If you trailer your boat, jack up your trailer and spin the wheels every six months or so. Hear grinding? Check the bearings and brakes. A little bit of prevention goes a long way. #maintenance #trailer #tires

If a belt deflects too much under hand pressure between pulleys, either it needs replacement or the equipment needs to be repositioned and retightened, or both. If you'd the belts on your vessel examined for wear or adjustment, call us today at #MarinerServicesInc. at (239)776-4253 for a no-cost estimate! #maintenance #belts #pullies

In Area #1, make sure there is enough thread above and below the nuts on engine-mount studs to allow for future adjustment. Vibration and settling can cause misalignment. In Area #2, Motor-mount studs should be centered between the mount base’s fasteners. Mounts should not be cocked or leaning to one side. Perform these checks in the water, where the boat is best supported, for accuracy. If you'd like us to evaluate the condition of your boat's motor mounts, call us today at

We see this quite a bit, particularly on vessels more than 10 years old. Inspection bowls for filters and sea strainers can turn cloudy, making them useless. You need to see at a glance what’s going on. Clean them with soap and water. If clarity doesn’t return, order replacements. If you'd like a no-cost, no-obligation inspection of of your filters and strainers, call us today at #MarinerServicesInc. at (239)776-4253! #maintenance #filters #strainers

Just because a boat looks clean, doesn't mean it's well-maintained. Time and again, we see owners who are meticulous about washing and polishing their boats, but pay far less attention to the internal workings. Maintenance is not a task most of us enjoy, but a little bit of prevention goes a long way. To keep track of what needs doing and when, we suggest that every vessel owner keep and follow a scheduled maintenance checklist. Follow this list, and you'll greatly reduce the

You might notice that the bilge pump seems to be working overtime. Or you suddenly notice the boat feels heavy and seems to be filling with water. Solution: Assuming you remembered to insert the transom drain plug (hey, we've all forgotten that at least once), and you didn't hit an iceberg, the most likely reason for the rising water is a burst hose - either on the engine's cooling and exhaust system, or an intake for a live well or raw-water wash down. Shutting the engine do

The Belt Broke.... You probably won't hear the sound of a drive belt breaking over the general engine noise, but you will know something's wrong when your overheat warning light comes on, or your voltage meter shows that the alternator isn't charging. Having a broken belt is a scenario unique to inboards and I/Os, and one that can shut you down in hurry. Without a belt intact, you'll have no alternator or water pump. Solution: There's a lot of info out there on rigging a temp

The faster you try to go, the worse the vibration is. You might also notice the engine racing, while the boat loses speed. Solution: Something's likely gone wrong with the prop. A nick or gouged blade can create imbalance and vibration; a towrope or fishing line can snarl the shaft; a direct hit on an object could remove or misshape enough metal to make the prop ineffective. Sometimes a seemingly good prop might have enough unseen distortion or damage to cause cavitation and

It's "Maintenance Monday" and today we're addressing the 7 Deadly Sins of vessel maintenance: #1 deadly sin is “Procrastination and Neglect.” Environmental buildup – soot, carbon, dirt, mildew, mold, green scum – can damage your boat quicker than you think. Gelcoat, wood, isinglass, and plastic are all porous, and once they become impregnated it can sometimes be nearly impossible to clean them without ruining the surface. Neglecting maintenance will reduce the value of your b

It's "Maintenance Monday" and today we're addressing the 7 Deadly Sins of vessel maintenance. #1 deadly sin is “Procrastination and Neglect.” Environmental buildup – soot, carbon, dirt, mildew, mold, green scum – can damage your boat quicker than you think. Gelcoat, wood, isinglass, and plastic are all porous, and once they become impregnated it can sometimes be nearly impossible to clean them without ruining the surface. Neglecting maintenance will reduce the value of your