Anyone who has ever turned a boat's ignition key knows the frustration of hearing nothing. Again, this is most likely an electrical issue - a low or dead battery, or a break somewhere in the ignition circuit. Solution: Check the kill switch. Make sure the shifter is in neutral. Then pay special attention to the starter switch itself. Sometimes, a dash-mounted ignition switch will simply become loose in its fitting, allowing the entire switch mechanism to turn with the key. Fi

It's "Maintenance Monday" and today we're talking about your boat's VHF radio. The time to find out if your VHF radio is working is before you leave the dock. But sometimes you get out on the water, and for one reason or another, you find that you can't transmit or hear other boaters' transmissions. Here are some band-aid temporary cures in the event that this happens to you while away from the dock: 1. Bad-Mike Fix: If the radio doesn’t transmit or you get reports from nea

Cost-Saving Boating Tip of the Day: The "windows" in side curtains or biminis are often damaged by the metal tubes that hold up the structure. Starbrite has a product, Clear Plastic Window Savers, which are plastic guards to put around the tubes where they impact the windows. This prevents burn marks to the window material by tubes that get hot from the sun and general abrasive damage. Replacing windows usually involves replacing all the side curtain and bimini materials, w

Boating Maintenance Tip of the Day: Toothpaste will remove surface rust from stainless-steel fittings. Use a toothbrush to apply, then buff with a rag for a brilliant shine.Out of Crest? Rub lemon juice or lime juice on stainless steel, then buff it with a rag for a deep shine. We’ve found that it also leaves a protective coating. Call us today at #MarinerServicesInc. at (239)776-4253 for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation on how to keep all your boat's stainless steel

Boat owners love to talk about their boat’s performance, everything from the props they’re running to the hull design. But one of the most overlooked factors that can negatively impact a boat’s performance is load weight. Over the course of several seasons, boaters typically bring stuff on board for one reason or another, but then it never leaves. So once a year, take time to inventory what’s aboard and empty whatever you don’t need. You'll be surprised how removing weight fr

Anchors and chain are expensive. Extend their lives by washing your chain and anchor with fresh water after every use and, if you can, store it dry. If you don't have enough fresh water aboard, rinse it every time you return to the dock. Periodically remove all chain from the chain locker and clean salt and mud/sand from your locker with a thorough fresh-water rinse. We see too many rusted anchors and chain links on vessels, and a few extra minutes of maintenance can save h

It's "Maintenance Monday" and today we're talking marine battery care. Often neglected, your boat's batteries are vital to an enjoyable day on the water. Some tips on keeping your boat's batteries "ship-shape": 1. Clean terminals and the case with a paste made from baking soda to neutralize any acid. More than one battery has died because the grease and acid film across the case became conductible and connected the two terminals. 2. Fill cells of flooded electrolyte (“con

In addition to making sure you have enough fuel, understand the proper boat maintenance necessary for your fuel type. Keep your tank filled when possible to prevent moisture from gaining entrance, and understand what additives your fuel may or may not not need. During longer periods of layup or storage, add a protective fuel stabilizer to help prepare your boat's fuel system for a trouble-free day on the water. If you'd like assistance in keeping your boat's fuel system shi

Every boat has batteries, but don't just let them sit there during extended periods of idle time! Many vessels in our Southwest Florida area are either stored on trailers, or dry-stored by seasonal residents for 7 to 8 months at a time. Take the batteries out, thoroughly clean them, lubricate metal terminals and bolts, charge them up, and store them somewhere safe. Understand settings like float charge, know how your battery reacts to temperatures, and make sure that your par

A new wax coat is normally completed every six months in our Southwest Florida marine environment. However, you can improve the efficiency of the wax coat by de-waxing beforehand. De-waxing solvents are readily available at most marine supply store, are easy to use, and your new wax coat will go on more smoothly after this process application. If you'd like help in keeping your vessel looking like new, give us a call today at #MarinerServicesInc. at (239)776-4253 for a no-c