As discussed previously, protecting your motor from ethanol is very important. However, even more important: protecting boat passengers by paying attention to boat safety. Recreational boating is a great way to pass the summer weekends, but a few quick and easy precautions can assure that you are doing so without risking the safety of you or your passengers. The US Coast Guard offers free Vessel Safety Checks, which is a great way to get peace of mind and assurance that you're cruising on a safe boat. Although there are certified examiners to do these checks, that doesn't mean you can't also check yourself. There are still many things that any Joe-Schmo can pay attention to when boating.
Life Jackets
Life Jackets may not be the comfiest - but wearing them is worth it. Enforced by the US Coast Guard, boats must carry one life Jacket, or personal flotation device (PFD), for each passenger. Also, any passenger under the age of 13 has to wear a life jacket. Not only is it important to have one, it is also important to have one that best matches your style of boating. There are five types of personal flotation devices: off-shore life jackets, near-shore life jackets, flotation aids, throw-able devices, and special-use devices. Although each type is meant to fulfill the same purpose, they have different advantages.
There are five types; however the most common PFDs are off-shore, near-shore, and flotation devices. Off-shore life jackets are the best for rough and remote waters because they provide the best buoyancy. Off-shore life jackets would be best when rescue may be delayed. Near-shore life jackets are better for inland and calmer waters; they only go around your neck so they're better for quick rescues. Flotation devices are the best for more freedom of movement; they're typically used for watersports because of this.
Lights, Signals, Fire Extinguisher
Along with life jackets, all vessels are required to have approved visual distress signals, fire extinguishers, and navigation lights. It is important to verify that your visual distress signals are not expired. While they still may be useful, they will not pass the U.S. Coast Guard regulations. For the fire extinguishers, it's important to make sure that they are in good, operable condition. At night, it is important to have the correct navigation lights; other boats on the water need to be able to spot you in the dark and vice versa. Not only are these three things important because of regulations, they will also help maintain safety while boating.
Correct Registration and Documentation
There are safety tips that protect you, and then there are safety tips that protect your time and fun. Failing to have correct documentation and visible registration can put a stop to your time on the water. Vessels must be visibly registered with display of registration numbers. Registration numbers must be visible in block letters, in a color that contrasts the back of the boat, and no smaller than 3 inches in height. Getting pulled over for a lack of registration would be quick way cut water time short, but it is also a very easy problem to avoid.
Vessel safety checks, offered by the U.S. Coast Guard, take a much closer look at the safety of your boat. Along with PFDs, registration, fire extinguishers, distress signals, and navigation lights, they check:
Upon passing a VSC, you recieve a decal for your boat that lets water police know that you are up to par with current regulations. There are different ways to efficiently check your boat: a personal check using a the VSC online checklist, a virtual check which requires you to answer a series of questions about your boat online, or requesting and scheduling a VSC with a certified examiner. All the options are offered for free, take minimal time, and are a great way to get peace of mind during the boating season.
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I've been an avid fisherman for most of my life, which means I have spent my fair share of time around boats. Being around boats for so long, sometimes I forget that other people may not have had as much practice or know the same tips and tricks I have accumulated over the years. Which is why it can be frustrating for me at times watching someone struggle at the ramp or have no clue what they are doing out on the water. That is exactly what I ran into yesterday at the launch as I was trying to load my boat for my weekly Tuesday night bass fishing league. So today when I got to work, I thought I would take some time and write on the blog to share some boat launching tips in hopes that it will help some novice boater out.
Tagged UnderWith Memorial Day weekend in a few days and the fourth of July not too far behind, I feel that reminding everyone of proper boat ramp etiquette is important. There is no doubt that the launches will be packed with boaters, ranging from the seasoned experts to the noobs or novice first year boaters. For things to run smoothly at crowded boat launches there is a certain set of rules that need to be followed by everyone. If you are an inexperienced boater just learning the ropes, I would recommend giving this article a look to familiarize yourself with the do's and don'ts while launching your boat at a busy public ramp.
Tagged UnderSuzuki Marine brings a lot to the table; motors with lots of power, motors with efficiency, and motors with style. With their DF200A, however, they have combined all those attributes in one outboard.
It's powerful
Often when searching for added power you get stuck packing lots of bulky weight onto your boat. That isn't the case with Suzuki's DF200A four stroke outboard. One of the biggest sources for this motor's praise is its power-to-weight ratio. It holds a four cylinder block that can also meet the performance more typically seen in V6 outboards. Its impressive torque at lower rpms and fast acceleration are more typical characteristics for V6 motors, but with an efficiently designed engine like this one you can get the best of both worlds.
It's intelligent
With three different sensor systems and qualities that lead to great fuel economy, this motor has an engrained sense of efficiency. It has a water detection system which increases the moto'rs reliability; especially beneficial with the threats posed by increasing amounts of ethanol in fuel. Along with the water detection, it has a knock and O2 sensor. Both of these sensors send information to the ECM that helps optimize the engine's performance. It uses the Lean Burn technology which allows this motor to optimize the fuel-to-air mixture and provide improved fuel economy. This motor optimizes performance, optimizes fuel use, and optimizes reliability with sensor use -- I told you it was intelligent.
It's sleek
This outboard offers power, fuel economy, low-end torque: all packed into one sleek external body. The DF200A is lightweight and slim, weighing in at 498 lbs. The lighter weight of this motor widens the range of boats that it can call home. Older boats are often confined to lighter 2 stroke outboards, but this light 4 stroke model poses as a more powerful option. Also, because of its slim profile it would be a good motor for twin-engines.
Whatever you are looking for in a re-power the DF200A is definitely one to consider. It'll give your boat a new look, your rides more power, and you a motor you can count on - all in one shebang.
So far this year Mercury Marine has introduced some pretty cool features and upgrades, but the introduction of their completely new line-up of four stroke outboard motors has to be the coolest. These engines were designed from the skeg up to not only be a powerful machine, but a lightweight, compact, fuel efficient work of art. “These outboards set a new benchmark in the marine industry,” said Mercury Marine president, John Pfeifer. “They are the quietest, lightest, smoothest, quickest and most fuel-efficient engines we have produced in this range.” In my opinion, they don't look half that bad either.
We've added a new item to our inventory! The Toadfish Non-Tipping Can Cooler is the first of its kind un-spillable beverage cooler. The innovative suction cup technology allows the Can Cooler to stick to any smooth surface. From a lack of cup holders on a rocking boat to wagging dog tails, this product will keep your drink upright, accident-free, and icy cold. Also, for every product sold, Toadfish will replant 10 sqft of new oyster beds to help clean our coastal waters! It's a must-have!
Tagged UnderDetermining the right propeller for your boat is obviously not the only thing you can do to reach optimal performance, but it is one of the easiest. When selecting the right propeller for your rig, you can look at a number of different things such as going up in pitch, down in pitch, run an aluminum, switch to a stainless, or even go to a four blade. Before you can do any of that though, you have to think about how you use your boat and what your looking to change about your current performance. From there you can begin your selection.
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LIGHTER. STRONGER. SMARTER.
For the 2017 season, Yamaha completely redesigned their F25 to be the best 25hp outboard on the water. Weighing in at only 126 pounds, the new light weight and compact Yamaha F25 is not only a whopping 25% less than the previous Yamaha models weigh, but it is also the lightest 25hp outboard on the market. That being said, it has a number of different boating applications that it can be used for. From jon boats and inflatables, to deep V fishing boats. All of these styles of boats can now benefit from the F25 which has the best power to weight ratio of any 25hp on the water.
The brand new power head design of the F25 features two cylinders which have two valves per cylinder and a single overhead cam. This design helps keep the weight of the motor down while not sacrificing any of the power. Also new to Yamaha's F25 line is the addition of the Electronic Fuel Injection System. The Multi Point EFI provides greater fuel efficiency as well as minimal starting effort in any condition that you may encounter on the water. To add to that, the Fuel Injection System on this motor operates with out a battery. No battery means even less weight needed in your boat.
