Mercury Engine Oil | Outboard Motor Oil - Part 4

Inflatable Ocean Runner

Sometimes when ad men try to be clever it actually works out. I was reading a review for the Ocean Runner inflatable boat and the tagline read, “Nothing dinghy about it!” Sure it’s a pretty bad pun, but it’s not inaccurate.

The Ocean Runner is an affordable Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB). The sandwich-laminated fiberglass hull has incredible maneuverability and performance. The deck is non-skid, the bow locker is integrated and securable, and it has a spacious interior for seating the whole family. It can also handle a four-stroke engine, lubricated, of course, by Mercury oil.

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Amanzi Inflatable Boat

After some nagging from my spouse, I finally got back on track researching inflatable boats we may actually purchase and use. The Amanzi rigid bottom inflatable boat by Mercury looks very promising. It can be used both as a tender and also as a daytime pleasure boat.

It comes with deck fuel filler, bow/stern cleats, a mooring eye, and tube reinforcements. Electric bilge pump, integral fuel tank, and tray storage are among the standard accessories. It will even take an outboard marine motor we already own (as well as Mercury engine oil) which makes my spouse happy because it means we won’t have to shell out more money for a new engine.

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Heavy Duty Inflatable Boat

Mercury’s heavy duty inflatable boat series is another “toy” I’d like to check out, but personally have no real use for. Though it can be used for pleasure, the heavy duty inflatable boat is intended to be used by professionals. it can hold up to eight people and plenty of cargo (for which there are straps).

In addition to the cargo straps, the heavy duty inflatable boat comes with aluminum and fiber reinforce polymer floorboards, external carry handles, and an inflatable keel. Grab ropes and bold red fabric improve safety, too. As with other Mercury inflatable boats, the heavy duty models are compatible with engines that take Mercury 2 stroke oil.

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V750 Cruiser

Even though I’m supposed to be looking for an inflatable tender, I couldn’t help but check out some of the top of the line inflatable crafts made by Mercury Marine. The V750 Cruiser, for example, is a real beauty. The inflatable boat can be used for fishing, diving, or as a snorkeling platform.

The Cruiser comes with bow stern and anchor lockers, integral fuel tank, electric bilge pump, and a diving platform with ladder and deck shower kit. Rear bench seating, 12-volt ice chest, and switch panel with 12-volt accessory plug makes it quite the luxury boat. Best of all, the Cruiser is compatible with several engines which all take Mercury 2 cycle oil.

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Cleaning Mercury Marine Carburetor, Part II

Let’s pick up from where yesterday’s post left off. After removing the carburetor, you’ll next want to clean the jets with a jet pick. Try to remove as much oil gel as possible before washing the jets in carburetor cleaner. Clean the gunk out of the fuel bowl, too.

Next, take your . This will remove any buildup that has managed to stay put. Wear safety goggles to protect from particles blowing into your eyes. Stay tuned for part III tomorrow, and don’t forget to stock up on Mercury 2 stroke oil!

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Cleaning Mercury Marine Carburetor, Part I

Mercury manufactures a number of outboard motors with carburetor intakes. Learning to clean these carburetors is a moderately difficult endeavor. You will need: various screwdrivers, shop rags, jet pick, safety goggles, compressed air and air nozzle, and a carburetor cleaner. It doesn’t hurt to pick up some Mercury 2 cycle oil while out getting supplies.

Begin by removing the brass screws on the side of the fuel bowl with a flat screwdriver. Drain the fuel from the carburetor and use a shop rag to absorb the excess. Using a number two Phillips screwdriver, remove the four fuel bowl screws and lift the bowl up and off the carburetor body. Take your jet driver and remove the main jet and pilot jet, taking care not to damage the brass jets.

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Labor Day Weekend Plans

I am both looking forward to and dreading this coming weekend. Monday is Labor Day, which means the whole family will have off from work and school. Being able to spend a three-day weekend with my family is the aspect I’m looking forward to. What I’m not looking forward to is the fact that Labor Day weekend typically signals the end of the summer season.

I’m going to make the most of summer’s last hurrah. The whole family is going to take a trip to the lake for one last time this season. I’m actually checking the level of the Mercury outboard oil tonight to make sure everything is already for tomorrow’s trip. I hope all of our readers have a fantastic long weekend, too!

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Hurricane Irene

I do own a small beach home. Thankfully, Hurricane Irene did not do too much damage to my home; just some debris on the lawn and decks and some minor flooding. It could have been a lot worse, which is why I am glad that I took appropriate precautions.

Before Irene hit, I moved all of my outdoor furniture into the garage and weighted down anything that could not be moved. I brought all of my furniture and possessions from the bottom floor to the top floor. Of course, I made sure to bring my boat out of the water and into the garage, secured the Mercury oil and other flammable liquids in a safe container to avoid leakage. Now that the power is back I can get to cleaning up the yard, move the boat back out to the water, and get ready for Labor Day weekend.

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Sharing is Caring

My wife and I own a summer home on a lake. Things are pretty crazy at the office this year, so I am not able to go out to the lake house as often as I’d like. Usually, I purchase a Mercury oil 55 gallon drum to last me the season, but since I won’t have as much time to tool around on my boat I wasn’t sure that such a purchase would be worth it.

Thankfully, a neighbor at the lake mentioned that he too would only be at his place on weekends. We decided to go in on the Mercury oil 55 gallon drum together. This saved us both a lot of money and aggravation.

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Basic Outboard Maintenance: Part One

The vast majority of outboard motor problems are easily preventable with proper care and routine maintenance. Flushing the engine after six hours of boating isn’t fun, but it will help you keep your engine performing in peak condition and extend its longevity. Although motor maintenance is a chore, it’s easy for virtually anyone with a tool kit.

Over the next couple of days, we’ll be covering some basic preventative care that should be done after every outing. We’ll also discuss some of the keys for long-term care, how to prepare the motor for storage, and some tips for protecting the unit during transportation. And we’ll go over the basics, including how to select and mix your outboard motor oil properly.

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Fate Favors the Prepared Boater

As you can probably imagine, I’m always a little over prepared whenever I take my boat out. And the ironic thing is that the ones who are prepared usually aren’t the ones who need the extra supplies out at sea. In fact, I’ve definitely stopped and assisted boaters more times than I’ve had trouble on the water myself. Just last weekend my son and I had to take a quick break from our bass fishing in order to give a family some assistance.

You could tell the guy hadn’t owned a boat long, as the license stickers still had their showroom sheen. It was evident that his wife was more than a little peeved. The boat was just bobbing along and the engine was sputtering, so my son and I coasted over, and I told him to cut the engine. After asking him a few questions I was quickly able to diagnose the problem; he hadn’t mixed any outboard motor oil with the fuel and the unit for overheating. Since I always have extra two-cycle oil on board, I gave him some and showed him how to mix it safely.

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Preventative Outboard Motor Care: Part Four

If you find the water used to flush your engine is hot or has debris in it, the most common culprit is some grime stuck in the flow tube. Insert a small piece of wire into the flow tube to dislodge whatever is blocking the system. If this doesn’t work, more often than not it’s a serious problem with the water pump, and you’ll have to take the boat to your mechanic. Once you’ve successfully flushed the engine, it’s time to move on to the other systems.

Disconnect the fuel line so the engine has an opportunity to burn all of the gas and outboard motor oil in the carburetor. A quick caveat: Always use fresh fuel in your vessel, so if the gas has been sitting around for more than two months, get rid of it. In addition to burning the excess fuel in the carb, also be sure to check the fuel line for cracks and signs of wear. In our final installment tomorrow, we will finish checking the fuel systems and cover a few more steps you can take to preserve your boat.

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