Boat Safety Tips

Boat Safety TipsAs mentioned in an earlier post, the summer boating season is ready to start and you’ll no doubt have filled your boat with marine engine oil and anticipation to hit the waters. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind before you take her out on the water:

• Be weather wise. Sudden wind shifts, lightning flashes and choppy water all can mean a storm is brewing. Bring a portable radio to check weather reports.

• Bring extra gear you may need; a flashlight, extra batteries, matches, a map of where you are, flares, sun tan lotion, first aid kit, and extra sunglasses. Put those that need to be protected in a watertight pouch or a container that floats.

• Tell someone where you’re going, who is with you, and how long you’ll be away. Then check your boat, equipment, boat balance, engine and fuel supply before leaving.

• Learn to swim. The best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim. This includes anyone participating in any boating activity.

• Alcohol and boating don’t mix. Alcohol impairs your judgment, balance, and coordination — over 50 percent of drownings result from boating incidents involving alcohol. For the same reasons it is dangerous to operate an automobile while under the influence of alcohol, people should not operate a boat while drinking alcohol.

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Oil Prices Rise in Time for Memorial Day

Oil Prices Rise in Time for Memorial DayMemorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of the summer traveling season and is usually the time when oil prices slightly rise. With less than two days until the weekend begins, bulk oil prices hit a record high of $132 a barrel. This shot up gas prices to $3.80 for the national average. The news comes in light of a report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration that claims gas and oil stocks had declined, as well as President Bush’s unsuccessful trip to the Middle East, requesting a higher production rate.

Analysts are now predicting a national average of $4 for gasoline within the next month and $140 a barrel come September.

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Getting Ready for the Waves

Getting Ready for the WavesIn addition to cleaning your boat and changing out your outboard motor oil, there are some other little things you can do to prepare for a summer of taking your vessel out on the water.

• Update your first aid kit

• Make sure lifejackets are in working order

• Replace batteries on GPS

• Inspect engine

• Make sure you have a cell phone charger for your boat

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Yamalube Gets Coup within its own Corporation

YamalubeYamaha Marine Group announced earlier this month that it has put its marine care products under the trusted Yamalube brand.

Products affected include fuel additives, adhesives and lubricants, which will now bear the name Yamalube. With the change comes color-coded packaging designed to improve the customer’s ability to choose the correct product for the job at hand.

Yamaha is creating and launching an extensive campaign for dealers and customers as part of the rollout.

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New Records Continue to Haunt Pumps as the Start of the Vacation Season Creeps Closer

bulk oilThe price of bulk oil – yet again – continues to rise to new heights as it reaches near $128 a barrel, pushing the average to roughly $3.79 per gallon. The price of diesel fuel has also gone up to due to China’s demand to refuel their power plants in light of this week’s earthquake. This news comes as President Bush journeys to Saudi Arabia to push the production of oil in the Middle East. Analysts expect the national average for gas to reach $4 a gallon within the coming weeks, though some states are already paying that.

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Cleaning Oil Spots from Your Garage/Driveway

Cleaning Oil Spots from Your Garage/DrivewayMost boat owners have to keep their vessels at home and as is such, there can be messes made due to the general maintenance that happens there. One such mess can be spilling boat motor oil everywhere. Cleaning up oil can be a pain; here are some tips that will help and make it slightly easier:

• Pour cola on the oily or dry stained areas, and leave the cola on overnight. Squirt a generous amount of dishwashing liquid into a bucket until you have a good lather. Rinse with the soapy water, then with a garden hose.

• Sprinkle baking soda or an absorbent powder such as cornmeal or sawdust on the oily spots. If the stain is dry, wet it first to make a scouring paste. Scrub with a stiff brush or push broom.

• Sprinkle automatic dishwasher detergent on the oily concrete. Leave it for several minutes, then pour boiling water on the stained area. Scrub with a stiff brush or push broom, then rinse.

• Try a commercial concrete cleaner such as Garage and Driveway Cleaner by Red Devil Co. or a grease solvent such as Benzine. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

• Sprinkle trisodium phosphate (TSP) on the oily concrete. If the stain is dry, wet it first. Let it stand for 30 minutes. Scrub using a stiff broom. TSP is a dangerous product; if you must use it, wear rubber or latex gloves, safety goggles and protective clothing. Also, never wash a TSP product down storm drains.

• As a last resort, combat tough spills with muriatic acid and a pressure washer. Apply the acid following the manufacturer’s directions, and let it soak for several seconds. Follow with a pressure washer set at 2,500 to 3,000 lbs. per square inch (psi), or 176 to 211 kg per square cm. Like TSP, muriatic acid is a dangerous product; likewise, if you must use it, wear rubber or latex gloves, safety goggles and protective clothing, and never wash such a product down storm drains.

• After trying any of the strategies above, sprinkle baking soda over the cleaned area to neutralize the solution you’ve used.

• Opting for professional pressure washing services offers a highly effective solution. Boat owners can rely on services like Pressure Washing Services in Tarrant Co, TX By ARP Wash to restore the pristine condition of their driveways, sidewalks, and garage floors. With specialized equipment and expertise, these services offer a powerful and efficient way to eliminate stubborn oil stains, ensuring a clean and well-maintained environment.

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Making Lemonade Out of Life’s Lemons

Making Lemonade Out of Life's LemonsLast year, Boating Industry reported that 2007 was the worst year for boat sales, with 2008 projected to decline further. While this report may seem a bit on the grim side, it may also be a good time to take advantage and buy a new boat or replace that engine and give your boat some new parts.

While some may consider this kicking the small business owner while they’re down, a surge in these kinds of purchases could very well help in reviving sagging boat sales. Whether you buy a boat, replace a steering wheel or buy large amounts of marine engine oil, every contribution will help and ensure that there is a viable boating community out there.

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Record High for Oil (Again)

Record High for Oil (Again)Today oil prices surged, yet again, to $127 a barrel. On the heels of this news are the concerns that oil prices will not go down as Memorial Day weekend (the unofficial first day of summer travel) looms closely. That said, outboard motor oil prices are also scheduled for a slight price increase. Do yourself a favor and start buying oil for the summer now. Don’t wait around or you’ll be apt to spend your summer on land.

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Oil Lobbyists to Appeal to American Public

Oil Lobbyists to Appeal to American PublicToday, the Washington Post reported that the American Petroleum Institute, the industry’s main oil lobby, is embarking on a multiyear, multimedia, multimillion-dollar campaign.

The intended audience is elected officials and the public, with an emphasis on the latter. The industry is trying to convince voters — who, in turn, will make the case to their members of Congress — that rising energy prices are not the producers’ fault and that government efforts to punish the industry, especially with higher taxes, would only make pricing problems worse.

The campaign has stirred outrage among consumer groups. They complain that the industry is using its outlandish profits to make even more money, and that its advertisements use statistics selectively.

The news comes on the heels of a brief record high of bulk oil prices coming in at $126 a barrel, before falling back down to $124.

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Buy Now and Save for the Summer

Buy Now and Save for the SummerOil prices continue to climb and even though we’re still in the last few weeks of the Spring season, you may want to consider buying your outboard motor oil now. As it stands, many retailers – especially online – are still able to carry top notch brands such as Yamalube and Evinrude and discounted prices. Don’t dawdle and get your oil before the Summer starts.

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Dems Unveil Bill that Targets OPEC and Oil Firms

bulk oilToday as bulk oil prices again reached a record high of $124 a barrel, Democratic leadership in Washington, D.C. unveiled the Consumers First Energy Act. The bill contains provisions that feature a 25% windfall profits tax on oil companies in the U.S., as well as giving the U.S. Attorney General authority to bring price collusion charges to OPEC.

GOP leaders also had a plan to open up oil production and drilling in Alaska.

While legislators work on a solution, analysts are now predicting barrel prices to reach $160 by fall.

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