Boating | Outboard Motor Oil - Part 26

Attaching an Outboard to Your Boat

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For the better part of the last week, we’ve been focusing on ways boaters can save money without reducing the precious time they get to spend cruising inland lakes, rivers and larger bodies of water. One of the best ways to cut costs is to find a solid, reliable outboard engine on the used market. After you’ve evaluated its structural integrity – and ensured that it’s suitable for use with TC-W3 2 stroke oil – it’s time to install the motor.

Consult the capacity plate on your boat to find out how much engine power the craft can handle. The shaft length of the engine should also match up with the boat’s transom height. Now it’s time to mount the outboard on the center of the transom; if it’s off-balance, you’ll encounter significant steering problems. Position the propeller so that it’s neither too low nor too high. If the propeller shaft juts too far out of the water, it will start to ventilate and wobble.

Beyond simply attaching an outboard motor to the transom, you’ll have to deal with wiring and instrumentation issues. Every marine engine features unique wiring quirks, and you may want to hire a professional for this part of the job. As far as instrumentation goes, you’ll need to choose between analog and digital. Analog relies on many independent wires to run each gauge while digital functions through the boat’s computer.

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Fishing on a Budget: Saving Fuel

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Although the national economic recession has shown a few signs of slowing down, many consumers are still wary about spending money on luxury items. Yesterday we discussed strategies for finding a solid, reliable boat on the used market. Now we’ll turn our attention to cost-cutting measures you can implement once a fishing trip has begun. All of the following tips will help you save money on two cycle outboard oil.

Try running the boat at different cruising speeds; make note of your fuel consumption at each time. Divide your speed in miles per hour by the gallons per hour of fuel that were consumed to derive fuel efficiency in miles per gallon. Since every fishing boat has what’s known as a “sweet spot” – the speed at which fuel efficiency is maximized – it’s just a matter of experimenting until you find the right speed.

If you have a marine GPS unit, use its fish-finder features to make educated guesses about the location of nearby schools of fish. You might be surprised at how much fuel is wasted just circling around a lake aimlessly in search of a bite. If your boat lacks a GPS unit, talk to some friends who have already fished that particular lake or other body of water. See if they have any tips about where the action might be.

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Navigating the Used Boat Market

boat-for-sale

When it comes to creating the perfect fishing boat setup, I’m never satisfied. Sure, I’ve had my share of fun and caught my share of fish on old, beat-up boats, but it always seems like the grass is greener on the other side. Whenever I’m driving down the street or taking a walk around the neighborhood and I spot a “for sale” sign on a fishing boat, I immediately begin to take stock of my finances.

Still, I’ve learned plenty of lessons over the years about purchasing old boats and installing outboard motors. First, it’s important to realize that if a boat seems like too great of a deal, there’s probably a reason for it. Don’t skimp on your pre-purchase inspection – look things over thoroughly. The structural integrity of the hull is perhaps the single most critical factor. If the boat isn’t seaworthy, you’ll spend many times more for repairs than you did purchasing the vessel in the first place.

The next consideration involves the outboard motor. Will you be installing an old engine that’s sitting around in your garage or going after a brand new motor? There are several elements you’ll be able to reuse from your old outboard, including the gas tank, the battery and the steering system. Remember to check the shaft length of the outboard to make sure it corresponds with the boat’s transom. Top off the outboard with Yamaha oil before taking it for its second “maiden” voyage.

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Evinrude Announces Fall Deal on E-TECs

etecs

Yesterday we discussed the fuel efficiency standards that were introduced to the outboard motor industry. Prior to that landmark moment, 2-stroke motors were simple and reliable but caused too much pollution to be viable from an economic standpoint. As we alluded to previously, it took a coordinated effort from the Environmental Protection Agency along with motor manufacturers to create any leeway.

Evinrude stepped up in a big way with its E-TEC engine, which was specifically designed to compete with dominant 4-stroke engines of the time. The E-TEC had the advantage of fuel injectors that work to remove water and vapor from the internal parts. The engine was an instant hit, and Evinrude has been touting this flagship model, along with the boat motor oil it uses sparingly, ever since.

In recent days, Evinrude announced its “Best Deal on the Water” fall promotion, offering boaters a five-year, factory-backed warranty on new E-TECs with 40 or more horsepower. The deal lasts through December 22. According to a press release from Evinrude, the E-TEC is the only marine engine on the market with no dealer-scheduled maintenance for the first three years.

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Pros and Cons of Each Drive System

drive-system

A boat’s drive system consists of components that work together to transfer engine power to the water, directing the thrust of the vessel. A problem with the drive system can spell disaster for a boat’s mobility and bring what should have been a peaceful day out on the lake to a screeching halt. Today we’ll take a closer look at the three main types of drive systems as well as their individual strengths and weaknesses.

Drive systems are identified by their positioning in the boat. The three types include inboard, outboard and inboard/outboard. Among the three, outboard motors are highly touted for their portability and the fact that they don’t take up any interior space. It’s crucial that the weight of an outboard is chosen according to the size of a boat, as a heavy motor can cause the craft to sit low in the water. Before taking an extended trip with this type of engine, it’s crucial to pack a supply of bulk outboard motor oil.

Inboard engines often get credit for providing more stability as they can be balanced inside the boat near the center of the hull. Unfortunately, these engines are less than ideal when families or large groups of friends want to take a ride; they simply take up so much interior room. An inboard/outboard system solves the space problem by keeping most of its components outside the boat, but the engine itself is more complex and prone to breakdowns.

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More Battery Tips

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We recently discussed the importance of packing multiple battery systems for fishing excursions. One system should be devoted to the general operation of the boat – the cranking function that starts it up – and the other should be relegated to smaller tasks like keeping the radio, radar and GPS juiced up. You might be wondering how it’s possible to prevent one battery from being used up by providing power to all of the boat’s electrical needs.

Yamaha’s battery isolator system has the ability to recharge multiple batteries right onboard the boat. This is especially handy because it’s crucial to keep the cranking battery operational for the duration of a trip. There’s nothing worse than finding out that an outboard engine won’t restart during the middle of your journey. The battery isolator system senses which battery has the least energy and supplies it with a charge. If both are equally tapped or equally full, they each receive the same amount of power.

Note that batteries should always be mounted a safe distance away from the boat’s fuel system. Fuel lines, gas tanks and outboard motor oil in general should be kept separate from electronic components. By keeping these and other safety measures in mind, you can ensure a fun, relaxing late-season boat trip.

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Don’t Let that Fuel System Corrode in the Offseason

boat-at-dock

You’ve done everything right so far. When it came time to winterize your boat, you followed every solid piece of advice, from flushing the outboard engine with fresh water to disconnecting the fuel hose and changing the gear oil. Unfortunately, there’s one minor detail you may have overlooked, and it’s a doozie. It’s just as important to care for your engine and its components during the offseason as it is during the height of summer.

While your boat is still being used regularly, you’re always diligent about replenishing the supply of bulk oil, so don’t skimp on the essentials during winter. You’ll need to implement a fuel additive – a stabilizer specifically – to ensure that the fuel system doesn’t corrode from disuse. During the summer, most of the varnish and other assorted buildup in the fuel system is flushed out as the engine is in regular use.

These additives keep the system well lubricated so that rust and corrosion don’t build up on the bare metal parts in the fuel system. Since it’s nearly impossible as well as unadvisable to drain all of the water out of your fuel system, additives keep excess water at bay, preventing varnish and sludge from depositing inside the injectors, carburetors and other vital parts of the engine.

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Mercury Marine’s Latest Offer

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September is a bittersweet month for many boaters; when the cool winds begin to blow, we know it won’t be long before it’s time to take those small vessels out of the water and into storage for winterization. Unless you’re lucky enough to live in an area where there’s open water all year long, these same thoughts are probably running through your head. Mercury Marine, manufacturers of the two-cycle OptiMax engines, has timed its latest promotion with the end of the boating season in mind.

With its “Trade Up America” event, Mercury is offering sizable rebates – ranging from $300 to $1,000 – when boat owners upgrade to a fuel-efficient OptiMax outboard. According to one Mercury representative, the event has been timed to coincide with the start of the winterizing process, when boat owners are starting to think ahead about next year. The offer is valid through Halloween.

It wasn’t long ago that outboard motor manufacturers came under fire from the Environmental Protection Agency, inspiring them to up their fuel-efficiency standards. These days, Mercury engine oil is specially formulated to meet rigorous lubricity and viscosity guidelines. The net effect is that engines like the OptiMax can run with tremendous power and efficiency, all without taking a serious toll on the environment.

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Ethanol Presents Unique Boating Quandary

ethanol-main

You might remember ethanol from chemistry class. The colorless fluid, derived from corn, is occasionally used for flammability demonstrations in American schools. Lately the substance has come under fire in a figurative sense as well, having the sparked the rage of some boating enthusiasts. Ethanol-based fuels, marketed as E10 or E15 depending on its actual blend, have been known to do serious damage to fuel tanks and lines.

But corn lobbyists, who are appealing to the Environmental Protection Agency about the dangers of standard outboard oil, would like to turn the ethanol debate into an environmental litmus test. Although their claims that ethanol reduces dependency on fossil fuels – however slightly – is true, this viewpoint fails to take the consequences into account. As a solvent, ethanol dissolves rubber and absorbs water, gumming up a boat’s fuel system.

While E10 is not necessarily detrimental to car fuel tanks, which are filled and emptied at a rapid clip, the same is not true for boat tanks. A boat might sit for weeks or even months at a time without use, and any dormant ethanol inside will eat away slowly at the fuel system. For the time being, most boaters agree that traditional marine engine oil still works best, especially since it has been reformulated for better efficiency and eco-friendliness.

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Summertime Fun on a Boat

boating

One of my favorite summertime activities is piling all of my friends and family on my neighbor’s beautiful Sea Ray boat. The Sun Devil II, as he calls it due to his stint at Arizona State University, is a sleeper boat clad with a mini kitchen and bathroom. Up top it sits about eight people comfortably, and 10 or more party style. It’s a great luxury to live next to the water, especially when you’re a boat lover like me. It seems that every holiday we’re gathered on the Sun Devil II once again, taking on a new adventure.

Of all my favorable memories on my neighbor’s boat, there was one unfortunate day of misfortune. It was an extremely hot and humid day, ideal conditions for boating. We had all jumped into the boat early in the day; we wanted to claim the best spot on the water. And after an hour of searching, we had found it. We casted our anchor and unpacked our lunch, relaxing in the summer sun. The trouble began when we went to start the boat up again. It made a horrible churning noise and began spouting black smoke. It turns out we had left one important thing back on shore, a sufficient amount of boat motor oil.

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Two-Stroke Engine Care with Yamalube

2strokeengine

Yamaha’s signature brand of oil is designed for the most grueling conditions both in and out of the water. Yamalube two-stroke engine oil is used in outboard motors, dirt bikes, lawnmowers, snowmobiles and several smaller gas powered appliances. Unlike other two-stroke engine oils, Yamalube oil is so potent that it can help to repair and prevent engine damage.

While all Yamalube oil is formulated for performance, the additive packages in different oil formulations are designed for specific stress loads. Each blend of Yamalube oil must accommodate the needs of the engine. For example, Yamalube two-stroke outboard oil needs to be able to lubricate the engine for hours of operation at full throttle and low throttle, while Yamalube two-stroke oil for dirt bikes needs to be able to stand up to frequent and intense acceleration.

For owners who want their two-stroke engine to operate at its best, Yamalube is the oil of choice. Those looking for a little extra kick would be wise to invest in Yamaha fuel additives, like the Yamaha Ring Free additive, which helps prevent ring stick and wear, while also cleaning carbon and varnish deposits from the engine.

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A Little Time and Effort

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For the most part, automotive maintenance is incredibly simple. The majority of drivers are hardly car experts; they only need to know a few basic precautionary measures. As long as they get the oil changed every 3,000 miles and follow any serious imperatives broached by their mechanic, things work out fine. But a car engine should never be confused with an outboard, which requires more maintenance by its very nature.

In fact, avid boaters should perform a series of simple steps at the end of every trip. First of all, the engine should be flushed. Salt water can be especially corrosive to the motor’s interior parts, but freshwater can wreak havoc as well. Just restart the engine and watch as the water pump recycles the fluid. Take this opportunity to evaluate the water pump for level of flow.

Next, disconnect the fuel line from the engine and allow any excess fuel to be burned. This will ensure that the entire fuel system is cleaned out and ready to go for your next excursion. Top off the engine with plenty of Yamaha 2m oil in order to guarantee that your outboard is in fine working order. These steps might seem like a hassle at first, but they’ll become routine before long. If a few extra minutes of maintenance work can add months or years to the life of your outboard, isn’t it worth the time and effort?

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