Outlook 2019

As we say goodbye to 2018, we took a quick look back in time.  A lot has changed since Mercury's small beginnings in 1939 when outboards were ordered from the Montgomery Ward mail order catalog.  Mercury Outboards continue to be a leader in the industry and are even more reliable today.

We at US Boatworks look to be a leader in 2019 by providing the very best boat parts and service dealer in the Midwest.  We will do this by  continuing to provide a superb customer experience by adding value to every customer that reaches our retail store or online shop.  Adding value through customer education, friendly advice and a wide array of products to meet your needs.  Browse our blog for boat repair topics, call or email us with questions about outboard or sterndrives.  We are the best boat parts store and boat repair shop and will continue to improve and grow over the coming year.

Thank you for allowing us to keep you out on the water all season long.

Happy Holidays

Watch Holiday Message

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Wishing you peace and joy this holiday season.

We sincerely thank you for your business & look forward to serving your boating needs in the new year.

Your Trusted Source for Boat Parts and Repair,

The US Boatworks Team

Mercury’s 6 Year Warranty

Give your loved one a Mercury Outboard this Christmas & double your warranty coverage!

Purchase a new 2.5hp to 25hp Mercury FourStroke outboard tiller handle model between October 25 and December 31, 2018 and get a total of six years of Mercury factory-backed limited coverage!

In addition to the standard three-year factory warranty, you also receive a three-year Mercury Product Protection Gold plan! Hurry in now before year end.

6 Year Warranty on Portable Mercury Outboards

Double your warranty coverage!

Consumers who purchase a new 2.5hp to 25hp Mercury FourStroke outboard tiller handle model between October 25 and December 31, 2018 and get a total of six years of Mercury factory-backed limited coverage! In addition to the standard three-year factory warranty, they will also receive a three-year Mercury Product Protection Gold plan! Hurry in now before the savings pass you by.

Do It Yourself Winterizing

Winterizing tips for the do-it-yourselfer

Winterizing Choices

US Boatworks is proud to help you when it comes to winterizing your sterndrive or outboard motor.  We help by providing two choices for winterizing.  First off you can bring your boat in to be winterized and choose one of the three winterizing packages we offer. Or if you choose to do it yourself, we provide all the quality OEM supplies you need along with these valuable winterizing tips.

Winterizing Outboards and Inboards:

• Remove water from the engine & exhaust manifolds. Water left in the engine cooling system can freeze and crack the engine block.
• Remove water from your fresh water systems & live wells.
• Add fuel stabilizer to your fuel tank using a high-quality fuel stabilizer. Without stabilizer, the fuel can degrade over the winter months.  Make sure the stabilizer you select is for your fuel type & motor type (2 stroke).
• Winterize the cooling system using ethyl-glycol antifreeze (pink RV-type). If water is left behind, it will mix with the antifreeze, which will keep it from freezing.
• Lower unit lubrication should be changed. This eliminates water or contaminants that could harm the unit over the long winter. While you are at it, check for leaks and the condition of your propeller.
• Lock your outboard or outdrive if necessary.  Remove electronics and valuables.
• Check your trailer: Inspect bearings for rust and pitting.  Replace them if necessary.  Bearing seals should be well greased.  Check the tires and trailer brakes.
• ***Always refer to the service manual before performing any service on your motor.***

One more tip — if you winterize your boat on your own, remember most insurance policies don’t cover damage caused by freezing, even if you did your best. Having a high-quality, qualified repair shop winterize your boat limits your responsibility if freezing damage occurs.  If you live in the Kansas City area, call us  at 913-342-0011 to have your boat professionally winterized by our trained marine mechanics.

Not in the Kansas City, Missouri or Kansas area?  We can ship anywhere in the US.  We know what your boat needs and we have excellent prices.  Additionally, we have low shipping rates as we only charge you our cost to ship parts to you.  Call us or send us an email at sales@BoatEngine.com.

Winterize Now!

Temperatures have remained warm for the beginning of fall.  If you are still taking advantage of boating, you have a few more good days out on the water.  Some boaters have already brought their boat in for the winter.  If you have wrapped it up for the season, get here to winterize your boat sooner rather than later.  As soon as news of near freezing temperatures hits, our lot will be over full with winterizes & we hate to turn customers away. Don’t put it off too long!

Loyal customers choose US Boatworks for boat winterization because of our great rates and outstanding reputation. Each winterization is personally performed by one mechanic from beginning to end. Rest assured that your motor will be properly winterized and safe from the upcoming freeze.

Winterization Service Options:

1. Basic Winterization: (4 cylinder, 6 cylinder, 8 cylinder)
   Stabilize fuel tank, fog engine, drain and refill block with antifreeze, check engine oil and gear oil.
2. Standard Winterization Service: (4 cylinder, 6 cylinder, 8 cylinder)
   Stabilize fuel tank, fog engine, drain and refill block with antifreeze, check engine oil and gear oil. Plus change engine oil and gear lube.
3. Deluxe Engine Winterization: (4 cylinder, 6 cylinder, 8 cylinder)
   Stabilize fuel tank, fog engine, drain and refill block with antifreeze, check engine oil and gear oil. Plus pull outdrive to inspect for wear, inspect bellows, grease u-joints, check alignment, grease bearings.

For more information on any of these winterization options send us an email at parts@boatengine.com or call us M-F 9-5 CST  & Saturday 9-12 at 913-342-0011. Tim, Ron or Mike are happy to help you with your boat repair or maintenance needs. We are open a few more Saturdays.  10/27 will be our last Saturday for the season, then we are only open 9-5 Monday through Friday until spring hits.

Happy boating.

Score Some Cash -Send Us Your Core

The busy summer season is dwindling down giving us a chance to remind gearcase customers to cash in on the core refund. Customers who purchase a lower unit from US Boatworks are eligible for a refund when you return a good core back to us.  If you are one of those customers, send your core back to us – we need them! More information on our core program can be found on our core policy page.

As one of the top remanufacturers of gear cases in the US, our technicians continually rebuild gear cases so they are in stock when ordered.  So that we can build all those gear cases, we need good used cores to start the refurbish process. We need your cores! Recycle your housing, save the environment and earn some money in the process.

 
If you have a used Evinrude, Mercury or Volvo-Penta outdrive cores laying around, put some cash in your pocket today.  We buy Mercury cores, Volvo Penta Sterndrive cores and Evinrude cores.  You will be paid based on the condition of the core you send us.

If you have replaced a damaged gear case lately, don’t throw that old lower unit out!  Turn it into cash. $$$$$$

The Trouble with Non-OEM Fuel Lines

We receive many phone calls about boat motors not running properly. If time allows, we may make a few suggestions over the phone.  Doing some of your own troubleshooting up front may save you time and money if you choose to handle some basic tips.

So, when discussing the poor performance complaints, common symptoms include:

-Motor will not start
-The engine runs fine for a while, but then shuts down and will not restart
-Loosing power periodically and then when running on plane

When hearing of these symptoms, we suggest checking for fuel leaks, reviewing all fittings and connectors for leaks and testing the fuel bulb.  We also ask if the fuel lines have been replaced and if so, what brand has been installed? When the answer is the fuel lines have been replaced by lines purchased at a large discount store, we usually suggest purchasing OEM fuel lines and installing them with new fittings.  The life of non-oem fuel lines is very short since they are manufactured with inferior materials to save money.  The quick deterioration of the generic lines can cause boaters more problems than the money saved up front.  Frequent replacing of lines and time lost on the water is far more costly than simply purchasing the OEM lines from the get go.  If fuel lines have never been replaced, they still may need to be changed out with new OEM lines to insure fuel can reach the motor with ease.

Need new OEM fuel lines and fuel related accessories? We can help.  Our online parts storeallows you to select your motor and review the engine diagrams on the screen.  Simply place items from the microfiche drawings in your shopping cart & check out.  We usually ship orders the same day so you receive your order quickly.  Additionally, readers of our blog can enjoy $10 off orders of $50 or more by entering 10save10 coupon code at checkout.

To recap- fuel related problems can sometimes be self diagnosed and fixed at home.  We recommend using OEM parts especially with your fuel lines and connectors.  We are also happy to do the work for you, please call or bring your boat in for Kansas City boat service.  There is nothing better than a fun day out on the water with friends and family.  We take pride in quality workmanship and will get your motor running in top shape.

Osage Theater Circa 1922

Our boat parts and repair shop at 930 Osage, Kansas City, KS has a unique history. In 1922, the newly constructed building opened as the Osage Theater.  Richard Biechelle, owner, built the theater for $50,000 which would seat 1000. Prior to 1922 there had been smaller theater at this same location but I was unable to find details about it. It was destroyed or torn down for this 1922 theater.

The debut movie on February 26, 1922 was “A Sailor-Made Man” staring Harold Lloyd.

The theater ran for close to 30 years in Armourdale. It was a favorite entertainment spot for both kids and adults in this hard working community. I uncovered a Google Book titled, “The Kid from Armourdale” in which Lloyd E Houser describes growing up in Armourdale during the depression.  He mentions finding ways to earn money to go to the Osage Theater on a Friday night.  His young brother, with no money of his own, bawled and bawled his way into going.  Lloyd offered to pay the 1 penny to get Bill into the show as his mom only had 9 cents in her purse. Lloyd’s story of that Friday night is certainly entertaining and can be found here.

In 1948 the theater experienced a roof collapse which injured some customers. The theater was repaired and re-opened for a few more years.

Theater – The Kansas movie theater in the Armourdale community of Kansas City, Kan., was damaged by the 1951 flood. This view shows Kansas Avenue near St. Paul Street. (Photo courtesy of the Wyandotte County Museum)

The 1951 flood of the Armourdale area forced the closing of the theater and it was never to be re-opened.  Apparently repairs were done to the building and the front exterior greatly changed to what it looks like today.  The windows along the side of the building remain the same however.  Inside you can find the projector room and the window through which the movies were shown.  You can even see the arch of the screen curtain and stage. Additionally you can still see water marks on the interior walls where the flood waters crested.

If you stop by during our down time (in the winter) perhaps we can give you a tour.

930 Osage Ave, Home of US Boatworks since 1990.

The projection booth of the Osage Theatre at its opening with Simplex projection

Raise Less Civilized Kids

School is back in session for most of the USA but summer continues to hang on here in the Midwest. We have a many more warm days to enjoy the lake with family and friends! Go tubing, get out the fishing rods, build a bonfire, make s'mores, stay up late! Get out there and make some memories!

 To help get you back on the water while saving money, you can now save over 50% off shipping! Beginning August 17 through the end of the month we are offering $7.95 flat rate shipping* on orders over $100 when you order on-line. Use coupon code 7dollarship at check out.

Avoiding the Pitfalls of Boat Engine Maintenance

• Have you been putting off your recommended Mercury outboard maintenance?
• Are you simply not sure of what to do?
• Maybe you are dreading dragging out the engine manual or doing your internet research?
• Can you even find your engine manual?

For anyone who can identify with the above, this article is for you!

Regular engine maintenance is essential to ensuring your engine will provide you with years of trouble-free operation.  You have a choice to do it  yourself or sit back and let the experts handle your maintenance.

If you want the experts to help, Mercury Authorized Dealers have the expertise and training to handle all of your engine maintenance service and needs.  US Boatworks is a Mercury Authorized Premier Dealer with over 30 years experience in repairing and maintaining Mercury Outboard Motors in the Kansas City area.  Please call to schedule your 100 and 300 hour maintenance of your Mercury Outboard. Keeping on top of the recommended procedures is a great way to keep your engine running trouble free for many years to come.

For the do-it-yourselfer, timely, accurate maintenance is important.  The maintenance checklist at the bottom of the page is a great summary of items to be reviewed at both 100 and 300 engine hours.  The second list is a grease chart for fresh water use to insure the proper product is put into your motor.  Always refer to your specific owners manual or call your authorized Mercury Motor dealer before performing these recommended services.

OILS AND LUBRICANTS  

Oils and lubricants are of course key to keeping your motor parts moving properly.  Avoid being tricked into buying generic or multi-purpose oils which are inferior to genuine manufacturer oils. Mercury Oils and Lubricants are specifically engineered for the unique needs of marine engines and rigorously tested to meet high standards. You can get the most out of your engine while having total peace of mind that your engine is being protected when you choose oils manufactured by your engine manufacturer.

GREASE CHART FOR FRESH WATER USE

STEERING SYSTEMS / CABLE, LINKAGES	2-4-C	100 hrs/at least once a yr
THROTTLE AND SHIFT CABLES, LINKAGES	2-4-C	100 hrs
REMOTE CONTROLS	2-4-C	100 hrs/at least once a yr
PROP SHAFT	2-4-C	100hrs/120 days
SWIVEL PINS	2-4-C	100hrs/120 days
TILT LOCK MECHANISM/TILT TUBE	2-4-C	100 days
DRIVE SHAFT SPLINES (ENGINE COUPLERS)	EXTREME	100 hrs/at least once a yr

MAINTENANCE CHECK LIST	100 HRS	300 HRS
INSPECT ENGINE AND ACCESSORIES FOR VISIBLE DAMAGE	♦	♦
RUN ENGINE FOR CORRECT OPERATION, CHECK FOR ANY ACTIVE CODES	♦	♦
DRAIN GEAR HOUSING AND REFILL WITH GEAR LUBE	♦	♦
REPLACE GEAR LUBE	♦	♦
SERVICE WATER PUMP	♦
INSPECT THERMOSTATS, REPLACE IF NECESSARY	♦	♦
LUBRICATE DRIVE SHAFT SPLINES	♦	♦
INSPECT PROPELLER SHAFT NUT, TORQUE IF NECESSARY	♦	♦
INSPECT IGNITION COMPONENTS, REPLACE SPARK PLUGS IF NECESSARY	♦
INSPECT FUEL TANK, FUEL LINES AND CONNECTIONS	♦	♦
INSPECT FUEL FILTERS, REPLACE IF NECESSARY	♦	♦
CHANGE ENGINE OIL AND REPLACE OIL FILTER (FOURSTROKE ONLY)	♦	♦
INSPECT HIGH PRESSURE FILTER, REPLACE IF NECESSARY	♦	♦
CHECK AND INSPECT ANODE, REPLACE IF NECESSARY	♦	♦

I’m Mad as Heck To See This Senseless Tragedy

I frequently write about boating safety and fear that my articles are often ignored.  This story is a prime example of why safety measures and warnings should not be ignored.  Safety saves lives!

It’s been just over  a week since the tragic Duck Boat incident at Table Rock Lake.  Many families lives were ripped apart due to the loss of loved ones during what should have been a nice boating experience.  A thunderstorm with gale force winds flew into the Table Rock Lake area last Thursday and while many boaters quickly headed back to the dock, the duck oat entered the lake and quickly was overcome by wind and high waves.

Ultimately the boat sank and 17 lives were lost.  Not a single person was wearing life jackets, not even the babies and young children. This is just part of the reason I am so mad. The captain knew about the storms and decided to go out anyway telling passengers they would not need their life jackets.
The other senseless part of this tragedy is not heeding the warning.  Thunderstorms had been predicted up to two hours before the boat sank.  As I said before, the captain knew there were storms coming and still chose to enter the lake. KMBC’s Bryan Busby reflects on how this all could have been prevented in his video. Weather forecasters do their job to keep us safe.   Our meteorologists have years of training and costly equipment to predict what may happen.  When they predict that conditions are ripe for bad weather and warn us to act appropriately there is valid science behind them.  Most times the warning pass and everyone is safe but not always.  This sad story is a reminder to take all weather warnings seriously.  

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends affected by this event.  A gofundme page has been started for the Coleman family survivors.

Too often these outings turn tragic

There have been awesome memories made out on the water with friends and family. Boating can be a great time whether you are spending a sunny day fishing, skiing or tubing.  While these events help us bond with each other, boating accidents from reckless or ignorant behavior can rip friends and family apart.

Here are some interesting statistics from the US Coast Guard:

In 2017, the Coast Guard counted 4,291 accidents that involved 658 deaths, 2,629 injuries and approximately $46 million dollars of damage to property as a result of recreational boating accidents.

81% of deaths occurred on boats where the driver had not received boating safety instruction. In contrast, only 14% percent of deaths occurred on boats where the operator received a boating safety education from nationally approved institutions.

The top five contributing factors in accidents are:
  Operator inexperience
  Alcohol Use
  Improper Lookout
  Operator inattention
  Machinery Failure


There were 172 accidents in which at least one person was struck by a propeller. Collectively, these accidents resulted in 31 deaths and 162 injuries.

So what can responsible boat owners do to insure safety out on the water?

Federal Safety Requirements for recreational boats are written and enforced by the US Coast Guard.  These regulations are detailed in a 82 page document called A Boaters Guide to Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats.  Page 42 of the document lists the requirements based on the size of your boat.  For our purposes, we are discussing boats up to 26 feet in length. Their list starts with reminding boaters that they need the required state numbering and licensing then the remaining 8 items are about safety.  Those items are included in our list below but please review their site for complete details.

We recommend all boaters review this document in its entirety as it address safety in operating your boat as well.  The US Coast Guard offers several courses in boating safety. More information can be found at http://www.uscgboating.org/recreational-boaters/boating-safety-courses.php

In summary, take a few extra minutes this year before you get out with your boat to be sure you have the proper safety equipment.  Do it now and at the beginning of each season.  A few safety precautions can mean the difference between fun and disaster.

Boat Safety Items:

Fire Extinguisher
First Aid Kit
Life Jackets
Whistle or Air Horn
Flash Light
Electric distress signals
Flares
backfire flame arrestor for non-outboard motors
Gas Tank Ventilation
Navigation Lights
Screw Driver
Pliers
Spare Prop
Prop Nut Wrench
Duct Tape

Happy Independence Day

US Boatworks will be open this Tuesday, JULY 3 from 9-5 pm to serve you for the July 4th holiday. We may even be open a few hours on Wednesday, July 4th as our staff will be in during the morning hours to catch up on some work.  If you need us on the 4th, call before coming down.

This July 4th many families will travel to their favorite lake and take their boat out on the water. As usual, hours of preparation go into getting ready for an outing at the lake. Preparation most likely will include cleaning your boat, tuning up the engine and making boat repairs as necessary. Over the last few years, I have written many articles with tips on getting your boat out on the water.  You can find tips about boat engine preparation from the article I wrote this spring.  An important part of this preparation always should include safety items. Check out our list of boating safety equipment every boater should have on board.  We strongly recommend having your boat safety inspected by a trained professional to be sure you have covered all the recommended safety measures.  After all that hard work preparing for your day on the lake, we hope everyone has a great holiday and that your boat runs great.

We appreciate all of our valued customers and know that our success is only because you come back year after year.  Thank you for supporting US Boatworks.

Urgent: Huge Price Increase on Mercury Outboards Coming

Boaters considering a 40, 50 or 60 horse power Mercury Outboard listen up! Significant price increases begin July 1 when tariffs on certain imported motors begin.  While most Mercury Marine products are made here in the US, the 40, 50 and 60 horse motors are made overseas.  The reason for this is that the demand for the 40-60 horse power motors is largest outside the US.  It is much more cost effective to assemble them outside the US where they are purchased. So, boaters here in the states who want these motors will now have to pay the tariff. BUT here is the good news – you have a few days to buy your Mercury Outboard before the price goes up.

US Boatworks offers Excellent Pricing, Outstanding Service and Knowledge. Our pricing usually beats the “big guys”. Buy local, shop small business.

Please feel free to contact us should you have any questions.