April, 2008 | Outboard Motor Oil

Things to Think About When Getting a Boat

Things to Think About When Getting a BoatBuying a boat is a large purchase and you would treat it with the same seriousness as you would with a house or car. Here are some things to keep in the back of your mind as you get ready for boat season:

The type of boat you’re purchasing is based on what you intend to use it for. Using a boat primarily for fishing and primarily for jet skiing are obviously two different things.

Check the engine to see what would be the best outboard motor oil for it.

Look at the boat thoroughly to make sure that there is no serious damage or to keep track of possible repairs.

Keep a watchful eye on the radio, though it may be a good idea to just replace the whole thing altogether.

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Oil Prices Slide as Summer Looms Closer

Oil Prices Slide as Summer Looms CloserAs the Associated Press is reporting, bulk oil prices have slid today to $116 a barrel. The news comes as the spring season enters the home stretch and Americans prepare for the summer – a season that is most popular for vacationing and leisure activities such as fishing and boating.

The decrease in oil prices was due to the end of a refinery strike in Scotland, which adds to the falling demand of oil, though gas prices are still averaging at $3.67 throughout the U.S.

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Take Our Boats Now

Take Our Boats NowTaking a cue from the shaky housing market, now might be a good time to purchase a boat.

With bulk oil prices fluctuating on an hourly basis, you can find people selling their boats on sites like Craigslist and local periodicals for value prices. While a recession collectively looms in the minds of Americans, it may be a good time to invest in your sea legs. Economic stimulus checks are in the mail and if you find yourself a bit more comfortable than most, it might not be such a bad idea to spoil yourself and get something nice to take your family out on.

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Post-Trip Maintenance

Post-Trip MaintenancePurchasing premium boat motor oil isn’t the only important step to having a well running vessel. There are a few things that you can do after a trip that will help your engine running smoothly:

• After every trip, flush out the engine.

• While you’re flushing the motor, check the water pump to make sure it has good water flow. Put your finger through the stream of water; it could be warm, but not hot. If the output isn’t strong, there may be debris stuck in the outflow tube. Shut the engine down to prevent damage.

• Insert a small piece of wire into the flow tube and work it back and forth. Start the engine again and check the output. If that doesn’t help, you may need a new water pump.

• After flushing the engine, disconnect the fuel line and have the engine to burn the fuel in the carburetor.

• Take the engine cowling off and check for fuel or water leaks. If you find leaks talk to a mechanic.

• Wipe everything down and spray with an anti-corrosive like WD-40. Be sure to lubricate all the moving parts such.

• Replace the cowling and wipe it down. Cover the engine between trips.

• Always use fresh fuel.

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Oil Prices are Dropping but Don’t Start Your Engines Just Yet

bulk oilAs reported today by the Associated Press, oil prices have dropped below $117 a barrel on the strength of the American dollar. According to the article, “The U.S. Energy Department’s Energy Information Administration reported Wednesday that crude stockpiles grew 2.4 million barrels last week”

While stockpiles of bulk oil increased, we should still be a bit weary of the market. This is a positive sign, but it’s not a bad idea to conserve what we already may have and not take our boats out on the waters based on today’s news. If you were planning on rationing out your trips throughout the spring and summer seasons, I’d recommend keeping to your plans and carefully watching how oil prices change in the coming months. Additionally, this may be the right time to start buying oil in case of an unforeseen price jump.

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The Simple Addition that Keeps Your Engine Running Well

outboard motor oil

A key element to a smooth running boat is to purchase outboard motor oil that has additives in that will keep your engine clean and prevents wear and corrosion. Additives will also enhance the lubrication of the motor. Several brands such as Evinrude and Mercury sell oil that has said additives in them so as to make your boating experience one with a minimal amount of problems.

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Yamalube is More Than a Brand Name

YamalubeRecently I found that some of the motor oils I’ve been using have been more a detriment to my boat, often causing more problems eating more gas than anything else. Then someone recommended that I switch to Yamalube. Admittedly I was a bit reluctant, but I hedged on my feelings and tried it.

Let me say that I thought Yamalube would only work well with Yamaha engines. Those ill informed opinions aside, Yamalube made my boat run remarkably well. Riding on the water was a smooth go, which is not an easy feat by any means. It’s also quite affordable as I found a case of it for $83 online.

I thought it would take a huge arm twist to turn me into a convert, but all it really took in the end was a simple test drive and the ability to make my boat run well, as opposed to a gloried gondola.

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Escape the Crunch of Steep Oil Prices

Escape the Crunch of Steep Oil Prices

I think there’s this misconception that those of us who use boats recreationally have a pile of money buried beneath their mattress. I can’t say that I’ve ever had anything more than a stack of comic books and dirty laundry under my bed (when I was a kid), but I can tell you that a pile of money is something that I do not have.

Luckily, I can purchase a 16 gallon drum of Evinrude outboard motor oil for under $500 through domo-online.com. It’s a perfect buy for a budget-minded consumer and boat enthusiast such as myself. 16 gallons may not seem like much, but there’s realistically a few weeks out of the year that I can take my boat out, so it works out in the end.

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What is an outboard motor?

Outboard MotorMake your boating experience better with Evinrude Oil and much more!

Outboard motors for a boat are developed as a self-contained unit with engine, subsidiary systems, and propeller, designed to be mounted at the stern (rear) of the craft. They are the most common motorized method of propelling small watercraft.

As well as providing propulsion, outboards provide steering control, as they are designed to pivot over their mountings and thus control the orientation of the propeller. The transmission leg in the water also acts as a rudder even when the propeller is not providing power.

When boats are out of service or being drawn through shallow waters, outboard motors can also be tipped forward trimmed up over their mounts to elevate the propeller and transmission shaft out of the water to avoid accumulation of seaweed or hitting underwater hazards such as rocks.

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Keep America’s Waterway Safe

America's WaterwaysA message from the US Coast Guard and Discount Outboard Motor Oil

America’s Waterway Watch (AWW), a combined effort of the Coast Guard and its Reserve and Auxiliary components, continues to grow, enlisting the active participation of those who live, work or play around America’s waterfront areas. Coast Guard Reserve personnel concentrate on connecting with businesses and government agencies, while Auxiliarists focus on building AWW awareness among the recreational boating public.

If you are a tow boat operator, a recreational boater, a fisherman, a marina operator, or otherwise live, work or engage in recreational activities around America’s waterways, the United States Coast Guard wants your help in keeping these areas safe and secure. You can do this by participating in its America’s Waterway Watch (AWW) program, a nationwide initiative similar to the well known and successful Neighborhood Watch program that asks community members to report suspicious activities to local law enforcement agencies.
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Q&A With the US Coast Guard

Evinrude E-TecStay safe no matter which outboard motor, boat or outboard motor oil you use.

Can I use a bigger motor on my boat than what it’s rated for?

It is not a violation of Coast Guard regulations to install or use an engine larger than specified on the capacity label, but there may be state regulations prohibiting it, and restrictions from your own insurance company regarding this.

There are no Coast Guard regulations against exceeding the safe loading capacity, however, there may be State regulations or restrictions from your insurance company which prohibit this. There is a Coast Guard regulation that gives Coast Guard Boarding Officers the power to terminate the use of a boat (send it back to shore) if, in the judgment of the Boarding Officer, the boat is overloaded. There is no fine for this, unless the operator refuses the Boarding Officer’s order. We certainly hope that you will abide by the rating, as overloading may lead to capsizing or swamping of the boat.

NOTE: The Coast Guard Capacity Information label is required only on monohull boats less than 20′ in length. The label is not required on multi-hull boats, pontoon boats (catamarans), or on any sailboats, canoes, kayaks, or inflatable boats, regardless of length.

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An Alert from the US Coast Guard

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Reduce emissions with high-efficiency Evinrude motors and Evinrude oil!

Carbon Monoxide Advisory (Generator Exhaust)

Coast Guard Advisory to Recreational Boaters on Carbon Monoxide Hazard Caused by Generator Exhaust
The Coast Guard advises owners and operators of boats to turn off gasoline-powered generators with transom exhaust ports when the swim platform on the stern is in use. The Coast Guard further advises that swimmers should not enter the cavity of a boat designed with a generator emitting exhaust into the cavity between the swim platform and the transom of the vessel. The Coast Guard is concerned about the serious health risk from carbon monoxide poisoning and seeks to prevent loss of life and personal injury.

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