Van's Sport Center has access to more than 500,000 parts and accessories for everything from a vintage Evinrude to the newest model Mercury outboard or sterndrive. With a few simple steps, you can conduct your own search to find the right new or used part and conveniently place your order online, via email or over the telephone.
Before you search:
Examine your engine and write down the manufacturer, model number and serial number. It's often not enough information to only have make and model -- the serial number is necessary or you may buy the wrong part. As this example shows, you need to know the serial number for a Mercury 115 EFI 4-stroke when you are buying an oil filter because the same model requires different oil filters depending on the engine's serial number.
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.
Tagged Under
One of the bigger concerns boat owners have when repowering their rig with a specific brand motor is whether or not there is a certified service center in their location. This is actually a good concern to have when you think about the possibility of any warranty or major service work needing to be done. I have even seen boaters sway to a particular brand based on what their local marina is certified to work on. That kind of limits your options at times but at least someone in your area can work on it. No matter where you are, there is a place in Grand Rapids that is certified to work on your motor no matter what brand you have.
Tagged UnderWinterization season. Its a sad time of year for serious boaters and die hard lakers when they come to the realization that they have to prep the boat for the winter months and store it away until spring. To be honest, its not something any boater looks forward to, but if not done you can have some major issues and huge costs on your hands come spring time. If you are like me and winterize your outboard on your own you are going to want to do it by the book. That means treating the fuel system with stabilized gas, changing the gearcase lube, fogging the powerhead and lubricating all of the moving parts. Even if you do all of these things to a T, you can still screw up and make some huge mistakes that will leave you at the dock next season.
Tagged UnderYou have been tossing around the idea of repowering your trusty boat for some time but the same question keeps popping up. Two or four? Which is a good question to have for a number of reasons. But to get to the answer of that question, you should first know the difference between the two motors. They both have their advantages and disadvantages. Once you have a good understanding of them, it really comes down to what motor is the best for your application of use.
Tagged UnderIn an ideal world, finding your needed outboard part online would be as easy as learning your facebook friends' political views. Unfortunately, it doesn't always pan out that way.There are a lot of different motor manufacturers which all lead to different makes and years, different models with different horse power levels, and different outboard part breakdowns to look through. Our outboard parts page has a lot of information, but we try not to make it a lot of work. Gathering some information beforehand can make the process a lot quicker. Here are a few things to know when searching for a part on our outboard parts pages:
Tagged UnderHere at Van's Sport Center, our used outboard collection is at an all-time high. We've got about 150 used motors that are ready to find their new homes. There are a few things to consider when you are in the market to buy a used outboard. Consider where do you go to find one? How old is too old? 2-stroke or 4-stroke? Tiller steering or remote steering? What's your maximum horsepower size? What does your budget look like? Do you have a control box already mounted on the boat from the previous motor? Is it a good working motor? Is it in the condition you were hoping for? I'll walk you through a few basic things to think about before you're tempted to grab the best deal.
Tagged UnderIt's time to transition into the spring fishing and leave the winter in the past, where it belongs. Drew Johnson, our new Sales Manager and a long-time fishing guide, has some tips for improving your chances at catching the big ones as the weather warms up.
Change up your tackle
Springtime brings great conditions for steelhead fishing. Make sure your tackle matches your intended game: plugs, spawn, and beads are great lures for steelhead fishing. They attract Steelhead with their alluring colors as well as their mockery of steelhead's real prey. Drew says his favorite to fish with are beads because they offer a "perfect imitation of real eggs." The color of your tackle can be based off of many factors, such as water clarity, the sun's placement, and even personal preference.
