Caution for Yamaha owners—protect under the cowl from nesting critters

It’s been more than a year since I bought the Phoenix and I have to say I love it. The only thing that I am not happy with is the Yamaha engine. Not the engine and the way it runs, but with the large vent slots at the top of the cowling. The slots are so large that squirrels got under the cowl and chewed up the wiring and some of the oil hoses.

I spoke to someone at Yamaha customer service and they said I should have bought a cover for it so critters can’t get in. They recommended a cover for storage only and not for running of course. I think the factory should build a screen inside the cowling — to reduce the openings sizes would be a better solution. Or put a heavy-duty screen on the inside. That would keep out animals and nest-building insects.

A fabric cover won’t work because the critters can easily chew through the fabric of the cover. A friend told me squirrels chewed through the cover on his outdoor grill just recently. A fabric isn’t going to stop critters.

My boat is in the shop now and I should get it back in a few days. I spoke to my insurance company and they will cover the costs above my deductible. Unfortunately, the deductible is quite high and I don’t think it will cost more than the deductible to fix it. So if you have a Yamaha, take precautions when you store your boat.