2 Cycle Oil | Outboard Motor Oil - Part 12

Trimming Back Trees

In addition to my weed whacking and edging duties, I’m also responsible for trimming back trees. Dead tree limbs that could crash onto the roof are the first to be taken apart with a chainsaw. Branches that cross property lines are the next to go. Finally, I do some general trimming for aesthetics.

I used to buy the two cycle oil needed for the chainsaw down at the hardware store. Then, I discovered that the two cycle outboard oil brand I use for my boat also carries a line of general two stroke oil. The shop where I purchase my boat oil is now my destination for my chainsaw and weed whacker oil, too. I’d rather they have my money than a big box chain store.

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Getting the Garden in Shape

Spring has sprung which means a lot more yard work for me. Even though my wife is the one who plants all the flower beds, I somehow wind up responsible for their upkeep. Part of that upkeep involves weed whacking and edging.

To make the work a bit easier, I use a two stroke weed whacker. It’s pretty state of the art in that I can get up really close to the edges of the flower beds without risking chopping off the heads of the flowers. Plus, it doesn’t cost too much to maintain the weed whacker; all I really spend money on is some two cycle oil at the beginning of the season and some fuel when it’s needed.

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Reducing Outboard Smoke

For a long time I swore by using mineral oil in my outboard motor. Year after year I experienced zero issues with the particular brand of motor oil I used. I’m not sure if the brand changed their formula or if my engine simply succumbed to its age, but the outboard started smoking far more than usual.

To reduce the outboard smoke, a mechanic friend of mine suggested I use synthetic oil outboard motor instead. I was reluctant but eventually did make the switch. Much to my surprise, the synthetic oil did the trick! From that point on I didn’t have any further issues with a smoking outboard.

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Northwest Seaport

Last week I dedicated a lot of space to Mystic Seaport. This week I’m going to take you to the opposite coast to the Northwest Seaport Maritime Heritage Center in Seattle, WA. Not surprisingly, the Northwest coast has a rich maritime history. In the 1960s a campaign called “Save Our Ships” was launched to save the Wawona, which was successfully bought in 1964.

The Wawona was a three-masted fore-and-aft schooner. It was used as a lumber carrier and fishing vessel from 1897 to 1947. Unfortunately, the Wawona was slated to be towed to a dry dock and dismantled in 2009. The schooner’s masts had already been removed three years earlier for safety reasons. I’m glad I got to see the ship before it was destroyed. When I’m shopping for Mercury 2 cycle oil this week I’ll ask my buddies if they’d like to go check out the Seaport sometime.

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Missoula, Montana

Yes, number two on my list of best places for trout fishing is also in Montana. Would you expect anything less? Montana is Big Sky country, after all. Missoula is typically though of as a laid-back college town with a fishing addiction.

The bouldery Blackfoot and Bitteroot empty into the Clark Fork, which in turn has 300 miles of fishable water. I first discovered this waterway while following the Lewis and Clark trail on a summer vacation. I vowed to go back and fish there and the Missouri, that is also full of rainbow and brown trout. Neither location disappointed me, my boat and its 2 cycle oil.

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Top Trout Fishing Towns: West Yellowstone, Montana

This week I’d like to focus on where to catch the most delicious trout. Number one on my list is West Yellowstone, Montana. The town is a unique hodge-podge of locals and thousands of tourists who come to see the famed Yellowstone National Park. As far as fishing goes, Firehole River, Gibbon River, and Slough Creek are simply incredible.

Though I can’t vouch for it firsthand, I’ve heard great things about Gallatin. (A fun piece of trivia: the film ‘A River Runs Through It’ was filmed in Gallatin). A half hour away is the spectacular Henry’s Fork of the Snake River. I’m licking my chops just thinking about the great trout that is caught there. Hopefully I can get there this summer with my boat and some Yamalube oil, and catch a few trout for myself.

 

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Channel Bass

Channel bass, also known as red drum, is a delectable fish that can weigh between 30 and 60 pounds. There have even been channel bass caught that have weighed in at over 80 pounds. Reeling one in is quite a feat, especially when you factor in how much of a fight they put up.

When I was living on the east coast, I got to experience red drum fishing firsthand in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina. Nowadays, red drum fishing is primarily catch-and-release due to coastal restrictions along the North Carolina coast. Still, I would rate taking my outboard motor boat with Yamalube 2W oil and catching a red drum as one of my proudest fishing moments.

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Tarpon Fishing in Boca Grande, FL

Tarpons are among the most desirable saltwater game fish. They can grow quite large and they put up a huge fight when hooked. If you’ve ever seen a leaping tarpon then you know exactly what I’m talking about.

One of the best destinations in the U.S. to bag a tarpon is in Boca Grande, Florida. The town boasts plenty of guides, charters, and rental equipment for out of town guests looking for a piece of the tarpon action. I hope one day to take my own boat down there, lubed up with Yamalube 2-M, and give tarpon fishing a go.

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Unmistakably Yamaha

The 212SS is all new for 2012. The 21-footer can fit a number of passengers, yet maintains a sporty look. My favorite features of the boat are the twin engines. The high output 1.8 liter engines go from zero to 30 mph in exactly four seconds. When pushed, the engine can reach 55 mph.

I also love the helm and steering of the 212SS. The engineers were clearly inspired by sports cars and featured the gauges and controls accordingly. Next time I pick up some yamalube 2 cycle oil I’ll be sure to chat up my mechanic as to what he thinks of the new 212SS.

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Yamaha 212X

I’ve added the Yamaha 212X boat to my list of pleasure boats my wife will never let me purchase. The 212X is a 21-footer built for water sports enthusiasts. The tower boat is driven by 1.8 liter precision-engineered Yamaha engines. According to the manufacturer, the 212X can go from zero to 30 in exactly four seconds.

Nine people can be comfortably seated inside the boat with plenty of room leftover for storing wakeboarding and water skiing gear. In fact, the built in wakeboard racks fold down for easy towing and storage. Ballast tanks create massive wake while the cruise assist maintains optimal towing speed. From boats to Yamaha oil is there anything Yamaha Marine doesn’t do well?

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Yamaha AR190

Even though we’re over a month into the New Year, I’ve just now begun drooling over the new line of Yamaha boats. The 2012 AR190, for example, allegedly “redefines everything that boaters should expect in a 19-foot boat.” In addition to its considerable length, the AR190 features a wet storage compartment, cup holders, upholstered backrest, and a swim platform.

The cockpit has an integrated helm design. I can tell from the photos that Yamaha definitely thought about ease of use in their lay-out, unlike some manufacturers who prefer design over function. In the bow, two adults can stretch out comfortably – something I’ll be sure to mention to my wife when I ask for permission to buy this pleasure boat. For now, I need to read up on a few technical details, such as does the AR190 take Yamaha 2W oil?

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Parts of a Two Cycle Outboard

I’ve been asked to give a brief refresher course as to how a two cycle engine works. There are three main components of a two cycle engine: spark plugs, compression, and power valve system. The spark plugs ignite the combustion mixture, thus generating power in the combustion stroke. The igniting spark plugs move the pistons up and down, compressing the crankcase mixture, and opening the exhaust port so a fresh supply of fuel can be taken in.

As the piston moves down toward the spark plug, the combustion mixture is compressed, thus creating a vacuum in the crankcase. The vacuum in turn causes the reed valve to open, the combustion mixture to be drawn out, and the cycle is then started over. The power valve system closes the exhaust port during piston cycles for better low-speed engine power. Now that you have a better understanding of how a two cycle engine works, you’ll know better than to supply the engine with anything other than premium two cycle outboard oil.

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