A Blizzard has me thinking about Boating
Wayne Spivak
National Press Corps
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
“I really can't stay (but, baby, it's cold outside).
I've got to go 'way (but, baby, it's cold outside).”
[BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE Words and Lyrics by Frank Loesser]
A few days ago, the weather forecasters started threatening that a Blizzard was coming. Actually it started out as some snow, then a lot of snow, and then heavy snow - then the “B” word was used.
Well, I’m not as young as I used to be (aren’t we all) and decided two years ago to purchase a snow blower. I picked it up, just in time for a heavy dumping of snow (actually it had already started) and was happier than a clam at the ease in which I did my snow removal. Last year, we really didn’t have much snow, so I don’t think I used my blower.
But a Blizzard was coming. So, what did I do (now granted, I did procrastinate just a little), I checked my snow blower (at 6AM, don’t be afraid). It took a while, but it finally started. But what would I have done if my snow blower decided it wanted to take a vacation?
Confused?
Well, don’t be, because I’ll explain how a blizzard, a snow blower and boating tie-in. What is a snow blower (no this is not the great philosophical question of the millennium)?
A snow blower is essentially a small two-stroke internal combustion engine. Larger snow blowers use four-stroke internal combustion engines (ICE). Small outboard engines are two-stroke ICE’s, and most of the newer larger outboards are four-stroke. In-board engines (whether connected to an I/O or strictly an inboard propeller), are four-stroke engines.
Okay, now it appraisal time. How many of you knew the preceding information? Come on now, be honest. I don’t see everyone’s hand going up. You, yeah you in the back there, the lady next to guy with the “I’d rather be fishing” hat, your hand isn’t up, by the way, neither is the guy’s!
So what does that prove? It proves that should you be on your boat, out in the water and your engine stops, you’d be clueless on what to do. And I would tend to think you’d have a hard time describing the problem to someone, should you be required.
Solution to the problem
So, when I checked my snow blower, it didn’t start right a way. I had to adjust the choke, prime the carburetor, and coax it a bit. I knew why it wasn’t starting and some of the ways to make it start. I mentally had a troubleshooting checklist, and slowly made it down the list, point by point. On number four, the engine started and I let it run for a few minutes. I knew I was going to be fine, for the large amounts of snow we were supposed to get (so far, as I write this it’s over a foot, and its still snowing – hard).
So how do you gain access to this mental list of mine? Well, I could just give it to you, but then, you wouldn’t have all the necessary background information on why number 1 comes before number 4.
So the solution, is during the next several months, leading up to the boating season, why not take the family to your local continuing education outlet and take a small engine repair course. Let’s not forget that boating safety course, while you’re at it.
For those of you who have already taken a boating safety course, why not a navigation course?
So you’ve taken the boating safety and navigation course. That’s great. But there are courses on Advance Navigation (should you be going off-shore, but not quite blue water), courses on GPS, RADAR and even Weather.
This year, why not make it a family project to take some educational courses together about a subject you all enjoy – boating!
Contact your local community continuing education or BOCES for small engine repair. Contact your local United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla (http://www.cgaux.org/cgauxweb/getzip.html) or contact your local Coast Guard unit (www.uscg.mil).
Remember, an educated boater is a safer boater!
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