Blog

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 acumulated over the years. Which is when it can be frustrating for me at times, watching someone struggle or have no clue what they are doing at the ramp or out on the water. Which 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 write on the blog and share some boat launching tips in hopes that it will help some novice boater out.

Trim is all about changing the propeller shaft's angle in relation to the boat. If your prop shaft is parallel to the surface of the water then the trim is at zero or a nuetral position. If it is trimmed all the way down and bottomed out, the prop shaft will be angled down away from the surface of the water. Trim it up from the neutral position the prop shaft will be angled up towards the surface of the water. This will create the opposite effect as if it were all the way down. But what exactly is the trim doing to the performance and speed of your boat in these positions?

 INSTALLING A FUEL WATER SEPARATOR

One of the worst things for your outboard is bad fuel. Or even clean fuel for that matter with all of the ethonal that is in it. Which is a common problem our service department see's here at Vans Sport Center but that is another story. To safeguard from bad fuel, run your fuel through an inline water separator filter. It will prevent any problems with your motor due to bad fuel. Newer boats usually come with one already installed, but your older boats are probably not going to have. If your boat doesn't have one, it is an easy enough job you can do some Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

 Whether your heading to the lake to wake board with friends or to pull your kids around on the tubes, we can all agree we do it because its fun. But a fun day on the water can turn into a serious situation faster than you think. Now that summer is in full swing and the launches are packed on every hot day there is, you will need to keep safety on your mind even more now. Here are a few tips to follow that will not only keep you and your passengers safe but the other fellow boaters around you as well.

We have all been there one time or another. Stuck at the dock or stranded on the lake with a motor that doesn't want to run. If you haven't been there yet, hopefully you never will. When it does happen though, it turns a great day on the water into a nightmare. Hopefully problems dont arise half way through the day when you are in the middle of the lake. In those cases usually your only option is to get a hand from another boater or to call a tow service. I mean, no one wants to be the guy who asks a stranger to stop enjoying their day just to help you out. Lets hope you are prepared enough for most possible breakdown situations so that you can get back to the dock without having to be "that guy".

Most people may know Vans Sport Center for our large inventory of outboard parts, outboard motors, or for our certified mechanics and service department. What some people may not realize is that we also stock a large selection of Husqvarna outdoor power equipment as well. Our Husqvarna inventory consists of their line of chainsaws, handheld leaf blowers, backpack leaf blowers, trimmers, and power cutters.  No matter if you are looking for a saw to trim some trees on your property, a new trimmer to make that lawn look sharp, or a blower for your lawncare business, our experienced staff can narrow down the selection and get you the right tool for the job.

Its the begining of a new boating season here in Michigan and you have had it with your outboard. Its loud, guzzles gas, costly to repair, and simply just outdated. You're done with the headaches so you decide to repower your boat with newer technology, possibly making that move to a four stroke. You would like to save some money by going with a used outboard, but buying new isn't out of the question either. You just know you want a dependable motor that starts right up and runs the rest of the day. Either route you take Vans Sport Center has the inventory and experience to help you get what suites your needs.

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.