2 Strokes And The Bahamas

[BillP]

During a quick 150 mile run through the Abacos, Bahamas last week I took notes on what motors the locals used. This is rugged territory and locals use obs for transportation like we use cars...but breakdowns can be hazardous to your health in the islands. Also, nobody flushs engines there because water too scarce. Gas was $4.30 gal.<br /><br />5 rental fleets had eTecs and the rest on local private boats were a sprinkling of etec and 2 stroke yamahas. Ratio was about 90% etec and 10% yamaha. Mercs and hondas were virtually non existant except on visiting CC boats from Florida. I didn't see one 4 stroke or merc on a local's boat there. I asked 3 marina owners (Hope Town, Marsh Harbor & Grand Cay) about obs and they said eTecs were ultra reliable and the #1 choice by everyone.

 

[Bass Man Bruce]

Re: 2 Strokes And The Bahamas

That's a little different from my experience last winter in Tampa Bay and a cruise to Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and USVI where 90% plus of all boats including gov and military where Yammi's. Couldn't tell you if they were 2 or 4 stroke as I didn't check

 

[rodbolt]

Re: 2 Strokes And The Bahamas

so far my observation in Venezuela is yamaha is the number one choice. so popular that its the number one engine thats stolen. I have a 9.9 yam that I am building and its now painted phantom black with merc decals. I am also building a 200 yam for my fiance's boat and it will be black with merc decals as well. hopefully it will be convincing to the casual observer/theif

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: 2 Strokes And The Bahamas

LOL! Paint yer outboard up like a Merc to keep it from getting stolen!<br /><br />Thanks rodbolt, you had be rolling around on the floor laughing.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: 2 Strokes And The Bahamas

Interesting thread.<br />

Paul observed:Also, nobody flushs engines there because water too scarce.

Wonder what the condition of their motors was like? Wonder how often they get serviced or have an impeller change?

 

[ivar]

Re: 2 Strokes And The Bahamas

Yamaha is the #1 choice among thieves is Norway too. I'd think Force decals would be the ultimate in theft protection..?

 

[BillP]

Re: 2 Strokes And The Bahamas

One of the boat dealers in HopeTown said that Merc didn't give good support in the islands so they didn't get used much. OMC had a long history down there so a network was already in place for Bombadier. I heard a long time ago that Yamaha chased a lot of the commercial fleet guys away in S.America and Bahamas by not having parts available...that was in the mid 80s when OMC International was still around with commercial motors. The Bomb does't sell commercial motors but was able to step into a market already in place in the Bahamas. Bomb motors and factory support was praised by the shop owners I talked to.<br /><br />I looked at several piles of junk motors in Marsh Harbor and HopeTown...all big blocks and maybe 5-10 yrs old. Most didn't look corroded very much and cosmetics still looked nice. They wear them out before flushing creates a problem. One homeowner told me he put 1500 hrs on his in 3 yrs...that seemed to be normal with residents. Nobody runs old motors there, breakdowns are too dangerous.

 

[v12mac]

Re: 2 Strokes And The Bahamas

After having his motor stolen off his dingy several times down in the ABC islands (Aruba Bonaire Curacao) , my father in law now runs a diesel outboard he painted orange with a brush to just to keep people from stealing it. So far it has worked. <br />Mac

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: 2 Strokes And The Bahamas

Being forced to mess up a factory-sprayed motor with hand-painted orange, just to stop it being stolen, makes you mad.<br /><br />I pulled a friends boat out so that we could work on the motor together. We went for a quick liquid lunch. When we came back, the boarding ladder had been unbolted and stolen.<br /><br />Two fishermen pulled in for a quick drink. they were gone maybe twenty minutes. Their outboard had also vanished in that time.

 

[pwiseman]

Re: 2 Strokes And The Bahamas

Originally posted by ivar:<br /> Yamaha is the #1 choice among thieves is Norway too. I'd think Force decals would be the ultimate in theft protection..?

yea, but I have never seen a yammie with a big ugly lego block looking hood. Maybe just camo it up and the thief will not find it.