Easy Oil Spill Solutions

If you’re like me and you take care of all your own boat maintenance, every once in a while you’ll have a spill. Cleaning up an oil spill is much simpler than most people think. In fact, you probably have most of the items you need right in your own home.

Baking soda, for instance, is a natural cleaning agent that soaks up oil. It also absorbs odors extremely well. Baby powder is effective, too. For larger spills, like a leaky bulk oil container, use cat litter. The litter comes in bigger bags so you can spread it more easily over a wide area.

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Practical Gift Giving

Have you ever opened a present and said, “Oh, no, you shouldn’t have!” and inside your head thought, “No, really, you shouldn’t have.” I’ve never understood why people give knick-knacks, tchokes, and other random items that will likely never be used. Those items may have been given with love, but they end up wasting space. I much prefer giving and receiving practical gifts.

For example, instead of giving each other subpar $10 gifts this season, by buddies and I decided to go in on bulk motor oil. We all enjoy fishing fall through summer, so this gift will definitely be used. I’ll take this kind of gift over another reindeer tie any day.

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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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Transporting an Outboard Motor

Today we’re going to touch on proper transportation. This may seem like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised by the number of boat owners who cause damage to their outboard motors by not transporting them correctly. Driving with the outboard motor loaded to the transom is fine, but if the outboard is in the “up” position with an unsupported lower unit, every bump in the road is concentrated on the bolts of the fiberglass transom.

Now you may be thinking to yourself, “I always transport my motorboat the way you described. If I don’t, the motor will scrape the lake bottom when landing.” True, a tilt may be necessary, but there is no good reason to not right the motor once the boat has been loaded onto the trailer. Once the boat has been loaded, the motor lowered, and the hull cleaned, take the opportunity to check to see if the motor needs to be topped off with the best outboard motor oil.

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Top Five Fishing Cities: New Orleans


I’ve only visited New Orleans once and it was as a volunteer to re-build homes in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Fishing wasn’t a top priority at that time. Though the city still hasn’t fully recovered, I’ve heard from friends in the area that the fishing has improved significantly.

Just like Field & Stream, my friends recommended City Park and Bayou Segnette. The Bayou is ideal for largemouth fish. The city and surrounding area are checkered with marshes, canals, and ponds begging to be explored. Next time I get an opportunity to go down there, I’ll bring my boat and some extra Amalie oil.

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Top Five Fishing Cities: Seattle


Seattle is also a no-brainer addition to the list. I lived just outside Seattle for a number of years and can verify that locals are spoiled with an abundance of delicious fresh salt and freshwater fish. I used to take out my 2 stroke oil engine motorboat on Puget Sound and catch halibut, flounder, cod, and salmon.

Lake Union is teeming with smallmouths, crappies, and perch. Lake Washington has over 100 species of fish, including sockeye salmon. If you’re willing to travel a bit further, steelheads can be caught on the Snohomish, Snoqualmie, Skagit, and Sauk Rivers. A great fishing daytrip to the Yakima River can yield rainbow trout.

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Top Five Fishing Cities: The Twin Cities

Of course Minneapolis and St. Paul made the cut! They are located in the ‘Land of 10,000 Lakes’ aka Minnesota. I have frequented the Twin Cities because they have some of the best freshwater fishing in the nation.

The mighty Mississippi river flows through the cities and offers up a delectable offering of bass, walleyes, muskies, and catfish. You may want to check local regulations, but I’ve had no problems taking out my outboard motorboat filled with 2 cycle oil. Lakes litter the area, so ask locals for some tips. I personally favor White Bear Lake and North Arbor Lake in Hennepin County.

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Top Five Fishing Cities: San Diego


Despite having traveled to California many times in my life, I have never gone fishing in San Diego. To be honest, when I think about San Diego, I instantly think of the zoo rather than ‘I’d better bring my fishing reel.’ That being said, Field & Stream made some interesting points.

San Diego Bay has a sustainable population of small bonefish, as well as barracudas. Offshore, massive yellow fin tuna, marlin and swordfish have been reeled onto boats (maintained with yamalube oil, I’m sure). Inland, San Diego has plenty of reservoirs where catfish, panfish, and crappies flourish. Day trips to Mexican waters from San Diego are also quite popular.

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Top Five Fishing Cities: Miami

As an avid outdoorsman, it should come as a surprise to no one that I read Field & Stream – “The world’s leading outdoor website.” A few years back they ranked America’s top five best fishing cities. I’ve fished in a quite a few of the areas they recommend; here’s my take on their top five list.

Coming in at number five was Miami. I’ve fished their several times when visiting my brother and sister-in-law. You can easily catch snapper, mackerel, seatrout, and drum off the piers. Biscayne Bay offers plenty of tarpon while Tamianmi canal offers peacock bass. In Miami you can take your motorboat, topped off with Yamalube 2W oil, out for a relaxing day of fishing or simply cast a line from shore. In my opinion, the only drawback is the heat!

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More Essential Yamaha Outboard Tools

Yesterday we detailed a few Yamaha outboard tools all responsible owners should have on hand. In continuing in that vein, boat owners should also carry extra spark plugs and a spark plug tool. On site swaps are not too difficult for a regular DIY-er.

Fluids, again, not strictly tools, are essential. You will want to have power trim and tilt fluid, like Performance Power, to ensure the prop shaft works properly. Yamalube 2W oil or Yamalube 4M oil, depending on what type of outboard motor you have, is necessary for proper motion and extending the lifespan of a motor. You may want to stock up on gear-case lubricant, too.

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Essential Yamaha Outboard Tools

To keep your Yamaha outboard running smoothly, there are several essential tools you should have in your shed. Take, for instance, a multimeter. The small, handheld tool is used to check electrical connections. It will help identify where problems stem from.

Stabilizer, conditioner, and battery protector are also important items to have in your possession, particularly if you use your outboard in extreme climates. Stabilizer and conditioner protect against ethanol damage, as well as fuel degradation. The battery protector does exactly what its name implies. Though not strictly a tool, responsible boat owners should always have extra lubricant, like Yamalube 2M oil, on their shelves.

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Installing a Water Pump, Part II

Once you’ve drained any remaining water from the hoses, you will want to remove all the bolts that hold the water pump to the block, and then carefully remove the pump. Scrape the old gasket off the engine block.

Find your new gasket and gasket sealer. Apply the gasket sealer to one side of the new gasket, then align the holes of the gasket with the water pump, and finally press the new gasket against the pump. Seal the exposed side with more gasket sealer. Put the new water pump into place, replace and hand-tighten the bolts. You can re-use and re-install the old drive belt pulleys and old hoses on the new water pump (provided neither is damaged). Don’t forget to check to see if the Yamalube 2M needs topping off!

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