If you have an outboard or stern drive boat you should check the propeller as part of your pre-launch routine. Use a deep well socket to remove the propeller several times during the season to make sure discarded fishing line hasn't become wrapped around the propeller shaft. If it has, have your dealer inspect the gear case because fishing line can cause gear case leaks and that is not a do-it-yourself job. While you have the propeller off, inspect it for nicks, dents and o

Fresh Water, Not Bacteria and Crud - The next time that you fill your boat's water tank, run the water for a while before putting the hose nozzle into the tank fill. Running the water through the hose ejects stale water and crud. Bacteria and mold also love to reside in hot hoses. #hose #water

Get in the habit of checking the chain, thread and O-ring on fuel fill caps every time you fuel your boat. These inexpensive items help protect the fuel tank from water intrusion. A little bit of regular preventative maintenance will keep you from writing big repair checks down the line. Call us today at #MarinerServicesInc. at (239)776-4253 for a through check of your vessel's maintenance needs.

It's "Maintenance Monday", and today we're talking about how to check the oil level in a four-stroke outboard engine. Checking the oil level in a four-stroke outboard should be part of the “pre-flight” routine of every outboard owner. But I’m guessing many outboard owners go an entire season without lifting the cowl, because our boats–like our road vehicles–are so reliable and maintenance-free these days that we don’t give much thought to oil and filters. I know that more

Want a green alternative to bleach? White vinegar kills mold. Apply with a spray bottle and watch your decks and cushions sparkle again.

If you're towing your boat over a long distance to launch, wipe your boat down, particularly the bow area, with liquid soap to make bugs and grit easy to remove once you arrive. The liquid soap creates a barrier to grime and insects on your boat's hull. Simply hose the boat at the ramp or after your day on the water for an easy wash-away of bugs and road grit! #towing #soap #bugs

If you've got a 2-Stroke outboard motor on your boat, and need to pre-mix oil at every fueling, use this handy reference for pre-mixing oil and gas at a 50:1 ratio. 1 gallon gas = 2.5 ounces oil 6 gallons gas = 16 ounces(1 pint) oil 10 gallons gas = 26 ounces oil Call us today at #MarinerServicesInc. at (239)776-4253 for all your vessel's f uel system maintenance needs! #gas #oil

It's "Maintenance Monday", and today we're talking about the importance of changing the oil in your boat. Just like cars, boats need to have their oil changed. Four-stroke outboards, inboards and stern drive boats require regular oil changes. The frequency will vary by model but a good rule of thumb is to change the oil every 100 hours of operation or once a year. Unfortunately, there aren't any quick change oil shops for boats, so you either have to change your boat’s oil

Dreading the stirring process of a can of bottom paint, knowing that you've got to get that sludge on the bottom of the can mixed throughout the can? Invert that can of ­anti-fouling paint the night before painting to help get the solids throughout the solution prior to mixing. You'll be surprised at how easy it will mix. #paint

You notice an excessive amount of water intrusion in the stern area of your inboard vessel, so you have the boat hauled for an out-of-the-water inspection. Lift a rudder on your vessel to determine end play. Rock it port to starboard to determine side play. It will move a little, but excessive movement presages sinking. Not something that anyone of us wants to experience, so it's probably time to repack the rudder seal. If your boat is experiencing excessive amounts of wate