bulk oil | Outboard Motor Oil - Part 16

Minnesota Boating

According to Boating Life magazine, there is one lake for every 424 Minnesotans. There is also one boat registered for every six Minnesotans, which is a statistic no other state can most. Most access to water is free with ramps open 24 hours a day (oh how I wish that were true where I live!).

The state government is also working to make Lake Superior shore more accessible. Makes sense for a state that’s mission statement reads: “It is the policy of this state, which is blessed with an abundance of water, to promote its full use and enjoyment by all of the people.” With a welcoming statement like that, how can you not want to grab your boat trailer and some OptiMax oil and set out for Minnesota?

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Yamaha Separating Filter

Every Yamaha motor needs a 10-micron fuel and water separating filter. Because the filter is so essential, it needs to be checked for signs of wear and tear every three to six months. This month formula corresponds to approximately 50 to 100 hours of outboard use.

The filter is not only important during the summer months; it is also an important piece of the winterization process. Without a functioning separating filter the outboard can suffer damage when not in use. Next time you replace your Yamaha 2M oil, remember to take a peek at the separating filter, too.

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Mildew Remover

Last weekend I gave my friend Roy a hand in getting his WaveRunner ready for the summer season. To my dismay, when we went to pull his WaveRunner out of the shed, we found the cover was full of mildew. This means that the WaveRunner was not stored properly out of a dark damp area.

Roy looked aghast when he saw the amount of mildew. I told him not to worry, that I had a surefire remedy to fix it up. I mixed up a white vinegar and water and sprayed it onto the worst areas. I let the mixture set for a bit and then wiped it and the mildew off with a damp rag. Once we’d cleaned up the cover we were able to start getting the WaveRunner ready, starting by adding WaveRunner oil.

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Haulover Inlet to Government Cut

I nearly started drooling on my keyboard when I read the description for the ocean off Haulover Inlet to Government Cut. Apparently, it’s one of Miami’s best kept fishing secrets. Not just fish, but live shrimp can be caught drifting just 100 yards from the beach.

Along the coast hundreds of tarpon ranging 20 to 180 pounds are caught every winter. I’ll be missing out on the tarpon, but there should be plenty of action with jacks, bluefish, and Spanish mackerel. I just hope my son appreciates this trip as much as I do. Maybe I’ll talk to him about it while we’re dipping into our stock of Mercury oil 55 gallon drum.

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Seven Mile Bridge Rubble

While perusing the local Miami CBS affiliate, I came a cross a list of top places to fish in Florida. At the top of their list was Seven Mile Bridge Rubble. The location is west of Sombrero Light in 105 feet of water. (I’ve been assured that any local tackle shop owner can give me exact coordinates).

Yellowtail, mutton snapper, and amberjack can be caught year round. In July, I’ve been told that permit abound. I cannot wait to change out my Mercury oil, add some fuel, and hit the open water. I can almost taste the yellowtail already.

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Advantages of OptiMax Oil

Increased demands are put on the lubricants used in an OptiMax engine. (An OptiMax engine is direct-injected as opposed to carbureted or electronic fuel-injected). To keep pace, the manufacturer recommends OptiMax oil.

You can buy individual containers or you can save some money and purchase bulk Mercury OptiMax oil. The oil has additional additives that provide an extra layer of protection. By using the oil, which can be mixed with Mercury Premium Plus, your engine will maintain peak engine performance for many uses.

 

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Honda BF115

In order to stay compliant with EPA emissions guidelines, the top outboard motor manufacturers had to refine their two-stroke and four-stroke engines. The Honda BF115 is an example of a job well done. The four-stroke outboard was adapted from the 2.3-liter four-cylinder Accord sedan motor.

The BF115 runs quietly and is highly economical when it comes to fuel consumption, which can be attributed to its long-stroke design. A fat midrange torque curve makes towing water skis or inflatable tubes easy. The only drawback is that the motor weighs in at 496 lbs. which can be problematic for lighter crafts. It still gets a stamp of approval from me, provided you use the correct lubricant, Evinrude outboard oil.

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Ready To Retire?

Overall, I think our extended vacation did us a world of good. I learned a lot about how I really like to spend my time. I also learned that I don’t want to retire any time soon – or at all.

I anticipate that I’ll always want some sort of work to keep me busy. Maybe instead of working a traditional 9-5 job indefinitely, I’ll take on some part time work. Who knows – maybe I’ll set up shop as an Evinrude oil salesman? That seems right up my alley.

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Ferry To Petaluma

I’m not an avid baseball fan, but I do like to take in a few baseball games over the summer. My wife’s cousin scored some great tickets to the San Francisco vs. Oakland A’s game while we were in town. We were in row seven along the first baseline. The Giants lost the game, but it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had at a major league stadium.

After the game we took the ferry north toward Petaluma where some additional family and friends reside. The ride takes about 45 minutes and is quite pleasant. While my wife chatted with her cousin, I once again found myself chatting with other boaters, in this case, some off-duty crew members. They recommended a few places to check out in Petaluma as well as a hole-in-the-wall shop that has great deals on ringfree plus.

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California Adventure

The first part of our extended vacation we spent in San Francisco. My wife and I both have family in the area. We took two days to see the most touristy attractions – Alcatraz, Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf and more.

While we were on Alcatraz – which is actually a quite beautiful island despite its grim history – I kept finding myself staring out at the water watching the boats go by. The few days we were in town were unseasonably warm and sunny, so you could tell all the boaters were taking full advantage. Much to my wife’s annoyance, I stopped to talk with some boaters while we were walking around the marina. I wound up discussing the ins and outs of OptiMax oil with one guy. When you have a common interest like boating you can make friends anywhere!

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Give the OptiMax Engine a Whirl

This past weekend I took my new OptiMax Engine out for a whirl on the lake. Breaking in a new outboard can be a pain, but after the initial process, the OptiMax handled like a dream. After two hours I was confident that I knew how to handle the new outboard.

I called up my wife and kids and told them to head on over to the lake. I gave them a spin on the new outboard, which they enjoyed very much. After we pulled the boat out of the water, I showed my kids where to put in the Mercury OptiMax oil, so if they want to take the boat out they’ll know how to perform proper maintenance.

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Connecting Old Gauges

As you probably inferred from my previous posts, I recently bought an OptiMax engine. Thus far I’m enjoying it immensely. Before I could fill the engine up with Mercury OptiMax oil and take the boat out for a spin, I had to go to my local Mercury Marine dealership.

Long time readers of this blog know that I like to do most of the maintenance my boat requires myself. In this instance, I wasn’t sure that I could handle connecting the older style gauges on my boat to the new engine. Not wanting to screw up my pricey investment, I had my go-to mechanic work it out for me. He got everything squared away and I was able to take the boat out this past weekend.

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