Oil Change Solution
After years of struggling with all manner of half baked solutions, I removed the pan, tapped it (it was much more substantial than predicted by the Yanmar mechanic), put in a drain tube with an elbow to parallel the bottom of the pan, added a valve and a nipple, then attached a hose. This hose has one of those outboard motor gas line squeeze bulbs. To drain my oil, I simply open the valve, and begin pumping. It takes about a minute to a minute and a half, and there is absolutely no mess....takes away all hesitance to undertake an oil change. If you are going to keep your boat for awhile, the investment in time to undertake something like this will be amply repaid. And, if there ALREADY is a drain plug....! I have been contemplating a remote fitting for my oil filter. If it were suspended vertically, instead of horizontally on the engine, I could change this without any mess or hassle, too. If anyone has any ideas on who might have such a fitting, I would love to hear it.
