Boating

The Garmin GPSMap 3000 (or higher) Series Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver/chartplotter can be interfaced with a DSC/VHF marine radio with a single NMEA (National Marine Electronics...

Gelcoats on boats provide a protective barrier that enables the boat to function properly. They prevent water from leaking into the boat, and they often provide a glossy-looking finish that some...

Swim Jigs are fun and easy to use bass lures. Check out my article to figure out how to use a swim bait.

Lake boating in the western United States sometimes leaves a buildup of calcium deposits on the aluminum hulls and pontoons of boats. These deposits increase hull drag and degrade your boat's...

If you plan to add additional deck lights to your boat, you'll need to turn them off when you get underway. If you don't need more deck lighting, but you want to be able to turn off your boat's...

Millions of people like to fish or go for short outings on lakes and rivers each year. One common type of boat they use is a John boat. John boats are simple flat-bottomed boats usually powered by...

Most boaters like to have a clean boat to take out friends and family for a good time on the water. One thing that can spoil a trip is to arrive at the boat and find moldy and mildewed seats. Boat...

The marine environment is much different than dry land, especially when considering the function of a toilet. Vessels are continuously bobbing and swaying in the water, and this movement would...

While some sailboats are equipped with engines, their primary means of propulsion are the sails. When unfurled they are exposed to salt, dust and dirt. A flaked but uncovered mainsail may also be...

Because of the high humidity in a vessel's engine room, separating water from the diesel fuel that powers your generators or main propulsion is essential in a marine environment. Specialized...

Boat covers made from synthetic fibers are treated with a waterproof finish. While these covers may last longer than natural fiber canvas, like canvas boat covers, they have to be re-waterproofed...

Part of laying up your boat at the end of the boating season is preventative maintenance, both for the off-season and for the start of the next boating season. One area many boaters may overlook...

When the boating season winds down, a properly fitted boat cover will protect your boat from the ravages of weather and storm while it's docked in your driveway or back yard. Boat cover suppliers...

Part of laying up your boat for the off-season is putting a proper cover over the boat. Using wood bows under a boat cover helps your boat in three ways. The bows raise the center of the boat...

There's no feeling in this world like cruising down the highway, on your way to a great day of boating. Unfortunately, seeing your boat cover flying away in your rear view mirror--because it...

The Orvis Tide Clock doesn't tell time; it tells you when high tide or low tide occurs and how many hours it is to high tide or low tide. It has one hand only, which points to the tide or the the...

While temporary repairs can be made using sail repair tape, these repairs won't last through a winter season in a harsh climate, particularly when the cover may be subjected to the ultraviolet...

If the rope you use to fly the national flag on your boat's mast--your seagoing flag pole--becomes more than a bit frayed over time, you need to replace it before Old Glory either does a nose dive...

Proper ballasting can improve your boat's stability and operating efficiency when under a load. With a garden hose at a fuel dock, you can add water to your boat's lateral and longitudinal tanks...

Unlike a fiberglass boat hull, a wooden boat hull flexes with the movements of the sea, giving a "softer" ride. The trade-off is that, unlike fiberglass, wood eventually becomes saturated with...

Whether you're restoring an older boat with interior walls that are in poor condition or simply wanting to change the feel of the interior of your boat, carpeted cabin walls offer the advantages...

The proper display of flags, pennants and burgees on boats communicate information. It is also a long standing tradition that, when executed properly, reflects well on the skipper.

Koch Industries, the makers of Koch wire rope clips, is described by Hoover's as "one of the largest (if not the largest) private companies in the U.S." While usually called wire rope clips, wire...

A bad day boating is way better than a good day of nearly anything else, but even the best days of boating build up a charge of static electricity on your hull from the friction between water and...

Your boat's bottom paint might be poisoning the fish you're trying to catch, if it contains a product known as TBT, known more formally as tributyltin to chemists. A solution for problems like...

Three methods are available to take care of teak that's used aboard a boat. The first is the application of varnish. This is more permanent than the application of teak oil and doesn't bury the...

Gelcoat is a thin layer of catalyzed polyester resin that is applied to the inside and outside of fiberglass boats. This layer protects the fiberglass from the effects of water and sunlight and...

Preventing mildew from forming on your boat cover during the off-season means keeping the inside of your boat and the cover dry. It also means storing the cover separately from the boat. Products...

Gelcoat is a catalyzed, polyester resin based compound that is used as a top coat on fiberglass boats. The gelcoat layer protects the fiberglass by preventing water intrusion and the effects of...

A boat is a major investment for most people. To get the most out of your investment, and to keep repair costs down, service of the Mercruiser outdrive can be performed by the experienced...

The Mercruiser is one of the most popular power packages in boating. While these units provide years of service, boat owners must keep up with regular maintenance schedules. The Mercruiser can be...

Citing nautical traditions more than 300 years old, in 1998 the United States Power Squadrons (the world's largest boating educational organization) published a flag code for recreational boats.

When you lay up your boat for the winter or perform off-season maintenance, you should inspect and test your bilge pump. Aside from keeping your boat's bilge dry, it's also your on-board first...

River anchors are lightweight mushroom anchors. The procedure for setting a river anchor is essentially the same as for setting an anchor on any other body of water. The hazard involved in setting...

Removing the gimbal bearing on the Mercruiser is an advanced mechanical operation not normally performed by the average do-it-yourselfer. However, with the proper tools, it can be done. Removing...

With the end of boating season comes the process of laying up the boat for the winter. Your fuel tank should be stored dry, completely free of fuel. This prevents condensation in the tank from...

One of the challenges for the Mercruiser owner and the do-it-yourselfer is cleaning the lower unit. This task is especially challenging if the boat has been in the water all season. Even in fresh...

Permanent repairs to the deck canvas of small sports catamaran, like a Hobie Cat, or larger canvas areas, like sails, require a sewn patch. Temporary repairs, like those made with sail tape or...

Vinyl boat upholstery offers fantastic growing conditions for mold and mildew. The heat, humidity and dark nooks and crannies of a boat cabin provide the perfect situation for mold to occur. When...

When you want to protect and preserve the wooden mast of your boat or ship, look to the same place that the Chinese did. For thousands of years, the Chinese protected the masts of their Junks with...

Modern boat canvas is usually made from a synthetic fabric, like Dacron or nylon, rather than cotton. Since your boat's canvas is regularly subjected to a wet--or at least damp--environment, mold...

Boats are damp, and damp makes mold spores grow, particularly in storage. Whether you have fabric or vinyl seat covers, moisture will build up under the tarp or boat cover over the winter. Dark,...

The Mercruiser stern drive is one of the most popular and seaworthy marine engines in the world today. From small pleasure craft to high-performance racing boats, Mercruiser is often the first...

The Mercruiser seawater pump is a reliable device that if maintained properly will provide the boater years of worry-free service. However, the impeller inside the water pump should be changed...

The Mercury Marine 4.3L engine has three variations in the manifold drain systems. One variation requires you to open valves, another requires you to remove drain plugs and the third requires you...

GPS maps allow you to review trips you have completed and to plan trips in advance. Maps include waypoints (selected points), tracks (breadcrumb trails) and routes (direct lines between...

While many people love boating, one of the things they dislike is coming home from a day on the lake, river or ocean and having to clean their floating dock. But the alternative is coming back to...

If you lose a hatch cover to weather or rot, you might finish the season with a tarp or, if the weather is pleasant, an open hatch. Remember, though, that an uncovered hatch on a rough day is an...

A worn or damaged exhaust bellow in the MerCruiser stern drive must be replaced immediately to avoid damage to the u-joints, bearings, and other assemblies inside the stern drive. Replacing the...

Boat registration numbers are just like the license plates on your car: they provide a way to identify your boat as yours. Like your license plate, the numbers don't "expire" every year, but a new...