Get the snow off the covers.....

In our area we are having problems with the heavy snow.  Forty inches this month and more to come it is caving in peoples covers.

How to fix a boat "Oil"

How to fix a boat "Motor Oil"

To change or not to change that is the question.  The simple answer is easy.  If you use your boat to ski or run off shore often during the season.  You should change it often (at least once a year).  If you putt around a local lake for 20 hours a year you can wait a while. 
Engine oil washes over the cylinder walls as the piston moves up and down.  This washing causes the oil to pick up carbons from the burnt fuel.  Over time the oil becomes thinner and is effected more buy the heat in the engine.  Oil is very important to the life of a marine engine and should be looked at closely.  This is a very short and basic lesson on oil but it will give you the idea.

"If the oil on the dip stick is cruddy, black, and thin CHANGE IT"

NOTE: If your oil looks like chocolate milkshake you have water entering the engine

How to fix a boat stuff ........

How to fix a boat "get loose"

WD-40 and PB Blaster are your new best pals.

We use it on everything and I mean everything.  There are no sprays in the marine world that can replace either of these products.  Spray your whole motor down before lay up or to keep your fishing gear looking new keep at least three cans on your boat.  Some even say WD works as a fish lure but I have never tried this but if you want to keep the boat looking good.  Spray alot and spray it often.  On the fishing boats we always kept a gallon can of WD and a rag and after a fresh water wash down we would give everything a WD wipe down.  Gel coat, railings, teak, gear, lockers and anything else not breathing on the boat.....

How to fix your boat the easy way......

Let Some Air In.....

It's a little warmer in the N. East US right now.
Open up your covers a little bit to let some air
in.
Here is a good tip:
Get an empty 5 gallon and a bag of  charcoal
(the BBQ kind).  Open the bag of charcoal and
set it in the bucket.  Put the bucket upright your
cuddy cabin.  The charcoal will absorb moisture
and will help get rid of mold.

Fix a boat stuff.....

 

Batteries, Batteries, Batteries........

I can never stress this point enough........

Batteries do not last as long as they used to.

Buy a new one. 

It's cheap insurance,  I can not tell you how many
times I have repeated this in the marina.

Here is the short story on it.
There is no way to tell how much sulfide build up
there is on the plates of a standard liquid battery.
So even though the battery may seem to hold a charge
it may not be holding much charge.


New battery + Radio on 2hrs = Boat starts

Old battery + radio on 20 mins = Row Back




PS- This slime stuff really does work well

Spring is coming....Manifolds

Up here in the northern fresh water we have a large mix 1985 to 1995 craft
with OMC, Merc, Volvo I/Os. (with an odd ball or two thrown in)

The exhaust manifolds have seen years of use and bad winterizing jobs.

"A leaking exhaust riser gasket can destroy your engine"

This cheap and easy to replace gasket causes many an expensive repair bill.

As they age and the manifold to riser mating sufaces rust they start leaking exhaust

cooling water into the engine cylinders.  Since water can not be compressed even

the smallest amount can severely damage an engine.

"This is an good couple hour job for the backyard wrench turner"

1-Go easy removing the bolts a little light torch heat may help.

2-Clean the mating surfaces very well (VERY WELL)

3-Take a good look in the manifold and riser

    (A crack with rust around it means you need to replace the part)

"Feel free to post questions"

How to fix a boat.........

This is a new blog and in it I will answer questions, cover general subjects and provide links to other info.......