Boating

So, your PVC raft or boat has a leak, what else is new? The method used to repair it will vary based on whether it is a pinhole leak or other damage type, according to rafting supplier NRS. (See...

An anchor rope splice--also known as a chain splice--splices an anchor rope to an anchor chain. The anchor splice is a variation on the sailmaker's splice, which tucks the strands of a rope back...

In a boat--which pitches, yaws and rolls--your battery requires a more robust restraint system than the one found in your car. While a battery box will contain any spill that might occur as the...

A trailer allows you to take your boat anywhere you want to go. Taking your boat out of the water each time you use it also keeps it in better shape. Trailered boats have less corrosion of their...

A template for boat cover snap replacement is like a map. You can make a template for snap replacement by rolling a large piece of paper over your boat and tracing the snap locations. It will be...

Towing a boat trailer behind a fifth-wheel camper trailer is a complex endeavor. But having both the fifth-wheel camper and boat along for the ride offers vacationers a place to spend the night...

A boat cover serves several purposes: It keeps leaves and dirt outside your boat, where they're supposed to be. It keeps animals out of your boat when your boat is laid up for the off-season. A...

The bunks or rollers that your boat rests on when on its trailer provide the support that keep your boat upright and steady while traveling. Adjust them with a wrench to fit under the strongest...

Buying a boat can be a daunting task if you have not been through the process before. From choosing the right type and size boat for your family’s needs, to getting a loan, purchasing, and...

Tying a boat down on a concrete slab is a project that can be accomplished with a bit of thought and the right tools and equipment. The most secure method of securing the boat to the slab would be...

If you use jack stands to lift your boat from its trailer to do bottom work, such as painting or fiberglass repairs, you can use automotive jack stands--with one important difference. Automotive...

A drift sock, also called a sea anchor, helps to keep a boat from drifting too fast on windy days. With a drift sock, a fisherman can fish in open water without constantly fighting the wind or...

Boat trailers come in several sizes to accommodate a variety of lengths and weights of boats. For each increase in size and weight, there is a range of boats that fit a trailer. The better your...

In these days of high speeds and noisy motors, rowing your own boat down the river or across a lake can be an extremely satisfying experience. Old or much-used wooden oars, however, may need a...

It is important to prepare your boat properly to idle, whether you are in the water, or your boat is on a trailer in the driveway. You can idle the engine on the water to warm it up before heading...

Marine engines generally operate in harsher climates than automobiles and are designed to endure more punishment. Most marine components are designed to last in hot, wet conditions, but some are...

Weather and water take their toll on all parts of your boat, but your boat's floor--its deck--shows that wear more readily than most of the other parts. If you have a "natural" deck, one with...

There are two basic ways that wooden boats can be built. In the traditional method, the builder first needs to know what type and size boat he or she will be building and must then acquire plans...

Installing a second battery in your boat adds many extra hours away from land. Having a dedicated starting battery and a dedicated "house" battery to run extra appliances with the engine off means...

A boat's radio, commonly called a "marine VHF radio," is the waterborne equivalent of a telephone, transmitting everything from conversations between boaters to emergency communications between...

A ship's magnetic compass is adjusted through the process known as "swinging the ship" or "swinging the compass." During this process, the magnetic compass is compared to a gyrocompass or Global...

You should always empty the gas from your boat's tank when you're getting ready to store it for the season. It's dangerous to leave flammable liquid sitting, and the gas can lose its...

In general, boaters want to avoid underwater objects for their own safety, and the safety of their boats. Knowing where underwater stumps and felled trees are located, however, has a special...

Wire rope can be cut with a cutting torch or a hydraulic wire rope cutter. The key to cutting wire rope successfully lies in "seizing" the wire rope properly before making the cut. Seizing is the...

While your motor's tilt control can vary your boat's trim, a jack plate can change its center of gravity, giving you even more control over the way you operate. Your motor's tilt function can...

Your battery is your boat's heart. Without a battery, your boat will not start, and you cannot enjoy many of the electrical gadgets, such as radios, electric coolers, refrigerators and other...

Boat owners take great care of the massive and expensive engines that power their motor boats. They require meticulous scheduled maintenance, especially in cold weather climates where boat owners...

If you live in a cold climate where you need to store your boat away for the winter, shrink wrap is a great option for protecting the interior from the elements. When applied correctly, shrink...

Hummingbird markets a line of depth sounders for marine use that use sonar to determine the depth of the water beneath the boat's transducer. The transducer is mounted on the boat below the water...

Calculating your boat's displacement related to ballast weight may surprise you in two respects. The first is that your boat's displacement is effected by the ballast weight on a pound-for-pound...

Working aloft on your boat, you'll be using a bos'n's chair. The bos'n's chair may lead to a false sense of security, since you're seated on a relatively stable seat. If the boat rocks, you simply...

A faulty engine coupler is a serious problem for any boating enthusiast. Engine couplers that are failing will not be able to turn the outdrive effectively, and thus your boat will not be able to...

Marine radio rules for recreational boaters seem intimidating, but are worth taking the time to learn. Marine radios communicate an emergency situation, navigation issues, weather and port operations.

Manatees, also called "Sea Cows," travel up and down the eastern coast of the United States. During the winter months, they migrate south and live mainly along the Florida coastline. Global...

Part of the installation of the Fishmaster Folding T-Top is lacing the cover into the canopy frame. Even if you're intimidated by ropework and marlinspike seamanship sounds like a duel with a...

Cable, also known as wire rope, isn't measured in the same way as fiber rope. Fiber rope, whether a natural fiber like manila, or a synthetic fiber like nylon, or polypropylene, is measured by...

You use caulk on your boat for the same reason you use caulk in your home. In your home, you caulk around the windows, sealing all the cracks through which heat can escape. You caulk between the...

Using a personal pontoon boat is like using any other boat in that it requires practice, use and more practice to "get it right." Fortunately, there are many parallels between driving a boat and...

A ski pole for a boat isn't the same as a ski pole for snow. The ski pole for water skiing or wakeboarding, also called a ski pylon, consists of a pole, which stands straight upright on the boat's...

A duck blind can be made for a boat for a lot less than one can be purchased. A simple, lightweight frame is all you need to support the camouflaged material that forms the blind itself. The...

Making a secure connection between your boat and the rope towing a skier can mean the difference between recreation and frustration. You need a knot that's strong, easy to tie and one that won't...

Fishing poles get banged around enough in the car just getting to the boat. Once at the boat, they should have a neat, organized place where they can stand ready for use. You can buy rod holders...

A boat's lights are far more than decoration. They tell a seasoned sailor where the boat is, how big it is and which way it's moving. The colored lights also tell you what boats to avoid and even...

If you make a repair to your boat's engine or gear box, there's a good chance you'll get grease on the exterior of your boat. If your boat has that nice, glossy gelcoat finish on its exterior, the...

Winterizing your outboard motor is an annual chore that must be done without fail to ensure that you can enjoy your boat for years to come. It's not particularly difficult to do, and you'll find...

Borateem, a borax-based cleaning and laundry compound, is safe for nearly all cleaning tasks. For cleaning boats and boat covers, the key is the water temperature: It must be less than 100 degrees F.

If you have the fish finder, the GPS and your marine VHF radio sitting in your garage, ready to install on your boat, you can wire them yourself. The marine electronics industry and National...

All states have safe boating laws that apply to rowboats. Most are based on an "ideal" version of safe boating laws created by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators,...

There are two ways to lay a vinyl floor in a boat. The first is to glue the vinyl to plywood sheets that have been cut to fit the deck space. The second is to lay the vinyl directly on the deck,...

Your marine radio is probably one of the most important electronic items aboard your boat. In the case of an emergency, your marine radio will provide communication to the Coast Guard and other...