The heat of Summer offers boaters great weather and many days of enjoying life on the local rivers and lakes. Summer also creates some challenges for boaters, overheated engines cause by debris in the water and grass clogging water inlets is a big problem if not handled correctly. Read on learn how to make this seasonal issue no big deal or take a chance on baking your outboard engine.
Every Summer when boating traffic increases and the submerged aquatic vegetation (grass) grows all over the river we have customers pick up a dis-guarded ice bag or even grass in their water intakes and overheat their outboards. It happens, the alarm goes off and everyone tries to figure out what happened. If no water is coming out out of the telltale then it has no water pressure and the intakes are likely clogged causing your engine to overheat. This is the time when you can save your outboard and yourself thousands of dollars in repairs or let it sit there and bake. If you stop your engine when the alarm goes off, clear the debris from the water inlets and then start your engine up and give it an high idle in neutral, your engine will quickly cool back down. The worse thing you can do is to sit there and wait for your engine to cool down by itself. With no water circulating through the engine the temperature will stay high for quite a while, baking the engine and its parts. I have seen coils, hoses and wiring harnesses melt to the block because of this. It can turn into some serious dollars, as bad as including total engine rebuilds with additional accessories needing added to complete the repair. Not knowing how to handle engine overheating is a killer.
When you go out boating this Summer; enjoy the boating, fishing or whatever water-sport you like. If you overheat your engine take the correct steps to save your outboard engine and continue enjoying your day while others cook hot dogs on the engine blocks.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Thursday, May 9, 2013
The Potomac River Is About To Be Trashed
The heavy rains of early this week have begun to head down the Potomac River watershed. The Potomac is about to be Trashed.
During the Spring every year we run a chance of the Upper Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers getting flooded out. The heavy rain storms of this week have done just that. As of today, May 9th, the Potomac River at Point of Rocks is at or near flood stage. River crest will happen tonight or tomorrow just above flood stage. You may be thinking, doesn't affect me, I don't fish the Upper Potomac. You would be wrong, it will affect you if you fish the Lower Potomac. This flood stage water is on the way to the Lower Potomac as I write this blog. Today when I crossed the Potomac at Point of Rocks it was high, orange and full of floating debris. This debris will take weeks to settle out on the Lower Potomac, especially up around the D.C./Maryland line. Tides on the lower river will also be higher than normal, which picks up debris along the lower rivers banks. The water clarity will also be affected on the Lower Potomac for a week or so. Logs floating cause many of the boating accidents along the river. It affect the whole river when the upper river floods.
The important thing to keep in mind during this flooding is that your will need to use caution over the next week or so on the Lower Potomac. Those wanting to fish on the Upper Potomac should spend the weekend celebrating Mother's Day with loves ones instead of going boating and fishing. The debris and high water won't last long and the fish will be there next weekend. If you do decide to go out boating, please be careful, it's not worth getting hurt or tearing up you boat. Have a great weekend and take mom somewhere nice to eat.
During the Spring every year we run a chance of the Upper Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers getting flooded out. The heavy rain storms of this week have done just that. As of today, May 9th, the Potomac River at Point of Rocks is at or near flood stage. River crest will happen tonight or tomorrow just above flood stage. You may be thinking, doesn't affect me, I don't fish the Upper Potomac. You would be wrong, it will affect you if you fish the Lower Potomac. This flood stage water is on the way to the Lower Potomac as I write this blog. Today when I crossed the Potomac at Point of Rocks it was high, orange and full of floating debris. This debris will take weeks to settle out on the Lower Potomac, especially up around the D.C./Maryland line. Tides on the lower river will also be higher than normal, which picks up debris along the lower rivers banks. The water clarity will also be affected on the Lower Potomac for a week or so. Logs floating cause many of the boating accidents along the river. It affect the whole river when the upper river floods.
The important thing to keep in mind during this flooding is that your will need to use caution over the next week or so on the Lower Potomac. Those wanting to fish on the Upper Potomac should spend the weekend celebrating Mother's Day with loves ones instead of going boating and fishing. The debris and high water won't last long and the fish will be there next weekend. If you do decide to go out boating, please be careful, it's not worth getting hurt or tearing up you boat. Have a great weekend and take mom somewhere nice to eat.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Warm Up Those DFI Engines, Water Still Cold
A late Spring has our local water temps fairly cold for this time of year. Don't be fooled by those couple warm sunny days, warm up you DFI engines before blasting away from the dock. If you don't, cold seizing will be a term you will become familiar with, one of our best customers had this occur during the 1st B.A.S.S. Weekend Series on the Potomac last week.
DFI (direct fuel injection) engine are very common these days. They are 2 stroke engine like Mercury's Optimax, Yamaha's HPDI and Evenrude's E Tec engines. These DFI engines get great fuel mileage compared to engine of the past, but these engine are very hi tech machines with very tight tolerances. These tight tolerances can cause an issue that hurts the engine or could even blow up the engine in extreme cases. During the colder months in the Fall, Winter and in the Spring when the water is still cold the engine can cold seize. It happen because the pistons in these engine is manufactured from aluminum which heats up very quickly. The sleeve in the aluminum block that the piston rides in is made of steel which heats up much slower than the piston. The piston expands quickly as it heats up, the block does not expand until the engine warms up when the water temps are cold. This causes the piston to stick to the walls of the sleeve or cold seize. It causes a scuff on the piston which shortens the life of the engine. Sometimes it breaks the piston or the connecting rod that connects it to the crankshaft. If this happen we are talking about big bucks to repair the engine, as much as $10,000. Ouch, not a good way to start off a day of fishing. But don't be scared, preventing cold seizing is easy. When ever you go fishing and the water temps are below 50 degrees, let your engine warm up for a couple of minutes before jumping on plane. Those of you with a SmartCraft gauge or a engine water temp gauge need to get to a engine temperature of at least 120 degrees. That is all you need to do to prevent cold seizing.
So when you take your DFI powered boat out fishing during the colder months of the year, let that engine warm up before you leave the marina. Those couple of minutes of time will keep your engine from cold seizing and save you possibly thousands of dollars. If you don't want to wait, that OK too, we need business during the colder months of the year.
DFI (direct fuel injection) engine are very common these days. They are 2 stroke engine like Mercury's Optimax, Yamaha's HPDI and Evenrude's E Tec engines. These DFI engines get great fuel mileage compared to engine of the past, but these engine are very hi tech machines with very tight tolerances. These tight tolerances can cause an issue that hurts the engine or could even blow up the engine in extreme cases. During the colder months in the Fall, Winter and in the Spring when the water is still cold the engine can cold seize. It happen because the pistons in these engine is manufactured from aluminum which heats up very quickly. The sleeve in the aluminum block that the piston rides in is made of steel which heats up much slower than the piston. The piston expands quickly as it heats up, the block does not expand until the engine warms up when the water temps are cold. This causes the piston to stick to the walls of the sleeve or cold seize. It causes a scuff on the piston which shortens the life of the engine. Sometimes it breaks the piston or the connecting rod that connects it to the crankshaft. If this happen we are talking about big bucks to repair the engine, as much as $10,000. Ouch, not a good way to start off a day of fishing. But don't be scared, preventing cold seizing is easy. When ever you go fishing and the water temps are below 50 degrees, let your engine warm up for a couple of minutes before jumping on plane. Those of you with a SmartCraft gauge or a engine water temp gauge need to get to a engine temperature of at least 120 degrees. That is all you need to do to prevent cold seizing.
So when you take your DFI powered boat out fishing during the colder months of the year, let that engine warm up before you leave the marina. Those couple of minutes of time will keep your engine from cold seizing and save you possibly thousands of dollars. If you don't want to wait, that OK too, we need business during the colder months of the year.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Boating Safety, Things Change Over The Winter
It has been a long off season for fisherman on our local water. When heading out fishing for the first couple of times this Spring, boating safety should be one of your major considerations. That's because things changed over the winter.
When you aren't on the water for several months, you don't see the changes that are happening to the river. Maybe the commercial fisherman ran some nets in a area that you always drive through. That Nor'easter could have raised the river level, moving trees from the banks to the channel that you drive in. It is even possible that the river's navigation markers have gotten moved by a barge. There are lots of different things that can happen along the river during the off season. All of these issue make boating dangerous for the first couple of trips in the Spring.
Going out on the river after a long Winter? Take your time, look around and take notice to your surroundings. Think boating safety, because a lot changed on the river over the Winter.
When you aren't on the water for several months, you don't see the changes that are happening to the river. Maybe the commercial fisherman ran some nets in a area that you always drive through. That Nor'easter could have raised the river level, moving trees from the banks to the channel that you drive in. It is even possible that the river's navigation markers have gotten moved by a barge. There are lots of different things that can happen along the river during the off season. All of these issue make boating dangerous for the first couple of trips in the Spring.
Going out on the river after a long Winter? Take your time, look around and take notice to your surroundings. Think boating safety, because a lot changed on the river over the Winter.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Time to Go Fishing, Boat Ready?
The first of March is right around the corner. Days are getting longer and the temps are climbing, is your boat ready for spring? Now is the time to check over that fishing boat before your fishing buddies say let's go fishing Saturday.
If you did a good job of putting your boat away for winter, getting ready will be a snap. If you didn't, plan on spending a day to get your boat ready for the water. Getting ready is a hassle but getting to the water only to find that nothing on your boat works really stinks. First thing to do is to check the water in your batteries if accessible. Then charge your batteries, all of them. After the batteries are charged, check every electric component all the boat; pumps, lights, depth finders and trolling motor. If everything works great, if not fix it or start a list of items that you will need to continue. If you winterize your motor, all you will have to do is top off your tanks with some fresh the gas, hook up the water and pop it off. If you didn't you should take a fuel sample to check for phase separation and water. Then check you gear oil and change if necessary. Make sure it is pumping water and runs OK before heading to the water. Then check your trailer tire pressures, tires loose air while idle and this causes them to loose load capacity which could lead to tire failure. Also check your trailer lights as ground wires could have corroded over the winter. These are pretty easy items to check out yourself, if you don't feel comfortable doing them go to your local marine dealer.
Do these checks to your boat and you will be in pretty good shape when heading to the water. Then all you will need is your buddies to call, hey, let's go fishing on Saturday.
If you did a good job of putting your boat away for winter, getting ready will be a snap. If you didn't, plan on spending a day to get your boat ready for the water. Getting ready is a hassle but getting to the water only to find that nothing on your boat works really stinks. First thing to do is to check the water in your batteries if accessible. Then charge your batteries, all of them. After the batteries are charged, check every electric component all the boat; pumps, lights, depth finders and trolling motor. If everything works great, if not fix it or start a list of items that you will need to continue. If you winterize your motor, all you will have to do is top off your tanks with some fresh the gas, hook up the water and pop it off. If you didn't you should take a fuel sample to check for phase separation and water. Then check you gear oil and change if necessary. Make sure it is pumping water and runs OK before heading to the water. Then check your trailer tire pressures, tires loose air while idle and this causes them to loose load capacity which could lead to tire failure. Also check your trailer lights as ground wires could have corroded over the winter. These are pretty easy items to check out yourself, if you don't feel comfortable doing them go to your local marine dealer.
Do these checks to your boat and you will be in pretty good shape when heading to the water. Then all you will need is your buddies to call, hey, let's go fishing on Saturday.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Bass Boat Shopping Has Changed Forever
Many things change over time, which includes how people shop for their new bass boats. Technology has changed the process of picking out a bass boat forever, for better or worse.
Back in the day, most buyers went to their local fishing or boating show to inspect the new offerings from the boat manufactures. They would check out new accessories in the vendor area, talk to friends and try to pick out colors and the model boats that they desired. After deciding on the model they wanted, they would follow up with the local dealer that sold the boat brand. Professional salespeople would ask the customer the correct questions to make sure that it was the correct rig to meet their needs. Then they would look at colors to make sure that all the colors picked went together. The system worked pretty well.
Today there are fewer dealers and the local shows only have a fraction of the boats on display. Because of this, boat purchasers have turned to the Internet as the method of purchasing their new rig. The web is a great place to gain information about models, options and get opinions from others from sites like Bass Boat Central. Manufactures website have videos, color programs and show current incentives that are available. This is all great for the consumer, information is a powerful tool. The problem with web sites is that you don't get the personal attention. The web site does not know your boating area or its needs. They are made to show the world what the manufacture offers. Websites will not tell which colors go together on their coloring program or that someone that is over 6 foot tall would need a tilt wheel in order to fit behind the console. There are holes in the purchasing system on the web.
The moral of the story is that times they are a changing; the Internet is here to stay. Go to the web and do you due diligence, figure out the models that you are considering. Then take the time to drive to the dealerships that carry those brands and sit down with a professional salesman before you make your final decision. Tell them what you expect from your new rig and how much you can spend. The salesman at any reputable dealership will help you make the correct choice on your next rig, it's their job and a happy customer will send more business to their dealership. I think that a blend of old and new are always a good way of doing things, works out great when shopping for a new bass boat for sure.
Back in the day, most buyers went to their local fishing or boating show to inspect the new offerings from the boat manufactures. They would check out new accessories in the vendor area, talk to friends and try to pick out colors and the model boats that they desired. After deciding on the model they wanted, they would follow up with the local dealer that sold the boat brand. Professional salespeople would ask the customer the correct questions to make sure that it was the correct rig to meet their needs. Then they would look at colors to make sure that all the colors picked went together. The system worked pretty well.
Today there are fewer dealers and the local shows only have a fraction of the boats on display. Because of this, boat purchasers have turned to the Internet as the method of purchasing their new rig. The web is a great place to gain information about models, options and get opinions from others from sites like Bass Boat Central. Manufactures website have videos, color programs and show current incentives that are available. This is all great for the consumer, information is a powerful tool. The problem with web sites is that you don't get the personal attention. The web site does not know your boating area or its needs. They are made to show the world what the manufacture offers. Websites will not tell which colors go together on their coloring program or that someone that is over 6 foot tall would need a tilt wheel in order to fit behind the console. There are holes in the purchasing system on the web.
The moral of the story is that times they are a changing; the Internet is here to stay. Go to the web and do you due diligence, figure out the models that you are considering. Then take the time to drive to the dealerships that carry those brands and sit down with a professional salesman before you make your final decision. Tell them what you expect from your new rig and how much you can spend. The salesman at any reputable dealership will help you make the correct choice on your next rig, it's their job and a happy customer will send more business to their dealership. I think that a blend of old and new are always a good way of doing things, works out great when shopping for a new bass boat for sure.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
I'm Looking Forward to Fishing Season
The 2012 fishing season for most in the Mid Atlantic Region is over. The holidays will be here and past shortly, only long/dark cold evenings are in our near future. You can sit around being miserable for the next couple of months or you can start putting together a plan for the 2013 Fishing season. Personally, I am looking forward to the 2013 fishing season.
You may think, what does he mean by putting a plan together for the fishing season? It is really pretty simple, it's the old What, Where and Why of fishing. Think about your past year; what would you do differently, where would you like to fish and why? Do you need additional equipment, should you fish different tournaments? Do you want to fish different bodies of water, take that special fishing trip you always dreamed of or fish a spot on your home water that you never fished? It can be as simple as wanting to learn to use a specific lure better, say a jig. In that case, do the research, get a supply of jigs ready by purchasing them or making them and get ready to learn how to use a jig. Planning for the up coming fishing season can take a while but it can also be a lot of fun.
It is up to you now, you can sit around watching reruns on TV and being miserable or you can get ready for the up coming fishing season. If you use this down time to plan your 2013 fishing season, I'll bet you will have the best fishing season ever. I know what I'm doing, I'm looking forward to fishing season.
You may think, what does he mean by putting a plan together for the fishing season? It is really pretty simple, it's the old What, Where and Why of fishing. Think about your past year; what would you do differently, where would you like to fish and why? Do you need additional equipment, should you fish different tournaments? Do you want to fish different bodies of water, take that special fishing trip you always dreamed of or fish a spot on your home water that you never fished? It can be as simple as wanting to learn to use a specific lure better, say a jig. In that case, do the research, get a supply of jigs ready by purchasing them or making them and get ready to learn how to use a jig. Planning for the up coming fishing season can take a while but it can also be a lot of fun.
It is up to you now, you can sit around watching reruns on TV and being miserable or you can get ready for the up coming fishing season. If you use this down time to plan your 2013 fishing season, I'll bet you will have the best fishing season ever. I know what I'm doing, I'm looking forward to fishing season.
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