Being a boater in Michigan, you cant really compain about the weather we have had this year. Its now mid November and we are just starting to see the cold winds from the north roll into the state. I mean, an extra month or so out on the water is never a bad thing, but now its time to kick it into gear and winterize the boat for the upcoming months ahead. Winterizing the boat is one of the last things we want to deal with in the fall, well other than raking the leaves, but its essntial to protecting your investment and utilizing all of your days on the water next spring. Boats can be expensive to own but fixing broken parts due to poor winter preparation can get even pricier.
Tagged UnderYour at your local outboard dealer shopping for a new motor and the salesman hits you with the question, "short or long shaft?". For most boaters this is a no brainer, but for the novice or inexperienced boater it may be a tougher question. As a dealer I run into this situation from time to time, which is fine but getting the right length outboard for your boat is crucial. I mean, who wants to purchase something as expensive as an outboard to only realize you bought the wrong one. So in hopes that this will help out some new boaters this spring, here's a little rundown on outboard shaft sizes and how to figure out which one you actually need.
Tagged UnderAll through the winter, technicians at Van's Sport Center make great use of their time by reconditioning or parting out the trade-in marine motors that our store in Grand Rapids accepted during the 2016 boating season.
Our winter work can add up to big savings to you for marine motors and parts that have been run only in fresh water.
So now is the time to start thinking about whether the boat you love should be repowered with a larger used motor or if that tired old 2-stroke you've been nursing for years should finally be retired.
Tagged UnderOur goal at Vans Sport Center is to get you the exact outboard motor you want and at a great price. But with so many different options available across a number of major manufacturers, deciding which one to go with can get a little frustrating. Having to look at each manufacturer one by one, sifting through all of their models, and comparing their pricing. Your looking at 5 or 6 different searches to compare each major manufacturer for a single horsepower. Which means a lot of surfing and screen time to come to a conclusion. Thats why we updated our website so that you can easily browse and compare all of your potential options in one convenient spot.
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The ice is gone and the weather is warming up here in Michigan, which means it won't be long before people start putting their boats back in the water for the summer months. But before they do, there is some spring time maintenance that should be taken into consideration to help prevent problems that may eventually keep you off of the water further into the season.
One of the first things you should do is inspect your fuel system for any leaks or damage. While doing this, pay close attention to the fuel hoses, connections, and the tank. When looking at the fuel hose, look for any sign of softness, brittleness, or cracking that may have happened since last season. You will also want to replace any components that may be bad as well as make sure that all clamps and fittings are tight. The last thing to keep in mind dealing with your fuel system is the fuel you put into your boat. You do not want to fill your tank with any fuel that has more than 10% ethanol because it will eventually cause damage to your motor.
Next, you will want to check your propeller for any nicks, dents or distortion. If you run your boat with a damaged prop, it can cause quite the vibration and damage your drive train. You will also want to check and see if it is on securely and that the bearings do not need to be replaced. Along with your prop, inspecting your prop shaft is not a bad idea either. With this, you will want to make sure that the prop shaft is still straight and does not have a slight bend in it from possibly hitting your prop on any unseen hazards the previous season.
After looking over your prop, you will want to move to the engine. While doing this, look over all of your belts and cables closely. Over time, or even during storage, belts can become weak or brittle and may start to form cracks. When checking the belts, make sure that they fit around the pulleys tightly so that they won't slip while the engine is running. One sign that a belt is worn and needs to be replaced is black residue by the pulley that can cause it to fit loosely.
After that, you will also want to check all of the fluid levels such as oil, power steering, trim reservoir, and coolant. Before going out, you are going to want to make sure that the engine oil, filter, and drive lubricants get changed if they had not been changed during the winterizing process of your boat at the end of the last season.
Lastly, you should check and go through all of your safety gear that is on the boat. You will want to make sure that you have plenty of life jackets on board to account for all of the passengers you intend to have or can have. It's not only making sure that there is enough life jackets, but making sure that the life jackets will properly fit your passengers. This means making sure you have children sized life jackets for any youngster you plan to have on your boat. Adult life jackets will not be safe for children to use. After you have all of your flotation devices accounted for, make sure that you have the right class fire extinguishers, that they are fully charged, and that they are stowed in an easily accessible place.
Going through this check list for spring time maintenance is not mandatory, but it may save you some headache down the road one way or another. Whether it's a prevented mechanical failure or saving yourself a ticket because you have the proper flotation devices on your boat, it's worthwhile. Going through your boat and making sure that these things are checked before your season kicks off will only help ensure that you have a great summer on the water with friends and family.
As I am looking over the Mercury Marine outboard motors for this up coming season I am seeing quite a few new additions and changes that have been made. Honestly, there are so many new motors this year that it looks like they have completely revamped their whole line-up. Which is exciting news if you ask me. Although the majority of the changes start at the 150hp range and go up from there, their 15 and 20hp outboards have some interesting improvements that can be seen as well.
Tagged UnderNo matter how much you may want to, you cant stay out on your boat forever. Sooner or later you have to head back to the dock and face reality. But when you tie your boat off for the day are you taking the necessary precautions to protect your boat and your dock from any possible damage? The best protection you can use when tying off to any structure would be the use of fenders, or bumpers if you have to call them that. If you are not using fenders, then your just letting your boat thrash against the dock or pilings. This not only can cause damage to your boat, but what ever structure you are tied to as well. In this article I will go over the types of fenders, recommended sizes, and proper ways of hanging them in various situations.
Tagged UnderIf you own a jet sled or fish for steelhead and salmon in any of Michigans major river ways you understand the importance and need for a solid anchor winch. There are a number of different brands on the market you can choose from all varring in price and quality, but not every system out there is going to fit your needs. Yeah, you could go with an ATV winch or maybe a Windless or some other brand name you find at your local marina, but honestly those wont cut it. You are going to need something that is heavy duty, fast, and powerful enough to pull up some weight. With that being said there is only one brand that comes to mind.
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