Boating Tip of the Day: A wire coat hanger can save the day. Bend it into a hook and you can retrieve that wedding ring that fell between the outboard stringer and the hull side — or under the air-conditioner and beside the engine, of course. Cut a small section, and you can bend it into a cotter pin. If a hose or outflow is clogged, or when wasps build a nest in your tank vent fitting, it’s just what's needed for a quick fix. #coathanger

If you've got an inboard powered boat, a generator or air conditioning system on board, be sure to check your sea strainers for debris. This is particularly relevant with all the debris and flotsam floating in our local waterways this summer, and and your vessel could likely have an unusual amount of debris in the raw water intake system. This is what we found yesterday on a vessel in Naples, which would greatly affect raw water flow. Call us today at #MarinerServicesInc. a

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

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 temporary belt by usi

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! #inspectionbowls #filters #strainers

It's "Maintenance Monday", and today we're talking about your boat's propeller(s). 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-i

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 thorough check of your vessel's maintenance needs! #fuelcap

It's "Maintenance Monday" and today we're addressing oil changes in all marine engines, excluding two-stroke outboard motors. 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 cha

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

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 them