Help! The cover for a used inflatable I just bought is pretty badly mildewed. Can I clean it up?

Covers are prime breeding grounds for mildew. It’s a good idea to stretch the cover out, either on the boat or dockside. Give it a good wet-down and wash it using a soft brush and a specialized cleaner, such as...

I’ve been a do-it-yourselfer for years now, and I wax my boat before and after the season. I never really get the results I would like to achieve. I want to know if I should apply the wax with a machine and remove it by hand, or apply it by hand and remove it with the machine.

In the old days, I’d say buff with a machine, wax by hand. But today, I recommend a machine. The ideal setup is a compound and wax matched with the right kinds of pads on a good, variable slow-speed (900-2700 rpm)...

Am I just a klutz, or does everyone have trouble backing their car up to the boat trailer? I can’t seem to get the ball under the hitch without a lot of fussing. What’s the secret?

Over the years a lot of gimcracks have been developed to solve this problem. The most successful is the DuraSafe coupler/hitch ball alignment tool. Its stainless steel “wings” guide the trailer hitch over the...

I have a 1994 18-footer. Why is the stock thermostat at such a low setting (146 degrees)? The thermostat in my car is 195 degrees, and this helps with complete combustion and the overall efficiency of the engine. The water temperatures up here in Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories, Canada where I run are just a few degrees above freezing even in the summer. My stock thermostat barely indicates above cold. What do you suggest as a good temperature to run this boat?

Your marine thermostat is set for a lower operating temperature than a car. You are also right that a higher operating temperature would get better performance out of your engine. However, swapping thermostats may not be as...

I’ve had to replace my throttle quadrant switch three times over the last two years. Any idea why the micro switch keeps going bad? It’s an inexpensive little switch to replace, but it’s not easy to get at.

This is a very common problem. Most of the time, this switch goes bad because moisture gets inside the throttle housing and creates havoc. Rainwater alone can be the culprit, so boats stored in the open are most at risk....