Ask The Expert
Stay on top of Cleaning
Posted: July 1, 2014
The heat and humidity are really killing my canvas and Isinglass this summer. What really works to keep things clean and presentable?
Eliminating Soft Spots
Posted: July 1, 2014
During my spring commissioning, I noticed a soft spot in the deck around my anchor chain pipe. Water also squishes out a bit around the pipe when I wa ...
Assault on Batteries
Posted: July 1, 2014
I bought a new Carolina Skiff and had the dealer rig it with an optional 24v MinnKota trolling motor. They took my check and hustled my rig and me out ...
Looking for Leaks
Posted: July 1, 2014
My newly purchased boat has an LPG stove. I’ve never owned a vessel that uses LPG and am concerned with leaks. What’s the recommended way ...
How Bad Are Blisters?
Posted: June 1, 2014
During a recent haulout of my 1980s vintage powerboat, the yard worker powerwashing the bottom pointed out four intact blisters, the largest of which ...
Cable Conundrum
Posted: June 1, 2014
I recently purchased a boat and noticed that some of the battery cables were made using welding cable. Other than being the wrong color (the previous ...
Looking for a Leak
Posted: June 1, 2014
Spring finally came to our corner of the world, and I was getting my Yamaha 115 four-stroke on a Cobia ready to go. I noticed a puddle of pink fluid u ...
A Prescription for Bogging Down
Posted: June 1, 2014
My Suzuki 25 hp four-stroke “bogs” when I begin to accelerate. It makes no difference if the engine is warm or cold, but it seems to be mo ...
Proper Starting Procedure
Posted: June 1, 2014
I have a 1997 Mariah 191 SE Talari with a 4.3L Mercruiser and Alpha 1 outdrive. Every time I take the boat out, it will fire right up on the first try ...
Cheap Fix, Expensive Re-fix
Posted: May 1, 2014
I recently visited the beautiful Thousand Islands area for the first time. I was unaware that the river depth was controlled to some degree during the ...
Worried about Polysulfide
Posted: May 1, 2014
I used polysulfide for my through-hull fittings, assuming it would be adequate for this application. However, I now read that it isn’t for plast ...
Ethanol Pains
Posted: May 1, 2014
I’m an old-timer and grew up knowing that winter meant filling my boat’s fuel tanks before I put it to bed for the winter. Of course, gaso ...
Sealing the Deal
Posted: May 1, 2014
I have a hatch that is sealed to the cockpit floor above the engine. The upper hatch edge fits over the lower deck opening edge — the edges are ...
Getting a Charge
Posted: April 1, 2014
I have a 29-foot Ranger Tug in salt water on Newport Bay. I go through a zinc anode on the prop shaft every month. Marine electricians seem unable to ...
Looking for a Game Plan
Posted: April 1, 2014
I’m getting ready to launch my center-console fishing boat but have only one weekend to get the hull and deck clean. Where should I focus, and w ...