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Most of us own cars and we know that maintenance is a part of owning one.   We are constantly bombarded with advertisements that tout a better or more cost effective way to keep them in good running condition.   Boats require maintenance also, but since we are not constantly reminded of it, it seems that some of us forget to maintain our boats the way we really need to.   In addition, some of the maintenance items on a boat may be a bit different than what is required for a car.   Here are some things that you need to do to keep your vessel running smoothly. Engine and Propulsion Systems Let’s start with one of the more obvious areas and one that is similar to your car.   First and foremost, if you have a new boat, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for engine maintenance.   You don’t want to do anything to void your warranty. 1.          Change your oil – This should be the most obvious one.   Good, clean oil is the life of any engine.   Changing it acc

The Volvo Penta 5.7 Engine after the finished rebuild in 2015 A few weeks ago, I wrote an article about hydrolock.   In the article, I mentioned that I had experienced hydrolock on a previous boat and that it caused damage to the engine.   To be more precise, it took the engine out.   Here is how I handled that situation. In July of 2014, I experienced something that no boater wants to experience.   I great day out on the lake turned ugly all of a sudden when my engine went down hard.   At the time, I did not know exactly what the issue was but based on the sound that it made, I knew that it was not a simple fix.   Earlier in the day, my engine had ingested water, something that I had experienced before.   I knew how to handle it though.   I pulled the plugs out, yanked the kill switch cord and cranked the engine over several times, allowing the water to be expelled from the cylinders.   After drying the plugs, putting them back in and reconnecting the plug wires, my be

Common Safety Mistakes Made by Boaters Boating is a fun sport and is also known to be one of the best activities for families to do together.   A day on the water is usually filled with excitement and fun and sometimes safety is not necessarily at the forefront of our minds as we enjoy our most beloved pastime.   Here are some common mistakes that boaters make that you should avoid to make your day on the water safer.   Mistake #1:   Failing to run the blower prior to starting the engine Don't forget to run the blower for at least 4 minutes prior to starting your boat's engine. Boats equipped with inboard gasoline engines have a fan that must be run for at least 4 minutes to ventilate the engine compartment prior to starting the engine.   Unlike cars, the engine compartment on these boats is an enclosed space and there is a potential for fumes to build up.   Running the blower prior to starting the engine will expel these fumes to the outside air.   This ca