Fuel Economy Tip 6

Our sixth installment of fuel saving tips for boating enthusiasts is another critical step in ensuring you’re spending less at the pump this boating season. It’s really a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised at how often people forget this important money saving piece. It’s absolutely essential that you get to know and understand all of your gauges. When you know your gauges you’ll be able to better study them.

Readings like speed, rpm and fuel consumption will give you the information you need to easily find your boat’s ideal planning speed. If you’ve installed a fuel flow meter you can even monitor fuel usage in real time. This gives you a huge advantage as it allows for accurate adjustment of trim and throttle. The bottom line is, the better you know your gauges the better equipped you’ll be to make navigational and operational decisions while on the water. And don’t forget the optimum outboard motor oil to further maximize your fuel savings.

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Fuel Economy Tip 5

The fifth installment of our fuel economy tips is something a lot of people simply don’t think about enough. Proper trimming ensures that water resistance is minimized in all circumstances. Although maintaining proper trim can sometimes be complicated, especially under certain water or weather conditions, it remains a critical aspect of maximizing your motor’s fuel efficiency.

Needlessly moving water through your props is a sure-fire way to cut down on fuel efficiency. When you’re moving water for no apparent reason, you’re also burning excess fuel for no apparent reason. Getting up on plane quickly and maintaining your optimum cruising speed is critical to proper trimming. In addition , you can maximize your efforts by ensuring that the weight on your boat is evenly distributed. You can also try Evinrude XD50 oil in your two-cycle outboard motor to increase fuel efficiency.

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Fuel Economy Tip 4

The fourth installment of our fuel economy tips involves something we know quite well: stay on top of motor maintenance by regularly changing oil and plugs. For example, if you have a Yamaha motor you’ll want to take a look at Yamalube to help maximize performance and save the most at the gas pump. Each engine will have its own specific requirements and recommendations so be sure to check with the manufacturer to find out exactly what type of oil is best for your motor.

Also, regularly check your plugs to make sure they’re clean and properly seated in the motor. This would also be an excellent opportunity to check to see if one or all of them need to be replaced. Remember, when trying to maximize fuel efficiency in any type of gasoline powered engine there’s nothing that beats regular maintenance. And in order to get the most out of your maintenance, make sure you know what you’re doing and be very thorough in your routine inspections.

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Fuel Economy Tip 3

Our third fuel efficiency tip is something many avid boaters forget about. Propeller choice, maintenance and care are as critical to fuel efficiency as anything else and therefore shouldn’t be ignored when preparing for your upcoming boating season. Choose a propeller that allows your boat to perform at the higher end of the manufacturer’s specifications for wide-open throttle rpm. Of course, you’ll want to make sure this is when you’re carrying your standard amount of gear for an outing in the boat.

Also, be sure to check for nicked and dinged blades before heading out on the water. These cut down on the propeller’s efficiency and will have very negative effects on your overall fuel economy. Being careful while out on the water and regularly inspecting your props will help you save money by ensuring your props are operating at optimum efficiency. A little Evinrude outboard oil also couldn’t hurt and is proven to help maintain prop efficiency. Don’t skimp out on this, it’s as important as anything else and could make a world of difference next time you fork over a wad of cash for a little gas.

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Beat High Fuel Costs Part 2

Tip Number 2: Slim Down on Gear
The second installment of our money saving tips for more affordable boating might be a bit challenging for some. When you’re heading out on the water for several hours you want to be prepared. What’s more, you’ll want to enjoy the comforts of home. The problem is, hauling all that stuff can have catastrophic consequences for fuel efficiency. In order to do this you’ll want to examine what you’re taking with you and what could potentially be left off the boat during your next outing.

A lot of boaters will take out as much fuel and water as their boat can hold and this is a classic mistake. Rather than haul all that unnecessary stuff you can take just what you need for the day and save yourself some serious headaches at the pump. You can also save yourself some serious cash with regular maintenance and a good motor oil. Buying bulk outboard motor oil is a great way to help increase fuel economy no mater how much you’re hauling.

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High Fuel Prices Won’t Keep Everyone Off the Water

With skyrocketing fuel prices that are making us cringe at the gas-pump many people can’t bring themselves to pay the fuel bill for some recreational activities. Fortunately we’ve run across some handy tips over the years for those who don’t want to sacrifice their much needed relaxation and hobbies because fuel prices are too high. Today we’ll share with you the first installment in the fuel-saving tip guide that will keep you sane and out of the poor-house.

Tip Number 1: Smart Navigation
Boats are well-known to perform less than optimally in messy chop or when moving against currents. When having to deal with less than ideal conditions it’s more important than ever to pay close attention to where you’re going and when. The best way to avoid finding yourself in undesirable waters is to get to know your local waterways, current and tide cycles and weather patterns. Pay close attention to the currents and wind patterns and you could even boost your fuel efficiency by riding sympathetic currents. But no matter the conditions, you’ll want to maintain your boats engine with Evinrude XD50 oil. It’s great in several types of weather conditions and certainly won’t hurt fuel economy.

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East Coast Escapes Yearly Storms

Neither of this year’s category-4 hurricanes, Danielle and Earl, made landfall on the Atlantic Coast during the late-summer storm cycle. But that doesn’t mean residents didn’t feel the effects of the two very powerful tropical storms. 70-80 mph winds were reported in both the Outer Banks and in some New England states as the two storms slid up the coastline. If Earl had not weakened and remained 85 miles off shore, it would have torn through the Outer Banks with catastrophic effect.

Danielle, on the other hand, stayed several hundred miles of shore and had less of an effect on coastal communities as the two storms went up the East Coast in August and September. This comes as good news to avid boaters in the Eastern United States who will be able to enjoy this season’s shorelines without having to rebuild from a cataclysmic hurricane season. I know I’ll be taking my boat out as soon as possible, that’s why I’ve already stocked up on boat motor oil for the season to come.

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The Two-Stroke Engine Cycle: Part Three

After reading the two previous blog posts, you’ve probably realized that the piston is the star of the show in the two-stroke engine. It serves three main purposes during the engine cycle. First, it acts as the combustion chamber, pressurizing the mixture of air, gas and Yamaha oil and capturing the power created by the subsequent ignition of that fuel. In addition, the piston also serves as the crankcase when it facilitates the flow of air and fuel into the system via the reed valve.

While all of this is occurring, the piston is also taking the place of the valves as it covers the intake and exhaust ports in the cylinder walls. The multifaceted nature of the piston is what allows for the two-stroke engine’s lightweight and powerful construction. Remember that the piston is under constant tension and doesn’t have a direct source of lubrication, so be sure to be diligent when you’re mixing your gas and oil.

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The Two-Stroke Engine Cycle: Part Two

Now that the first of the two strokes is complete, it’s time for the compression stroke. After the first stroke, the momentum created in the crankshaft propels the piston back to the spark plug. When the piston compresses the combination of air, gas and Yamalube 2S oil, it creates a vacuum which opens the reed valve and allow the mixture to be extricated from the carburetor.

Once the piston makes it through the combustion stroke, the cycle simply starts again. This combination of compression and combustion strokes explains the “two-stroke” portion of the engine’s name. Four-stroke engines have separate intake and exhaust cycles in addition to the combustion and compression strokes.

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The Two-Stroke Engine Cycle: Part One

Each cycle of any engine begins at the spark plug. Two-stroke engines derive their power from the fact that the spark plug fires once every rotation, as opposed to every other. When the spark plug fires, the mixture of fuel and air in the cylinder ignites to drive down the piston. As the piston moves downward, it compresses the mixture of air and fuel into the crankcase. The the piston creates pressure in the cylinder, pushing the gases out of the exhaust port.
 
The intake port is then covered as the piston reaches the bottom of the stroke. Because the mixture is pressurized in the crankcasae, it rushes into the cylinder. This displaces the excess gas and fills the cylinder with a new supply of fuel and Yamaha 2M oil. Now that this phase of the cycle is complete, tomorrow we’ll have the riveting conclusion: the compression stroke!

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Disadvantages of Two-Stroke Engines

After reading yesterday’s post, you may be wondering why two-stroke engines aren’t used in more applications; after all, they’re lighter, simpler, cheaper and more powerful than four-strokes. For starters, because two-stroke engines are light and powerful, the system takes more abuse and tends to wear out quickly, which isn’t good for machines like automobiles. In addition, the lubrication system in the two-stroke has been simplified so the gasoline and 2 stroke oil are held together. While this is convenient, it doesn’t provide dedicated lubrication to the engine.

The immense power output from two-stroke motors does come at the expense of efficiency. Not only do two-stroke engines burn through oil rapidly, the oil is also expensive in itself. To compound the issue, two-stroke engines also have poor fuel economy. And the burning of all that gasoline and oil means that two-stroke engines emit a surfeit of pollution. During the cycle, fuel and air leak out the combustion chamber as well, posing a particular threat for marine applications.

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