Maintenance

Lürssen's Polar Star

By Alyssa Haak Photos by Jim R... | Posted July 2011

Seeing a yacht in a shipyard is like seeing a dolphin at Sea World—it’s not an entirely accurate representation of behavior in the wild. So when I heard that the 208-...

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Top-Notch Enclosure Panels

By | Posted June 2011

Virtually everything can be improved—that’s the point Capt. Matt Condon was making just before the big brainstorm hit him. Condon’s the head guy at Signature...

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Garmin’s Tip of the Month - June 2011

By | Posted June 2011

I’ve got a great tool for topping off batteries. Attach a length of clear plastic hose to each end of a gas-line squeeze bulb. Next time you’ve got low distilled water levels,...

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Vintage Yanmars Running Hot

By | Posted June 2011

Question: I have a 29 Phoenix with twin, 1984-vintage, 170-hp Yanmar diesels with 1,000 hours on them. While the boat seems to run fine, I have one issue. During operation...

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Garmin's Tip of the Month, July 2011

By | Posted June 2011

Splash-proof your smartphone with a (61/2" x 3 1/4") Ziploc snack bag. You can manipulate its touchscreen through the plastic and speak and hear clearly as well. This is...

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How-to keep your bilge odor-free

By Capt. Bill Pike | Posted June 2011

Let's investigate a seldom-explored phenomenon that most likely arises from things unseen or at least unobserved. The Frenchies call it une odeur de vieux bateau (which...

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Hands-On Test Of Totally-Green Teak Deck Sealers

By Capt. Bill Pike | Posted May 2011

Over the years, I’ve squirted, rubbed, mopped, and sprayed my fair share of potions, pastes, and potations onto fiberglass and other boaty surfaces. And, given the amount of...

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Garmin’s Tip of the Month - May 2011

By | Posted May 2011

Boaters are always trying to splice and strip small-gauge wires in spaces where a pen-knife or wire stripper won’t fit. I use a letter opener—one of those you hold in your palm....

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Idling diesel engines

By | Posted May 2011

Question: My mechanic friends tell me not to let my diesel engine idle for long. They say that it should either be under load or turned off. I hear a lot of diesel engines in...

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Tips for easy boat maintenance

By Capt. Patrick S... | Posted April 2011

Most boaters are conscientious enough to perform the familiar annual maintenance chores involving things like zincs, bottom panting, tune-ups, and the like. But over the years,...

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How to keep marine growth from fouling your propellers

By Kevin Koenig | Posted April 2011

Here’s a common, if unwelcome, sight for boaters: You go to pull your boat out of the water for winter lay-up or perhaps

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Garmin’s Tip of the Month - April 2011

By | Posted April 2011

Here’s a little suggestion that’s comparably green, at least in my opinion. Save the paint thinner you use to clean paint brushes in a plastic container. After you’ve set the...

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Bilgewater Treatment

By | Posted April 2011

Many years ago, because a now-defunct marine towing outfit I was working for at the time found itself a little short of qualified personnel, I became an instant chief engineer for...

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