Interpreting Evinrude Outboard Serial Numbers

Have you ever wondered what the serial numbers on your outboard engine represent? Let’s start with the first digit. Most likely you see an E or a J. These stand for Evinrude and Johnson, respectively. If you see a different letter, it may mean that your engine was not built for the American market.

The next group of digits will be a series of two or three numbers; these indicate horsepower. Two or three letters will come next and identify the motor’s trim. Next comes a single letter either L, Y, X or Z, each of which corresponds to a driveshaft length. Finally you’ll see two letters indicating the year a model was built. There may be one more letter, but this only has significance to the manufacturer and not the consumer. Pair this with the knowledge you learned yesterday about Evinrude XD50 oil and you’ll know far more than a lot of recreational boaters.

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Winterizing an Inboard/Outboard Motor

Unless you live in Miami, you need to winterize your inboard/outboard motor. It’s already December, so chances are if you haven’t already scheduled an appointment at the marina, you’ll need to do the job yourself. Removing the water from the engine is a fairly simple task that you should be able to complete on your own.

Start by lowering the engine into the down position and then allow the water in the unit to drain away. Next, remove the drain plugs so the water can drain into the bilge. Newer drain plugs are made of plastic and can easily be turned by hand. Once the draining is complete, reattach the plugs, and then drain the bilge. While you’re winterizing your machine, make sure that you are stocked up on boat motor oil for next season.

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Expect Fickle, Fluctuating Oil Prices This Week

Oil futures are trading higher today than expected after Hurricane Gustav moved through Louisiana, though they did fall to about $108 a barrel this morning. The majority of New Orleans levees held strong and the hurricane missed vital areas where oil refineries are located, though it did pass through a zone where many oil and gas-producing rigs are located and the LOOP (Louisiana Offshore Oil Port), which is an important facility where ships deliver crude oil, heating oil and gasoline. There has been some visual damage to the facilities, but the extent of the damage is not yet known. (LOOP’s website indicates that it is not operating at this time in a message posted on August 30.) At the present time, 25% of United States crude oil production has ceased and inventory levels are expected to decline until production can be brought back to typical levels.

With two new hurricanes suddenly in the mix, this week’s bulk oil prices look more uncertain. Hurricane Hanna looks to be headed toward the East Coast of the U.S., while Hurricane Ike may be headed toward the Gulf. The best-case scenario is that both hurricanes will reduce the number of ships heading toward LOOP. The worst-case scenario is that Hurricane Ike could delay repair from Gustav’s effects and postpone normal oil production. At any rate, oil and gas prices are bound to be erratic and hard to predict this week.

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Oil and Natural Gas Prices Rise as Gustav Threatens U. S. Gulf

Several of the largest oil manufacturers in the Gulf Coast area have evacuated their drilling rigs or are in the immediate process of doing so as Gustav is projected to be the worst Gulf of Mexico hurricane since Katrina. The Gulf of Mexico is home to 26% of United States bulk oil production, and the National Hurricane Center fears Gustav could accelerate into the hurricane category in that area by September 1.

Crude oil for October delivery rose about 1.5% to almost $120.00 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange this morning. Oil prices are about 66% higher than they were a year ago, and have gained about 3.3% since Gustav formed in the Caribbean on August 25.

Source: Bloomberg.com 8-28-08

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Price of Oil Still Rising This Week

Crude oil prices increased by over $1 a barrel yesterday as a declining dollar encouraged investors to buy stocks as an inflation hedge, or investment intended to protect against risk of inflation. (Natural resources operations stocks are one of the most popular commodities used as an inflation hedge, as its value predictably rises with inflation.)

“At this stage, the gyrations of the dollar are the primary movers of the oil market,” said Nauman Barakat, senior vice president of global energy futures at Macquarie Futures USA, Inc. in New York. “The focus will remain on the value of the dollar against the euro.” The price of bulk oil is up about 59% from a year ago.

(Information Courtesy of Bloomberg News)

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Happy 100th Anniversary, Evinrude!

Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP), the private company that owns the Evinrude brand, kicked off a year-long celebration of Evinrude’s 100th anniversary on February 14, 2008 at the Miami Boat Show. Always on the cutting edge of boating innovation, Evinrude moves into the future with its line of E-Tec outboard motors, the most environmentally friendly outboard motor in the world. Evinrude also has a popular line of boat motor oil.

“By letting people throw away the oars, Evinrude outboard engines have introduced scores of people to the joys of boating and turned these people into lifelong boating enthusiasts,” Roch Lambert, vice president and general manager of the outboard motor division at BRP, said at the time. “Indeed, in its proud history, Evinrude has sold more engines worldwide than any other outboard manufacturer. People know that buying an Evinrude means buying a trusted brand name that delivers everything they want in an outboard engine,” Mr. Lambert continued.

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Conflict Halts Last Week’s Decline in Oil Prices

Recent conflict between Russia and Georgia prevented the market from continuing last week’s 8% declines, and crude oil futures traded flat today. The accelerating conflict is over the Georgian province of South Ossetia and could threaten an oil pipeline in that region that produces 1 million gallons of oil each day.

The bulk oil market is also dependent on the value of the dollar. On Friday, the U. S. dollar was at its highest value against the euro in the last several months. However, some analysts see the weak economy as prevention from raised interest rates by the Federal Reserve, which would be essential to the dollar gaining positive momentum. It is feared that the price of oil could fall as low as $113.15 per barrel on Monday and eventually lead to further declines.

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The Debate Rages On

A few days ago in this blog, I compared 2-stroke and 4-stroke outboard motors. In the news this week, another question arose. The year 2006 was the original deadline the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gave for all outboard motors in use to meet new, more stringent emission requirements-levels so low that many consumers believed that 2-stroke motors would have to be done away with altogether, simply because they did not have the technology the EPA guidelines would require. However, almost three years later, two-stroke outboard motors are still being sold, even though statistics have shown that up to 40% of the gas and oil in a two-stroke motor’s gas tank enter the water unburned. One study suggests that a 70-horsepower outboard motor emits as many hydrocarbons per hour as the average automobile driven about 5,000 miles.

There are currently no regulations demanding the disposal of two-stroke outboard motors, which are still acceptable in all but a very few situations. Some of these motors are over 25 years old and still running smoothly, but their overall fan base is dwindling due to environmental concerns. The real issue is not with all two-stroke motors, but with the older models that are not directly oil- or fuel-injected, where the outboard motor oil and fuel are mixed in a can prior to use.

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Worldwide Oil Prices Holding Near $119 A Barrel

Oil prices held near $119 a barrel Wednesday as weekly data was being collected to further confirm declining crude oil demand in the United States. In Europe, New York and London, crude oil prices went down by margins from 53 cents per barrel to around $2.25 per barrel. Commodity market insiders speculated that oil prices would probably continue to drop unless the U. S. Energy Department’s Energy Information Administration’s weekly oil inventory report shows that gasoline stocks fell significantly as well.

The worldwide market appeared to be reacting to uncertain demand outlook in several countries. The U.S. Federal Reserve issued a statement Tuesday that its key interest rate would remain at 2 percent for the time being. In summation, the Fed statement said that higher energy prices were bound to affect the economy over the next few fiscal quarters, possibly lead to a marked reduction in the demand for bulk oil.

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Falling Oil Prices This Week

Oil prices fell to less than $122 a barrel this week, extending the decline of expectations that 2008’s rising energy costs are undercutting the demand for gasoline in the United States. The recent gradual strengthening of the U. S. dollar against the euro and the Japanese yen is also keeping bulk oil prices lower–investors tend to buy commodities when the dollar softens, selling when U. S. currency becomes healthier again.

Crude oil futures have declined significantly in the past three weeks. Prices remain about 60 percent higher than they were at this time last year.

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Electric Boats Gaining Increase in Popularity

Electric Boats Gaining Increase in Popularity Not unlike the growing popularity of hybrid cars, increasing gas prices are causing boating enthusiasts to think smart.

This year, as boat sales in general seems to have slowed, there has been a 50% growth in electric boat sales. The boats still utilize outboard motor oil, yet they provide relief at waterside gas stations, which generally charge more for gas than roadside gas stations, as there is little in the way of competition.

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Oil Prices Slide, Gas Prices Steady

Oil Prices Slide, Gas Prices Steady Once again, the prices of bulk oil have fallen, trading at $133.64 from nearly $140. Gas prices, however, remain around $4.11 per gallon. Though analysts suggest that the sporadic rise and fall of oil means that the previously mentioned breaking price of $150 per barrel will happen, the price jump has been a headache for many Americans, stifling traveling via plane or car; and even affecting the boating industry.

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In the News | Outboard Motor Oil