It’s that time of year again. The leaves have started to change color, and the nights are getting longer and cooler. Before the mercury dips below freezing, you need to prepare your boat for the coming winter. At its most basic, winterizing means draining any water aboard or replacing it with enough of the right…
All-New Portable Model Recognized for Class-Leading Characteristics, Performance ALPHARETTA, GA — The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), along with a judging panel from Boating Writers International (BWI), has named the all-new Honda Marine BF6 portable engine as a recipient of a 2016 International Boat Builder’s Exhibition (IBEX) Innovation Award for outboard engine technology. BWI and the…
INSTALLING SPARK PLUGS Helpful tips for properly installing spark plugs. Today’s fuel-injected marine engines run so clean that plugs need changing less often than in years past. But the day will come. For those with a mechanical jones, or with older engines, here are some helpful tips. The Right Plug “Close enough” won’t do. A…
In his Seamanship column for Boating’s July 1960 issue, Elbert Robberson wrote: “In daylight, objects around you are easy to identify. They are big or little, short or long, round or square, and they appear very plainly to be bridges, docks, land, beacons, buoys, or boats of various kinds heading one way or another. But at…
10 Ways Boat Trips Are Good For the Soul Boat trips are just plain good for the soul. The sense of peace and tranquility that can be restored to you while gently rocking on the waves is undeniable. Although, if you need more reasons to take a boat trip, or are trying to convince someone…
Why Choosy Parents Choose Boating Boating is in my blood. As I was growing up, I took advantage of any chance I could to spend time on the water with my friends and family. In fact, I represent the fifth generation of my family to spend time at our rustic cabin on the St. Lawrence…
At this time of year practically every boating publication has an article about how to winterize your boat and engine for storage. It is also known as winter lay-up in some areas of the country. Most of the stories explain and illustrate a step by step process for winterizing but often do not detail what…
Let’s be honest. Most of us pay far more attention to our tow vehicles than we do to its tires. In fact, according to Goodyear, consumer studies show that approximately 75 percent of us wash our trucks and SUVs once a month, while less than 20 percent of us check our tire pressure that often. We just…
CHOOSE THE RIGHT BOAT BATTERY Key features to look for when selecting a marine battery. The batteries for a performance boat undergo more punishment than those used aboard many other craft. The high speeds and often-rough water combine to foreshorten battery life. Here’s what to look for in a performance-boat battery — or really any…
Boating and fishing draw participants with the same strong magnet. Both activities promise fun, relaxation, family time, the great outdoors, adventure and so on. “Fishing and boating go together like peanut butter and jelly,” one industry veteran opined at the recent ICAST sportfishing trade show in Orlando, Fla. Cliché notwithstanding, he’s right. Boating and fishing…