Yamaha Outboards

Boating Tips

The Boater’s Log Vol 4, No. 4

Hull Designs – The Foundation of a Boat’s Performance

Idling through the marina or cruising across the lake, we’ve all seen boats with snazzy paint jobs and condo-like luxuries that tempt us to covet our neighbor’s vessel. Hundreds of boats look cool above the rubrail, but it’s what you can’t see – the hull design – that determines how the craft handles the realities of open water.

There are countless hull designs; however, most are variations of three basic styles: displacement hulls, semi-displacement hulls, and planing hulls.

03/29/2012

The Boater’s Log Vol 4, No. 3

Time for a Check Up

We can handle most of our outboard’s routine maintenance – the simple stuff like oil changes, replacing filters and such – but where do we take the boat when it needs professional help?

There are no easy answers to this one, just a few things to consider as we’re seeking someone to heal our ailing vessel.

Boat Dealerships

03/07/2012

The Boater’s Log Vol 4, No. 2

Back to Basics: Boating Terms

Have you ever found yourself in a conversation with a veteran boater or a boat salesperson, nodding your head knowingly as they spoke, without having a clue what they’re talking about? Nautical jargon fills the air, and it’s like trying to understand a foreign language – you’re totally lost.

02/01/2012

The Boater’s Log Vol 4, No. 1

Ready for Takeoff

Helpful hints for preparing and operating your outboard boat If this is your first outboard boat, or if it’s been a while since you’ve driven an outboard-powered boat, we strongly recommend reading the engine and boat owner’s manuals to familiarize yourself with your particular boat and outboard. For your convenience, we’ve also assembled a brief overview of how to get your vessel ready for a day on the water. The following are generic highlights, but the owner’s manuals are the definitive reference.

01/18/2012

The Boater’s Log Vol 3, No. 22

A Winning Lineup

A Winning Lineup The Right Lines Add to Your Boating Pleasure When you tie up to the dock, anchor far away from the daily grind, or engage in the joys of watersports, the well-being of your boat and crew depend on the integrity of the lines (ropes). Selecting dock and anchor lines for your boat can be an intimidating experience, with dozens of colors, sizes, construction and materials from which to choose, not to mention trying to determine price versus value. If we approach line selection systematically, distilling the information into easily digestible pieces, deciding what lines are the best for your application shouldn’t be too time-consuming.

12/19/2011

Boater’s Log Vol 3, No. 21

Fighting the Freeloaders

Bottom Paints Send Maritime Mooches Packing If you leave your boat in the water for any appreciable amount of time, Mother Nature is going to take up residence on the bottom of your boat’s hull, the gearcase, and other underwater running gear in a matter of just a week or two. Slime, algae, mussels, barnacles, and other aquatic species cling to a clean hull like a magnet. In the world of boating, we call a hull with stuff growing on it “fouled.” We’re all for letting sea creatures do what comes naturally, but when these critters mess with our boats, all kinds of bad things can happen.

11/21/2011

The Boater's Log Vol 3, No.20 - Bounce Beaters Save Your Transom

Support Your Outboard

It’s an all too familiar sight – the happy angler cruising down the highway with a boat in tow, and the big outboard on the back is jumping for joy every time the trailer tires cross a crack in the pavement. Our angler is thinking about fishing, while the outboard is considering jumping ship on the way to the lake.

10/28/2011

The Boater’s Log Vol 3, No. 19

Buying a Used Boat

It May Not Be New, But It’s New to You You’re ready to move up to a bigger boat, downsize to a smaller boat, or maybe Ol’ Faithful isn’t as faithful as she used to be – it’s time for another boat. That’s great, because there has never been a better time to get a boat. It a buyer’s market. Don’t let new boat sticker shock nix your dreams; there are thousands of pre-owned (sales speak for “used”) boats yearning for a home where someone will love and take care of them.

10/11/2011

The Boater's Log Vol. 3 No. 18

It's Off to Tow We Go

It’s Off to Tow We Go
Shop by the Numbers and You’ll be Trailering to Exotic Destinations in No Time

Selecting a tow vehicle to match your boat and trailer requires a bit of comparison-shopping, not only for the best price, but also to find a towing machine with the intestinal fortitude to do the job.

Cars are pretty much out of the equation, due to their unibody (frameless) construction, and lack of towing-related equipment. Automobiles are great for fuel economy and comfy transportation; however towing any kind of trailer isn’t a typical car’s forte.

09/29/2011

The Boater's Log Vol 3, No. 17

Calling for Help

EPIRBs and DSC/VHFs – Technology to the Rescue

Although boating is a lot of fun—serene sundown cruises, fishing for the next record catch, or doing whatever you like —the reality of being on the water is that if something goes wrong, situations can deteriorate rapidly.

When you’ve done all that you can to resolve the problem, and the time comes to call for help, there are a couple of electronic devices that can send a MAYDAY distress message for you.
DSC

09/13/2011