Yamaha | Outboard Motor Oil - Part 19

Why Does Propeller Pitch Matter?

propllars1Yesterday we discussed the virtues of purchasing the proper propeller for one’s small boat. I received some correspondence from some longtime readers requesting specifics. The most common questions had to do with the “pitch” of the propeller and what that might mean for engine efficiency. So, thanks to popular demand, let’s take a closer look at that undervalued part that cuts through the water with authority.

Pitch refers to the distance a propeller moves forward with each rotation. This measurement is extremely important for boaters who want to achieve maximum RPM at full throttle with a normal load inside the boat. If a boat is overpropped, or has too much pitch, it will be slow to get on plane and it won’t respond immediately to the throttle. In other words, such a boat will act as a sluggard until a more suitable propeller is attached.

If the boat is underpropped, or doesn’t have enough pitch, it will effortlessly exceed the manufacturer’s recommended RPM, and it will hop along in the water. Find a happy medium where the given pitch of a propeller corresponds to recommended RPM, and you’ll be well on your way to achieving engine efficiency and saving a pretty penny. Try asking a boat dealer if you can water-test a few different props before buying. Don’t let your latest fixation on propellers distract you from mandatory maintenance duties, however. Some fresh 2 cycle oil always does a motor good.

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For Beginners, Keep it Simple

yamalube-2w-oilWith a vast array of products available for your boat and WaveRunner, it can be difficult to decide what products are right for you. If you are unfamiliar with purchasing oil and other products, stick with manufacturer and name brands until you are more familiar with product specifications. Products, such as Yamalube 2w oil, are specifically designed by the manufacturer for use in their machines.

These name brand products will ensure that you are getting the proper features in oil and other products to meet your needs. Once you become more familiar with the specific needs of your vehicle, you can try out other product lines. The manufacturer’s version, however, is a good starting point for the novice.

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Can a Fuel Flow Meter Save You Money?

fuel-flowEarlier this week, we provided a few simple suggestions to aid boat owners in a financial pickle. It’s amazing to consider how much money the average boater could save by just cutting down slightly on fuel costs. Recognizing that not everyone has the resources or the patience to conduct thorough tests to find a boat’s “sweet spot,” it’s time to highlight a technological innovation that does the job for you.

Just as most modern cars are equipped with a meter that tells the driver how many miles’ worth of fuel is left in the tank, a fuel flow meter can prove helpful in boats. As its name suggests, the meter measures the flow of fuel from the tank to the marine engine itself. That measurement shows up on the instrument panel in terms of gallons per hour. From there, the meter can extrapolate miles per gallon.

More than anything, a fuel flow meter works as an indicator of what improvements could be made to the boat. If your gallons per hour begins to increase, you can infer that something is wrong with the load on the boat, the throttle position, or that you’re going too fast. Stock up on plenty of Yamaha 2m oil, but take note when that supply begins to dwindle at an abnormally quick rate. Even with the help of a fuel flow meter, you’ll need to do some tinkering to truly streamline efficiency.

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Attaching an Outboard to Your Boat

installingboat

For the better part of the last week, we’ve been focusing on ways boaters can save money without reducing the precious time they get to spend cruising inland lakes, rivers and larger bodies of water. One of the best ways to cut costs is to find a solid, reliable outboard engine on the used market. After you’ve evaluated its structural integrity – and ensured that it’s suitable for use with TC-W3 2 stroke oil – it’s time to install the motor.

Consult the capacity plate on your boat to find out how much engine power the craft can handle. The shaft length of the engine should also match up with the boat’s transom height. Now it’s time to mount the outboard on the center of the transom; if it’s off-balance, you’ll encounter significant steering problems. Position the propeller so that it’s neither too low nor too high. If the propeller shaft juts too far out of the water, it will start to ventilate and wobble.

Beyond simply attaching an outboard motor to the transom, you’ll have to deal with wiring and instrumentation issues. Every marine engine features unique wiring quirks, and you may want to hire a professional for this part of the job. As far as instrumentation goes, you’ll need to choose between analog and digital. Analog relies on many independent wires to run each gauge while digital functions through the boat’s computer.

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Navigating the Used Boat Market

boat-for-sale

When it comes to creating the perfect fishing boat setup, I’m never satisfied. Sure, I’ve had my share of fun and caught my share of fish on old, beat-up boats, but it always seems like the grass is greener on the other side. Whenever I’m driving down the street or taking a walk around the neighborhood and I spot a “for sale” sign on a fishing boat, I immediately begin to take stock of my finances.

Still, I’ve learned plenty of lessons over the years about purchasing old boats and installing outboard motors. First, it’s important to realize that if a boat seems like too great of a deal, there’s probably a reason for it. Don’t skimp on your pre-purchase inspection – look things over thoroughly. The structural integrity of the hull is perhaps the single most critical factor. If the boat isn’t seaworthy, you’ll spend many times more for repairs than you did purchasing the vessel in the first place.

The next consideration involves the outboard motor. Will you be installing an old engine that’s sitting around in your garage or going after a brand new motor? There are several elements you’ll be able to reuse from your old outboard, including the gas tank, the battery and the steering system. Remember to check the shaft length of the outboard to make sure it corresponds with the boat’s transom. Top off the outboard with Yamaha oil before taking it for its second “maiden” voyage.

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Looking Back at the EPA Phase-In

outboard1Today’s boaters could be forgiven for putting the past out of mind. As recently as the 1990s, federal rules for outboard engine efficiency were much less stringent – to the point that pollution became a problem and the small boating industry became something of a scapegoat for environmental groups. Around 1996, the marine industry and the Environmental Protection Agency teamed up to create and enforce fuel standards.

That standard might seemed especially ambitious at the time – outboard engine hydrocarbon emissions were to be reduced by 75 percent from 1996 levels in just 10 years – but it was necessary to move forward. The phase-in started in 1998, and traditional carbureted 2-stroke engines were immediately targeted for a revamp. In the past, 2-strokes accounted for more than 12 times as much pollution as their 4-stroke counterparts.

Today, most of us would be hard-pressed to remember the days when 2-strokes lagged behind in terms of fuel efficiency and eco-friendliness. Direct fuel injection represented a tremendous boon by cutting down the ozone-forming exhaust coughed up by engines as much as 95 percent. The increased fuel efficiency of today’s outboards has allowed boaters to save serious cash on bulk oil. It’s important to note, however, that these regulations apply only to newer boats. The clean technology developed by manufacturers with the help of the EPA cannot be retrofitted to an old boat.

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Everyday Outboard Maintenance

boat-maintenances

Today we turn to a boating topic that’s often overlooked but cannot be understated – that of regular outboard maintenance. Most boat owners take the process of winterizing their boats quite seriously at the end of the season, but it’s easy to forget about the little things that should be done after each trip. By going over these simple steps every time you return to shore, you can help prolong the life of your outboard engine.

Before you do anything else, take a moment to flush out the engine. Some people claim that this step isn’t as important for freshwater boating, but it should be done in saltwater and freshwater as well. During the flushing process, keep an eye on the water pump to guarantee good water flow. Check the water temperature as it leaves the pump; it should still be warm. Weak flow suggests a blockage in the outflow tube.

Next, disengage the fuel line and burn off all the fuel in the carburetor. Turn the battery switch off and begin looking beneath the engine cowling for leaks. Lubricate the cables and carburetor valves, put the cowling back in place and then replenish your tank with Yamalube 2m oil or some similar high-quality outboard oil. Once you’ve completed this routine checklist, you can rest assured that your motor and fuel system are prepped for the next trip.

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More Battery Tips

boatpush

We recently discussed the importance of packing multiple battery systems for fishing excursions. One system should be devoted to the general operation of the boat – the cranking function that starts it up – and the other should be relegated to smaller tasks like keeping the radio, radar and GPS juiced up. You might be wondering how it’s possible to prevent one battery from being used up by providing power to all of the boat’s electrical needs.

Yamaha’s battery isolator system has the ability to recharge multiple batteries right onboard the boat. This is especially handy because it’s crucial to keep the cranking battery operational for the duration of a trip. There’s nothing worse than finding out that an outboard engine won’t restart during the middle of your journey. The battery isolator system senses which battery has the least energy and supplies it with a charge. If both are equally tapped or equally full, they each receive the same amount of power.

Note that batteries should always be mounted a safe distance away from the boat’s fuel system. Fuel lines, gas tanks and outboard motor oil in general should be kept separate from electronic components. By keeping these and other safety measures in mind, you can ensure a fun, relaxing late-season boat trip.

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Fishing Tips from a Yamaha Pro

fishingboat

For boat owners lucky enough to live in areas where the sun shines year round, fishing season is anything but over by mid September. According to professional angler Clark Wendlandt, many fishermen overlook one of the most bountiful places to catch a sizeable dinner – or maybe even a genuine trophy fish or two. If you begin and end your day of boating in a marina, you may not have to go far to find fish.

Rocky stretches of shoreline, and even man-made rock walls, are excellent hideouts for certain types of forage bass. The algae that grows along those rocks marks the bottom of the food chain, and small minnows gather to feast on the sustenance. Crawfish also prefer tiny crevices where they can hide from predators, and all of these elements combine to bring bass from miles around.

Wendlandt, who relies on Yamalube oil to help propel his boat around the lake, recommends fishing rocks early in the morning. That’s when the bass stay in relatively shallow water. He tends to use crankbaits when fishing rocky stretches and then, if that doesn’t work, switches to worms or even jigs. You don’t need to be a professional to recognize a great opportunity to catch fish.

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Cleaning the Carburetor

carburetor

Carburetors, which pull in air to be combined with a fuel/oil mixture, are essential to any smooth-running outboard motor. It’s a pity that these finicky devices are commonly associated with engine trouble. By the very nature of their operation, carburetors are often gummed up; they require cleaning on a regular basis. There is, however, one simple way to keep the carburetor clean as long as possible – that’s by sticking with a high-quality fuel/oil mixture such as Yamalube.

When gas evaporates, it tends to leave behind a gummy residue. If you don’t take preventative measures to discourage that buildup, you may have a sticky situation on your hands. Although many fuel additives claim the ability to clean an outboard carburetor, many of them actually contain strong solvents that will do lasting damage to the fuel system (just as ethanol would).

Rather than cleaning in the carburetor during the course of operating the outboard motor, you’ll likely need to disassemble it. Allow the carburetor to soak in some specially formulated cleaning fluid. Once reassembled and ready to go, you should notice an immediate difference in terms of engine performance.

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Ethanol: Fine for Cars, Not for Boats

ethanol

If you’ve been paying any attention to boating industry periodicals and other information sources, you’ve probably heard about the rise of ethanol fuel blends. These fuels, produced from grains such as corn, are mixed with standard petroleum to create a cleaner-burning end result. Auto owners are understandably excited about this development as it could mean a reduction in dependence on foreign oil and a stopgap solution until other alternative sources – such as electric – become more viable.

Many boat owners, on the other hand, have pointed out that ethanol and outboard engines don’t mix. Unlike cars, which by their very nature feature a high rate of fuel turnover, boats often see long periods of disuse. If a fuel with a high blend of ethanol sits dormant inside the fuel system too long, the results can be disastrous. Ethanol acts as a solvent – anathema to fuel tanks and lines. It can breakup the varnish deposits in the engine, sending them through the fuel filters to wreak havoc on the injectors.

At this moment in time, it remains rather easy for a boater to ensure that he or she doesn’t fall victim to a high-ethanol blend. Make sure that your fuel retailer lists the percentage of ethanol in a given blend. E10, which includes 10 percent ethanol, is widely considered safe for use in small boats. Anything more than that could be risky. Remember that in order to keep your outboard motor running with efficiency and longevity, you should stick with a proven product such as Yamaha oil.

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The Many Functions of Oil

yamaha-2w-oil

Last Christmas my family and I voyaged to the exciting land of Zimbabwe. It was our goal to focus on the true spirit of the season – loving and caring – instead of becoming caught up in presents and Santa Clause like the rest of the population. We figured it was about time to spend time with some people who were less fortunate than us, and strive to make a difference in their lives. Looking back now, it was them who inspired us.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by the leader of the tribe, Mocco Umbaba. He showed us to our sleeping quarters, which were tents made out of burlap canvas and oil barrels. As it turns out, Zimbabwe can get rather windy from time to time and the weight of the oil containers keeps the cloth tents from collapsing. I was completely blown away by the simplicity and functionality of their solution. After returning to the United States, I purchased several gallons of Yamaha 2w oil – I knew its heavy-duty composition was right for the job – and began testing ways I could use my purchase for something other than its intended function.

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