It's "Maintenance Monday", and today we're talking about deck drain clogs and leaks. With the popularity of express style cruisers these days, cockpit deck leaks are a major source of damage to engine room components. In some cases, the leaking is so severe that engine damage occurs. We recently ran into a case where a deck leak was putting water directly into the air intake of a $65,000 diesel engine. From the rust on the engine, it was obvious what was happening, and equall

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 out

#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 boat and make it hard to keep clean. Here are another 6 deadly sins in basic maintenance that ar

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

You might notice that your boat's 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

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 t

The Problem: The varnish on your teak trim is cracked in the corners and other places where there are joints in the wood. The Cause: Varnish adhesion on teak is a touchy proposition. The Fix: Your boat's wood trim moves a bit as the boat works and flexes. Since varnish isn't flexible, it will crack at the joints. Getting varnish to adhere to teak is all about surface preparation. Sand any cracked areas thoroughly, or remove the old varnish completely. Wipe clean with a ta

It's "Maintenance Monday", and today we're talking about an often neglected, but highly important and necessary part of an enjoyable day out on the water - your docklines. Though the coils shown here allow you to proudly hang your lines out for all to see, it’s a good idea to stow them out of the sun if your boat is not going to be used for a few days or weeks. UV rays cause nylon to become weak and brittle over time, so you’ll extend the life of your lines by stowing the

Got a bottle of flat cola aboard? Don't throw it away, throw it into your head and let it sit for an hour. It makes a great nontoxic toilet-bowl cleaner, and is much cheaper than the marine store aqua-chems.

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!