June, 2008 | Outboard Motor Oil

How to Trailer a Boat

How to Trailer a BoatNot everyone can afford to rent space at their local marina and so some people find it more prudent to store their boats at home and simply use their car to move their boats from their house to the water. Here are some tips on how to trailer a boat with ease:

Plan each step of your boat launch, before you leave your driveway. Who is with you, family and/or friends? If so, spend some time with them so they know exactly what will happen at the boat ramp, and what is required of each of them. It is a great idea to perform this in an out of the way place (not on the ramp itself), so your tires and bearings cool down before entering the water.

Make sure you’ve prepared the boat before you head down the ramp, by removing the tie-downs, placing lines in the appropriate places, and double-checking your sea-cock and drain plug. Make sure everyone knows exactly where they will walk the boat, and remember to secure the boat to the dock, so it doesn’t float away.

Every step of the way, you need to be ever mindful of safety. Remember the safety chain (making sure it’s either secured when trailering or unsecured at the bottom of the launch ramp, as determined by what you are doing). And don’t let anyone get behind the boat and trailer, or between the boat and the dock.

Before you leave home, make sure you check your tires and hubs/bearings. Make sure they are greased, filled and in good working condition. Also make sure to check your lights, your breaks and for outboard oil leaks. Remember, a safe trip is the best trip.

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History of the Motor Boat

History of the Motor BoatAlthough the Screw propeller had been added to an engine as early as the 18th century in Birmingham, England by James Watt; the engine powered by outboard motor oil only came about in the later part of the 19th century, at which point Frederick William Lanchester recognized the potential of combining the two components to create the first all British powerboat, tested in Oxford England the powerboat was born. Late in that same period fishermen in San Francisco were being transforming their feluccas into early versions of the Monterey clipper, also known locally as put-puts.

Lanchester began to find the conflict between his job as works manager and his research work irksome. Therefore, in 1893, he resigned his position in favor of his younger brother George. At about the same time, he produced a second engine similar in design to his previous one but running on benzene 800 RPM. An important part of his new engine was the revolutionary carburettor, for mixing the fuel and air correctly. His invention was known as a wick carburettor, because fuel was drawn into a series of wicks, from where it was vaporized. He patented this invention in 1905.

Lanchester installed his new petrol engine in a flat-bottomed launch, which the engine drove via a stern paddle wheel. Lanchester built the launch in the garden of his home in Olton, Warwickshire. The boat was launched at Salter’s slipway in Oxford in 1904, and was the first motorboat built in Britain.

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Saving Money on Gas

Saving Money on GasDon’t let the gloom and doom predictions of high gas prices keep you from your boating passion. Even with bulk oil costs soaring, it’s still possible to have some money in your pocket when you leave the fuel pier. By understanding your boat’s design – whether it has a displacement, semi-displacement, or planning hull – and doing some easy calculations, you will know the boat’s most economical cruising speed.

Displacement and Semi-Displacement Boats
Displacement hulls are designed to force their way through the water. A semi-displacement hull achieves a partial plane, which reduces drag and wave making. Both have a top speed that cannot be exceeded without increasing the power significantly. A large power increase also means greater fuel consumption.

To figure the maximum speed, multiply the square root of the waterline in feet times 1.34. Using this calculation for a 38 ft. displacement hull boat, the maximum speed is 9.2 knots. To save money on gas with a displacement or semi-displacement hull, do not try to increase your speed past the calculated maximum speed. In the case of the displacement hull, increasing power to go faster will use more fuel without a resulting speed gain. With a semi-displacement hull, your speed will increase, but there will be a corresponding fuel consumption increase.

Planing Boats
Pull back on the throttles with a true planing hull. Fuel consumption increases with every knot while the boat is on plane. A boat with a planing hull has the greatest fuel economy at the point when it first comes onto plane, or begins to skim the surface of the water.

Limiting the amount of time a planing boat displaces water before coming onto plane will also result in reduced fuel costs. This doesn’t mean slam the throttle downs to get up on plane faster. Instead, bring the boat up to speed at a moderately quick, steady pace.

If you are like me, you like to go fast quickly. But, if you follow these tips for reduced fuel consumption, you will finish at the end of the boating season having won the fuel marathon with a few extra dollars in your pocket.

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Thieves Stealing Gas from Boats

Thieves Stealing Gas from BoatsGas thieves aren’t just a problem on land. With the high price of gasoline, they’re also striking on the water.

Police are saying that they are receiving reports of gas cans being stolen and gas being siphoned from boats left tied to the end of docks or on boat lifts.

They’re reminding boat owners to remove gas cans and outboard motor oil when they secure their boats for the night.

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Shopping Around

YamalubeAs the specter of high oil prices looms throughout the summer, you can still find discounted boat oil online. Though many brands have slightly increased their prices, the internet has been a great resource of low priced oil. Name brands such as Yamalube and Evinrude can still be purchased at a low price, especially when compared to other retailers.

Do some research and you’ll no doubt find a great deal.

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Oil Production to Increase

Oil Production to IncreaseThis weekend, it was announced that Saudi Arabia will increase oil output by an additional 200,000 barrels. This will make the daily total of bulk oil 9.7 barrels. The news caused a slight decrease in gas prices, though most analysts are saying that this will not cause a dramatic change in prices.

Despite this output, the White House is still championing an increase in U.S. supplies via off-shore drilling.

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A Friendly Reminder

A Friendly ReminderIf you own or operate a sailboat, commercial fishing vessel, or recreational powerboat, now you can keep our waterways clean by properly managing your oily bilge water for free! Oily bilge water pump out stations have been installed at many marinas and lakes for the public to use, and oil absorbent pads are often available for free to help absorb boat motor oil contamination in your bilge water or to clean up any accidental spills safely and efficiently. Plus, oil and oil pad collection stations are conveniently located to ensure your used oil get recycled into new products.

It only takes a few minutes to pump out your bilge and keep our waterways and drinking water clean! All the oil captured by these systems is recycled, the water filtered and returned to our waterways free of contamination.

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Group Adds More Boat Shows

Group Adds More Boat ShowsIn two separate deals, Affinity Events added four boat or boat/RV consumer shows to its lineup, along with seven RV consumer shows, the company said in a press release yesterday. With the recent acquisitions, the company now produces 15 boat shows around the nation.

Three boat shows were acquired from MAC Events, LLC, based in Spring Lake, N.J. The Fall New Jersey Boat Show and New Jersey Boat Show are both held in Edison, N.J. The MAC Events Boat Show Richmond is held in Richmond, VA. Affinity Events plans to combine that show with one of its existing Richmond boat shows.

The company also acquired two boat shows from Mid-America Expositions, Inc., all produced in the Kansas City, Mo., area. The Fall RV & Boat Show is held in Kansas City, Kan., while the Mid-America Boat Show takes place in Kansas City, Mo.

The acquisitions give Affinity a total of 45 consumer shows, all acquired or launched over the past four years. The total audience of boating, RV, powersports and outdoor recreation enthusiasts who attend Affinity-run shows now exceeds 500,000; these events are also a coup for marine engine oil companies and other retail vendors.

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Gas Prices in Limbo

Gas Prices in LimboThe floods in Iowa this week could predicate rising gas prices, yet reports of a decline in gas sales have urged companies to finally keep their prices points low. In the second day of slippage, gas prices have shown that their prices have increased 36% versus a 94% increase in bulk oil. The discrepancy is hard to miss, but the demands for gasoline have been decreasing since January, with many people using alternative transportation such as busses, bikes and carpools.

The upcoming financial forecast for fuel suggests different outcomes. A potential strike in Nigeria, as well as the floods in the Midwest, could drive up the prices of gas, but as crude oil continues to fall, gas prices may as well.

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Save for the Summer

yamalube

With the oil and gas prices shattering new records, some boaters are opting to stay home this summer. This isn’t completely necessary, however, you just have to be smart. For example all major outboard oil companies such as Yamalube and Mercury have raised their prices. If you bought some prior to the price increase – or even if you’ve yet to purchase it – you can still have fun like you normally would.

Limit your trips in your boat. Go out on a day that you can enjoy with a large group of people, such as your family and/or your friends. If you spaced out your boating trips to two or three times a month instead of every weekend, you’re sure to save yourself some money and survive the dreaded gas and oil prices.

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What is Two Stroke Oil?

2 cycle oil

Two-stroke oil (also referred to as two-cycle oil, 2 cycle oil, 2T oil or 2-stroke oil) is an engine oil intended for use in two-stroke engines, like those in many lawnmowers, Outboard motors, mopeds, scooters and small capacity motorcycles, etc. Since these lightweight engines do not feature oil sumps to collect and recycle oil like 4 cycle engines, oil must be mixed with the petrol fuel, for distribution throughout the engine for the purpose of lubrication. The two-stroke oil is ultimately burned along with the fuel resulting in exhaust emissions such as blue smoke and a distinctive odor.

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Get It Now!

Evinrude

If you’re a loyal Evinrude oil user then you’ll want to pay attention to this post: come July 1st, Evinrude will be slightly increasing their prices by 10%. Now while the number itself may seem a little steep, you have to think that for the overall performance by Evinrude will be worth the price increase.

This change is wide and not localized to any singular retailer, so if you use Evinrude and you plan on taking your boat out soon, you may want to purchase some oil now, while it retails for a lower price.

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