If you own a boat with an inboard or sterndrive engine, there’s a good chance your cooling system depends on a small rubber part that rarely gets a second thought — until…
Trailer bearing maintenance for boats you only launch a few times a year
If your boat spends most of the year sitting in the driveway, a storage unit, or under a cover in the backyard, you might assume your trailer bearings are catching a break….
The real reason your bilge pump keeps cycling on its own
If you’ve ever been lying in your bunk at anchor and heard that unmistakable click-hum-click of your bilge pump kicking on every few minutes, you know how unsettling it is. Your first…
The hidden cost of skipping zinc anode checks every season
Most boat owners think of zinc anodes as one of those small, forgettable parts — a cheap chunk of metal bolted to the hull, propeller, or engine that nobody really thinks about…
Small boat owners signs your transom is starting to rot
If you own a small boat, the transom is one of the most important — and most overlooked — structural parts of your hull. It’s the flat panel at the stern that…
Marine canvas care preventing mildew without harsh chemicals
If you own a boat, you already know that marine canvas — biminis, dodgers, cockpit covers, sail covers, and enclosures — takes a beating. Sun, salt spray, humidity, and long stretches of…
How to tell if your boat’s gelcoat is beyond a DIY fix
If you own a boat, you already know that gelcoat takes a beating. Sun, saltwater, trailer scrapes, dock rash, and the occasional collision with a piling all leave their mark on that…
How to spot electrolysis damage before it ruins your prop
If you’ve ever pulled your boat out of the water and found your propeller looking pitted, chalky, or oddly eaten away, you’ve probably run into electrolysis damage. It’s one of the most…
How often you really need to flush a saltwater cooling system
If you run a boat with a raw water cooling system, you’ve probably heard a dozen different opinions on how often you should flush it. Some marina old-timers say every trip. Others…
How to check your boat’s stringers for soft spots
If your boat has started to feel a little “springy” underfoot, or you’ve noticed cracks forming near the transom or along the hull sides, there’s a good chance the problem isn’t cosmetic….