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Twelve-Volt Basics : A review of battery switches, isolators and cables

April 25, 2007 - 3:49pm — Dick Aarons
  • How To
  • Maintenance
      • Direct current electricity (DC) is the lifeblood of almost all recreational powerboats. Without it, our engines won’t start, our radios won’t talk, our navigation units won’t navigate, our lights won’t illuminate and, perhaps worst of all, our toilets won’t flush.

Back to Navigation Basics: Don't Forget Your Paper Charts

January 7, 2007 - 8:00am — George Sass Jr.
  • How To
  • Navigating

      • Understanding paper charts is an important skill.

      Since the amazing leap forward in electronic technology during the past several decades, many boaters have shelved their paper charts. And with good reason too.

Old School: How to ded reckon

January 7, 2007 - 8:00am — George Sass Jr.
  • How To
  • MARCH 2005
  • Navigating
      • Navigate like a pro

      After spending three days bunkered down during a strong northerly front in the Bahamas, we decided if we didn't leave, the weather would only deteriorate. Hours after making this stupid decision we were punching the Grand Banks 42 through large swells churned up by a week of fierce north winds. With roaring winds of 30 knots and higher, my crew Jack Bulger and I exchanged glances, both realizing we were in for a long disagreeable night.

The Basics of Boat Enclosures

January 7, 2007 - 8:00am — Peter Frederiksen
  • How To
  • Maintenance
      • Clear enclosures add tremendous utility and comfort to a boat, protecting its occupants and equipment from spray, rain, sun, dirt and wind. But like any part or accessory aboard a boat, clear enclosures need regular care and attention if they are to live long in a marine environment. Most importantly, clear enclosures require specialized treatment to preserve the clear panels so vital to good visibility.

TOOL TIME: The Essential Tools for Your Boat

January 7, 2007 - 8:00am — Steve Creel
  • FEBRUARY 2006
  • How To
  • Maintenance
  • Other
  • Products
      • A boat is nothing less than a small factory. The size and accommodations of your boat will determine how many pumps, switches, valves and fittings it will have. Let's take a look at a typical twin-engine 40-foot powerboat with a generator, two state-rooms, two heads, a galley, a wet bar with ice maker, an exterior shower or wash down, an onboard oil change pump and air conditioning. Doesn't sound too complicated, right? Well, this roughly translates to about a minimum of 21 fluid-handling pumps, 31 valves, and hundreds of fittings! This brief overview of mechanical and electrical systems is not intended to alarm you about your pleasure craft. Once you get the hang of it, you'll be enlightened about the simplicity of your boat and how, with the right tools, you can maintain and repair items using your very own tool chest. Let's divide our tool chest into three groups:

Easy Spring Commissioning

January 7, 2007 - 8:00am — George Sass Jr.
  • How To
  • Maintenance
      • You can probably get away with neglecting your car, because you will likely remember once a year to drop it by the garage for a tune-up and an oil change. But boats are different ... they don't like being neglected at all. To help you remember to care for your boat, and to save you money while you're taking care of it, here are 24 tips to start your season.

How To Inspect Your Boat After A Grounding

January 7, 2007 - 8:00am — Peter Frederiksen
  • How To
  • Maintenance

      • Just about the only good thing that happens after you run your underwater gear into a rock is that the locals may name the rock after you assuming no one has run afoul of it before. (I've got an underwater gravel pile bearing my name.)

Critical Care: Maintaining Your Boat's Fuel System

January 7, 2007 - 8:00am — Peter Frederiksen
  • How To
  • Maintenance

      • I can smell diesel fuel a long way off. So when I recognized the familiar scent as I was sliding through the inlet after a good day of fishing, I knew immediately something was wrong. A quick check in the engineroom confirmed my fear when I spotted the telltale sheen in the bilge water. I quickly flipped off the breakers on the bilge pumps so I would not pump water overboard, but I could not quickly find the source of the leak. The engine was running fine and boat traffic was thick, so the best I could do was get to the dock and look for the leak there.

Six navigation rules you must know

January 7, 2007 - 8:00am — George Sass Jr.

Cell Consciousness-Pay Attention to Your Batteries

January 7, 2007 - 8:00am — Peter Frederiksen
  • How To
  • Maintenance

      • In spring, a boater's fancy quickly turns to getting the family craft ready for the upcoming season. Your first thoughts should go to the condition of the batteries. Batteries that refuse to hold a charge or discharge unusually quickly are due for replacement. So too, are batteries with dead cells, loose or badly corroded terminals, leaks, or cracked or visibly distorted cases. Even if they seem healthy, but are three or four years old, you're about to find yourself shopping for new ones
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