat safety course before hitting the water is advisable—and many states now require you to complete one anyhow. States have varying names for their certifications, but they all indicate the completion of a boating course. These courses can typically be completed online and will cover a wide spectrum of safety information, incldungin transporting, launching and driving your boat. However, you’ll want to spend some time to learn basic maintenance procedures—such as refilling the Evinrude XD100—on your own.

Once obtained, most boating certificates and licenses are good for life. And even if your state doesn’t require it, taking a qualified safety course is never a bad idea.

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Boating Safety: Part Four

You’re sitting at the dock, refilling your outboard motor oil, when another vessel hits you from the rear, warping your propeller and breaking off a piece of the dock: Do you know what to do? The law has specific guidelines regarding the proper protocol for reporting a boating accident, but less than 10 percent of all non-fatal accidents are ever reported to the authorities. Just as with car accidents, it is important to contact a local authority if you are ever in a boating accident. Laws vary by state, but most require you to report an accident if there is a death, serious injury or damage in excess of $2,000.

When required, you must submit a formal written report of the accident within 48 hours if someone is killed or injured or 10 days if there is only property damage. In some states, the requirements for reporting are more stringent. Contact the Coast Guard or your local boating authority to learn more about the specific laws in your state and find out how to file a formal accident report.

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Boating Safety: Part Three

As most people know, a life jacket is the most crucial piece of safety equipment on your boat. Before you leave the dock, be sure that you have a life jacket for every person on board and that it fits correctly. Although many states don’t require adults to wear a life jacket, it’s always smart to err on the side of safety.

In addition to a life jacket, every boater should have a supply of spare parts and tools. This cache should include a basic tools kit and miscellaneous parts for performing routine maintenance on the water, if need be. Always keep an extra supply of gasoline and two cycle outboard oil on hand as well. Even if you never have a need for it, chances are you will eventually encounter an unprepared boater who will appreciate your foresight.

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Boating Safety: Part Two

Although a body of water won’t have designated lanes like a highway, there are still laws in place that dictate the proper flow of traffic for boaters. Just as when driving an automobile— in the United States at least— boaters should stay to the right and, generally, work in a counterclockwise motion around a lake or large body of water. This one rule will greatly reduce your risk on the water, but be alert, as other boaters may not be aware of this requirement.

When pulling a skier, wakeboarder or even an innertuber, it is crucial to stay attentive and constantly survey your surroundings. Always have an extra person on board to keep an eye on the person being pulled in case they go down. Keep a safety flag stowed away with your reserve fuel, Evinrude XD 100 oil and other gear; this is used to alert other boaters when there is a person in the water.

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Boating Safety: Part One

Before being issued a driver’s license, every teen undergoes comprehensive classroom training and is required to spend hours behind the wheel. And while boats are just as dangerous as cars—if not more so—many states have lenient laws for boating licenses, or don’t require them at all. When you are on the water, it is crucial to constantly be aware of other boaters and ensure you are doing your utmost to stay out of harm’s way.

Many boat owners can change their outboard motor oil and launch their boat with ease but are unaware of the basic rules and principles of proper boating. Knowing basics such as who has the right away and what emergency equipment to have on board can help you avoid catastrophe on the water. Over the next few days we will be covering some of the main points of safety on the water, touching on specific subjects as well, including driving while pulling skiers and wakeboarders.

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Boat Engine Maintenance and Troubleshooting: Part Five

Neglecting to change your Evinrude XD100 will cause your motor oil to become acidic. When this happens, the acid in the oil can create corrosive damage throughout the engine. Acidic oil will be thick and black in appearance, so if this is the case, it is an obvious indication that you should be changing your oil more frequently. While oil must be changed at least every 100 hours, it is also advisable to put in new oil prior to storage.

Once the oil has been changed, check the oil filters as well. Since these are one of the main ways that contaminants are removed from your oil and the engine, opt for the pricier models. This is also a good time to check the oil hoses and inspect the rest of the engine for rust and damage. A small amount of rust is normal, but if you find a surfeit, there is probably something wrong. If this is the case, seek out a professional mechanic to diagnose the problem.

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Boat Engine Maintenance and Troubleshooting: Part Four

Many people assume that as long as they add coolant to their system they are doing something beneficial for their boat, which is certainly not the case. Before adding coolant to your system, you must premix it and ensure that it has the proper ratio of water to fluid. Adding too much coolant to your engine can cause a sticky mess in the cooling system, while too little coolant has obvious ramifications.

The other main fluid to change regularly is the outboard motor oil, which will begin to develop carbon buildups. When this happens, the carbon that is suspended in the oil is transferred throughout the entire engine. A good rule of thumb is to change your oil every 100 hours, although some boaters opt to do so more frequently. Tomorrow we will continue outlining the oil changing process and conclude our series on engine maintenance.

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Boat Engine Maintenance and Troubleshooting: Part Three

As the heart of the boat, the engine should be near the top of your maintenance hierarchy. Changing your 2 cycle oil is obviously crucial, but it’s not enough. Most marine engine damage stems from neglect of the cooling system. Since marine engines use the water they are in as a cooing agent, the contaminants in the water also flow through the cooling system.

The water filters are the most important component to maintain in the cooling system. Opt for the premium models with metal strainers instead of plastic. Maintenance of the cooling system is particularly significant if you are boating in salt water. If this is the case, check regularly for rust around the gaskets, which is an indication that salt water is leaking out of the system.

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TC-W3 Certification: The Testing

The National Marin Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is the organization holding the trademark for TC-W3 and is responsible for all of the analysis. Each 2 cycle oil is put through a rigorous series of tests to ensure that it meets the highest lubrication standards under a range of conditions. A bench test is a trial conducted in a laboratory prior to a product being made available to the public.

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.

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TC-W3 Certification

Virtually all marine engines are two-stroke, which necessitates a particular type of motor oil. In a two-stroke engine, the fuel and oil are mixed so that the system is lubricated as it is supplied with gas. There are myriad reasons why two-strokes are superior for use on the water, but they also have their drawbacks. Because the oil is mixed with the fuel, two-stroke engines tend to emit an excess of burnt oil.

For manufacturers, the goal is to produce oil that can be used in a smaller proportion to the amount of fuel, such as Evinrude xd100. This will help eliminate much of the emissions that are created by excess oil in the system. Of course, this reduction in the oil to fuel ration can’t come at the expense of lubrication and performance. In order to develop criteria so that owners can recognize premium oils that meet all of this criteria, the NMMA developed TC-W3 certification, which we will be examining the rest of the week.

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Oil Spill Fuels Energy Debate

Most outboard motor oil today is synthetic, so drilling really has no direct impact on production or market value. However, since the catalyst of this blog is oil, the massive spill in the Gulf of Mexico bears mentioning. Of course, the oil spill will have massive ramifications for the wildlife and ecosystems in the region, but it will also provide a new talking point in the ongoing debate on offshore drilling and alternative

For the last several years, the mantra of the Republican Party has been, drill baby, drill. President Obama has even taken steps to appease the GOP faithful by including offshore drilling in his new energy proposal. In the wake of the current disaster however, it will be difficult to find continued bipartisan support for any legislation that promotes the proliferation of drilling. Although there hasn’t been a major offshore drilling fiasco in 40 years, the current crisis in the Gulf is sure to raise concerns about drilling safety and viability.

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