Someone told me once that boats are just money pits that float on water. I thought they were joking until I burned up my own water pump. It happens fast, and it hurts your wallet even faster. You really have…
Sometimes you buy a used boat and find the motor just does not fit right. The boat drags, the engine cavitates, and you lose all your speed. It feels like a guessing game, but it is actually simple math. You…
Actually, prepping your boat for the cold months is not just about covering it up and hoping for the best. I learned this the hard way after my first season when the internal metal parts rusted over. Moisture is the…
So you finally got that boat out on the water, but the work is not done when you tie it to the dock. Salt water is brutal on metal, and it eats away at your cooling system if you leave…
What if you buy a boat, take it out for the first time, and the engine quits? It is a nightmare scenario for any owner. I have seen folks get tricked by a seller who reset the gauge. You need…
Often people ask me about boat mechanics because they think it is just like working on a car, but it is much more precise. When your engine is not square with the shaft, you get bad vibrations and potential seal…
No, you do not need to sit in your driveway for twenty minutes before you start driving. Many people think idling helps, but it actually keeps the engine cold for far too long. That can lead to oil dilution or…
One afternoon, I heard a sound that made my skin crawl. It was a truck in my driveway, and its engine was screaming at a pitch that sounded like it would explode any second. Smoke poured out like a heavy…
All diesel owners know the sinking feeling when the key turns and nothing happens. The air is freezing, the oil feels like thick molasses, and the engine refuses to fire. I have been there plenty of times, standing in the…
Unless you have worked on a diesel truck before, you might find yourself stuck with a motor that refuses to turn over after a filter change. That air pocket inside the fuel lines is a common headache for any home…