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You are here: Home / Archives for Boat Repairs & Upgrades

Boat Repairs & Upgrades

Upgrading and repairs can be costly and time-consuming. But one thing you can always count on: Your boat will need upgrades and repairs.

Modifying And Upgrading My Boston Whaler Super Sport 15

April 21, 2010 By Tom 16 Comments

Molded fiberglass stub cleats, painted white and ready for installation. The port side cleat installed on the deck. Starboard side cleat installed on the deck. The perfect boat seats Fuel tank set in place in the Whaler with … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Boat Repairs & Upgrades Tagged With: console, wood refinishing, boat seats, Boston Whaler, SuperSport, bow rail, storage, fuel tank

Choosing the Right Propeller For Your Boat

April 19, 2010 By Tom 3 Comments

3-blade stainless steel prop on a Mercury 70hp outboard lasts for years despite numerous groundings. Buying a different propeller can dramatically change the performance of your boat. You can select a propeller for the pickup or hole shot it … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Powerboating, Boat Repairs & Upgrades, Boating Equipment Tagged With: propeller, powerboating

A Little Morning Project Spirals Out of Control

April 19, 2010 By Tom Leave a Comment

A "little morning project" to replace a bracket for the outboard steering arm ended up involving complete disassembly and revarnishing of the mahogany console on my Boston Whaler. We had some problems with the 70 hp Mercury that came with our old … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Boat Repairs & Upgrades Tagged With: Boston Whaler, repairs, outboard, Mercury, steering

The Perfect Solo Mast-Raising System for Small Sailboats

April 19, 2010 By Tom 18 Comments

A side view of the sailboat with the mast raising system ready for use. I have seen lots of different techniques and contraptions used to raise and lower the masts on small sailboats. All suffer from the same problems for solo sailors, and I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Sailing, Boat Repairs & Upgrades, Boating Equipment Tagged With: small boats, mast-raising

Building a Live Bait Well For A Small Boat

April 19, 2010 By Tom 20 Comments

This is what I came up with to use as a livewell on my 15' Boston Whaler.I bought a round drink cooler at Wal Mart, and removed the handle on one side. In its place, I drilled a hole with a hole saw and installed an ordinary plastic bulkhead … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Boat Repairs & Upgrades, Boating Equipment, Fishing Tagged With: small boats, bail well

Emergency Engine Water Pump Repair

April 15, 2010 By Tom Leave a Comment

Hugo's water pump blew while he was motoring through Pine Island Sound — home to lots of fishing shacks like this one, but not a good place to blow your water pump. A couple of years ago, I sold an Irwin 37 center cockpit ketch to a man named Hugo. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Boat Repairs & Upgrades Tagged With: emergency, water pump, repair

A Teak and Sandy Sole

March 3, 2010 By Tom Leave a Comment

Converting my teak and holly sole into a teak and sandy sole, making only the holly strips a non-skid surface I decided I wanted to varnish the teak and holly cabin sole in my Com-Pac Sun Cat. It's a plywood piece with teak and holly veneer, and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Boat Repairs & Upgrades Tagged With: teak sole, Sun Cat, Com-Pac Sun Cat

Kinetic Energy: Almost More Boating Fun Than The Law Allows

April 1, 2009 By Tom Leave a Comment

After appropriating a small boat from my friend's little sister, we made a few modifications.... When I was a teenager, my friend Gene's little sister got a boat from some friends, who figured she could play with it in their swimming pool. When I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Boat Repairs & Upgrades, Boating Fun Tagged With: small boats, Kinetic Energy

Buying a new outboard engine

January 3, 2008 By Tom Leave a Comment

When it's time to replace your old outboard, your local dealership will properly prepare your new outboard engine for salt water use. When you buy a new outboard engine, the dealer should perform a Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) on the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Boat Repairs & Upgrades, Boating Equipment Tagged With: small boats, outboard

New Power Tilt and Trim for a Boston Whaler

July 3, 2007 By Tom Leave a Comment

The hydraulic tilt and trim on my Boston Whaler's Merc 70 Q: How many sailors does it take to screw in a lightbulb?A: It's cheaper to sit in the dark. When we first bought our 1989 Boston Whaler 15, there was a slow leak in the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Boat Repairs & Upgrades, Boating Equipment, Powerboating Tagged With: Boston Whaler, tilt & trim

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About Tom

Starting with the little two-person inflatable raft I had as my very first boat, I have always loved the freedom and the feeling of being out on the water. With my father's help, I added a hard plywood floor to that little inflatable, and that was the beginning of a long chain of boats I have owned, loved, maintained, modified, fixed, enjoyed, and scared myself to death on over the past few decades. [Read More …]

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