Boating | Outboard Motor Oil - Part 36

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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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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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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How to Change an Oil Filter on Your Boat

outboard oilPart of making your boat run well is to regularly change your oil filter. Ideally, you’ll want to change your outboard oil filter every 100 hours, or at the top of the season. Here’s a guide on how to do it yourself:

• Because you’ll have to drain and then refill the oil, you’ll need to pull the boat out of the water onto dry land.

• Remove the engine cover, which is usually held in place with the use of one or two latches. Simply pull down on it and lift it straight up. Let it set off to the side — being careful not to scratch its surface.

• Here are some key parts and elements on the engine:

• Dip Stick — Simply pull it out to examine the condition of the oil inside the crank case.

• Fill — The fill for the engine oil screws on and off.

• Drain Plug — The manufacturer installed the drain plug for the crank case oil in what’s called the “mid-section” of the outboard engine. You simply loosen it to drain the oil.

• Before getting into the oil change, bring in a table and turn the steering wheel so that the drain plug on the motor is facing inward. Then trim the engine all the way up and place an oil pan on the table and under the drain plug.

• Back the drain plug out with the socket wrench, and be sure to have the oil pan right under the plug because the oil will flow freely.

• Once all of the oil has drained, wipe up any excess oil with a rag or absorbent pad.

• Replace the drain plug and tighten it securely.

• To change the oil filter, which needs to be changed every time to change the oil, you won’t be able to use a traditional oil-filter wrench because they’re too large. What you’ll need is a strap wrench that slips right over the filter cap. Pull it tight and then try to loosen the cap. If the strap slips, you may have to clean the filter cap with an absorbent pad. If this doesn’t work, get a screwdriver and hammer and simply drive (by tapping) the screwdriver tip down into the cap, and then rotate the filter until it becomes loose enough to take off.

• Before you replace the old oil filter with the new one, dip your finger into the old oil and rub a bead of the oil around the edge of the new filter’s gasket o-ring. This will make the job of removing this filter that much easier when it’s time to replace it.

• Screw the new oil filter into position.

• Now that the oil filter is in place and the drain plug is secured tightly, it’s time to remove the plug for the fill and add the three quarts of oil using a funnel.
• Warning: Every engine is different so be sure to check with the manufacturer’s manual for how much oil to use.

• The last thing you need to complete the oil and filter change is to pull out the dip stick in order to make sure you have enough oil.

• Please always dispose of discarded engine oil at an approved collection center.

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U.S. Finally Hits $4 a Gallon for Gas

bulk oil Bulk oil once again hit a mood swing as it surged towards $140 a barrel, only to fall by day’s end. However, the average gas price has hit $4 a gallon, though some areas have been paying up to $4.45 a gallon for regular unleaded gas.

Oil also continues to decline based on the lack of consumption based on the current record break gas prices.

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Checklist for the Summer

Checklist for the SummerThe summer vacation season began two weeks ago and the official start date for summer is another week away. The prime time for boating is now and if you’ve already cleaned your boat and changed your marine engine oil, you should go over a checklist of some of the safety precautions you need to know about:

Required by Law:
• Approved wearable flotation device for each person readily accessible
• Additional throwable flotation device on boats over 16 feet
• Persons 12 and under must wear a personal flotation device while underway
• Fire extinguisher if fuel tank or engine is enclosed
• Running lights after sunset or during restricted visibility
• State registration card on board
• Registration number and validation sticker displayed
• Do not operate a boat under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Observe navigation rules
• Do not overload boat
• Sound signaling device

Other Items:
• Do not occupy ramp until boat is ready to launch
• Notify others of your schedule
• Obtain weather forecasts
• Navigation charts
• Bail bucket
• Anchor and line
• Paddle
• Secure boat to trailer after loading
• Trailer lights
• Reduce speed at night
• Check for gasoline fumes
• Motor kill switch
• 170 degree wide-angle rear view mirror

Wear Your Personal Flotation Device
• 80% of drowning victims in boating accidents were not wearing a personal flotation device.

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Prolonging the Life of Your Boat

marine engine oilYou should change your marine engine oil and filter every 100 hours or every season, which ever comes first. This simple piece of maintenance is often overlooked because it is not quite as easy as changing the oil in your automobile. Following is a step-by-step process which you can follow to make the chore more bearable.

Equipment Needed:
• An oil filter wrench to fit each size of spin-on filter you have
• A box of Zip-Lock baggies large enough to hold an oil filter
• A wrench the correct size for your crankcase drain plug, and a pan shallow enough to fit under your engine if possible or,
• A dipstick-tube oil drain pump and bucket big enough to hold all the oil or,
• An oil drain pump permanently fitted to your crankcase drain plug and bucket
• A roll of paper towels
• New oil filter(s)
• A supply of fresh oil as recommended by your engine manufacturer

Step-by-Step:
• Run the engine(s) until warmed to at least 130 degrees
• Drain the oil using the pump, or into the pan
• Replace the plug or close the valve
• Loosen the oil filter on the engine until it can be turned by hand
• Put a Zip Lock Baggie around the filter, and unscrew the rest of the way
• Use a paper towel to catch drips from the filter’s mounting
• Seal the zip lock baggie keeping the filter upright
• Put it into the new filter’s box
• Using your finger, wet the O-ring atop the new filter with fresh, clean oil
• Screw on the new filter until just finger-tip tight
• Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation as to tightening with the wrench
• Re-fill the crankcase with new oil (see your engine handbook)
• Be sure to add a quart for the filter
• Wipe up any drips
• Start the engine and let it run a few minutes
• Checking to be sure oil pressure comes up and there are no oil leaks around the filter or drain plugs
• Dispose of the oil properly at an approved disposal facility

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Choosing the Right Engine Oil

YamalubeDepending on your engine type, how fast it could potentially go and how quickly it will burn through oil, you have several brands to choose from. Some people align their engine brand with the oil (such as using Yamalube oil for Yamaha engines), and others shop around. When I bought my boat, I posted on a message board to find out what people recommended and that worked out pretty well since I was able to go with a brand, though not corporately related to my engine, my engine runs of a premium rate.

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Protecting Your Boat from the Elements

Protecting Your Boat from the ElementsThis week marks the beginning of hurricane season. Here are some basic tips to help you out in case you live in a region of the country that is afflicted by these storms:

  • You are responsible for taking precautionary measures to protect your boat because marine authorities such as the U.S. Coast Guard will not be in a position to offer assistance prior to the storm, and you may be held responsible for damages caused to other persons or property by your boat.
  • Purchase and stow line specifically for hurricane use. As a general rule, line should be twice the diameter of your normal line.
  • All boat hurricane preparations should be completed 48 hours before a hurricane arrives. This will allow you to concentrate on your family and home.
  • Secure all hatches and tape all windows from the inside. Seal all openings with duct tape to make the boat as watertight as possible.
  • Check the batteries for a full charge and make sure bilge pumps are working.
  • Shut off all fuel lines and close thru hull fittings.
  • Remove all electronics and outboard motors to prevent destruction or theft.
  • Remove any liquids, such as outboard motor oil, to prevent it from spilling out all over your boat.
  • If you have a boat with a trailer, remove the boat from the water and secure both boat and trailer to high land. If you prefer, remove the boat from the trailer and lash down each separately. Trailer should be firmly anchored to prevent or minimize damage.
  • Let the air out of tires before tying the trailer down. Place blocks between the frame members and the axle inside each wheel. Secure with heavy lines to fixed objects from four different directions, if possible.
  • Place your boat in a sheltered area next to a wall, etc. to provide added protection from falling tree limbs and debris.
  • If you will be anchoring out, do not stay on your boat. Have a designated “hurricane hole.” Avoid shoal areas and look for areas with high embankments. Consult responsible marine literature for best anchorage and anchoring methods.
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