Page 8 - Blog

Modern technology is a major presence on boats these days. From computerized navigation, sophisticated fish finders and mapping devices, high-powered amplifiers and sound systems and more, the demands on your boat's electrical and charging system have never been greater. Most boats are not built with the battery charging system needed to sustain all of these advanced technologies. Upgrading a boat's charging system has become a very common need for the modern boater.

Why upgrade?

Some common reasons for upgrading a boat's charging system include:

• Can't keep the battery charged
• Alternator doesn't keep up with the electrical requirements
• Don't want to run the engine or generator just to charge the batteries
• Batteries have been added, but they may not be charging effectively
• Battery bank doesn't charge at idle
• Alternators keep burning out
• With twin engines, the alternators don't work together to charge the batteries effectively
• Don't want to have to flip a switch to charge the engine start

Those summer months on the water are a lot of fun, but they are also HOT.  If you're lucky enough to have a boat with cabin space, then hopefully you're able to enjoy a break from the heat.  Stepping inside the boat's cabin is even better if you've equipped it with what I would call humanity's greatest invention: air conditioning.

For boats with up to three cabin spaces, self-contained air conditioners are probably your best solution for cooling that space. Typically, each cabin is equipped with its own unit, which is sized according to the space it must cool.  Getting an air conditioner that also offers reverse-cycle heating is also beneficial; it can provide some warmth during the cooler spring and fall, allowing you to extend your boating season.

There are plenty of self-contained marine air conditioners to choose from, but we highly recommend Webasto's FCF Platinum Series air conditioners.  Webasto has developed heating and cooling systems for a variety of vehicles across the

Choosing the right toilet for your boat may not be an exciting shopping experience, but it's an important one.  The conveniences you add to your boat can determine the overall enjoyment you and your family have on the water.  For decades, boats have been outfitted with toilets that are cheaply made, difficult to operate, and not very comfortable.  Making the upgrade to a modern solution can make the difference for a fun weekend on the water.  When you invest in comfort and convenience, we can say with certainty that your family will thank you!

Modern marine toilets come in a variety of shapes, sizes and style.  There are also many variations of water sources, controls, and flush controls available. Knowing the right ones to choose can be a daunting task.  Here are five important factors to consider when selecting the right marine toilet for your vessel:

Type of Operation

There are three typical types of toilets: portable, manual and electric. You should use portable toilets

There's nothing like a weekend on the boat - you know that!  But, you may also know, there's nothing like a weekend on the boat when something goes wrong.  Whether it's through a lack of preventative maintenance, a wrong turn or simply bad luck, when you encounter mechanical or electrical problems on the water you feel stranded and alone - literally!  The good news is that with just a little bit of planning, you can be prepared for the eventual mishap.  Bring along a few of the spare parts listed below, build a spare parts kit, and in a lot of cases you'll be able to get yourself out of a bad situation and save yourself LOTS of money.

1. Spare filters
   To many, this may sound obvious.  However, we've heard it more times than we can count: a fun boating weekend is planned, the engine is filled with fuel, and then when it's on the water, the engine feels as though it's losing strength.  The engine sputters and stalls.  Before you know it, your day of skiing and fishing is nothing

Our goal is to educate you about the purpose and function of many of the marine parts required to keep your boat running smoothly. Whether you're a veteran seaman or a novice, one thing you all know is that a boat comes equipped with hundreds of moving parts.

No one person can know everything there is to know about the proper functioning of every boat part. That's why we've tapped the collective wisdom of our long-time technical experts to share their knowledge and expertise.

What You Need to Know About the Indmar LTR/LT1 Bronze Raw Water Pump

This Indmar raw water pump is crankshaft driven and mounted directly to the crankshaft harmonic balancer rather than accessory mounted and pulley driven by a belt. It is a priority part made specifically for Indmar by Johnson Pump to fit specific engines which makes it's available only through Indmar. Being OEM specific means you have to go directly to an Indmar authorized reseller to obtain a replacement pump.

This raw water pump fits only the LT1

Our goal is to educate you about the purpose and function of many of the marine boat parts required to keep your boat running smoothly. Whether you're a veteran seaman or a novice, one thing you all know is that a boat comes equipped with hundreds of moving parts.

No one person can know everything there is to know about the proper functioning of every boat part. That's why we've tapped the collective wisdom of our long-time technical experts to share their knowledge and expertise.

What You Need to Know About the Delco Marine Aftermarket EST Distributor Kit

This GM EST V8 distributor kit represents an aftermarket version of the Delco EST marine distributor kit. The uniqueness of this particular distributor kit is it’s a billet aluminum distributor vs. cast aluminum, making it more robust and heavy duty.

The distributor in this kit uses the OEM Delco ignition module which people prefer. There are and have been a lot of different aftermarket modules offered in the industry. Some are good;

Our goal is to educate you about the purpose and function of many of the boat and marine parts required to keep your boat running smoothly. Whether you're a veteran seaman or a novice, one thing you all know is that a boat comes equipped with hundreds of moving parts.

No one person can know everything there is to know about the proper functioning of every boat part. That's why we've tapped the collective wisdom of our long-time technical experts to share their knowledge and expertise.

What You Need to Know About the Mercury Engine Harness

In many cases, the manufacturer has discontinued the engine harness and CDI Electronics has picked up production because of the continued demand.

An internal engine harness is the main wiring around the engine to connect all the electrical components together: starter solenoid, ignition system, charging system, etc. The end product will be a plug on the inside or outside of the cowl of the engine where the remote control extension harness plugs into.

Harnesses

Our goal is to educate you about the purpose and function of many of the boat and marine parts required to keep your boat running smoothly. Whether you're a veteran seaman or a novice, one thing you all know is that a boat comes equipped with hundreds of moving parts.

No one person can know everything there is to know about the proper functioning of every boat part. That's why we've tapped the collective wisdom of our long-time technical experts to share their knowledge and expertise.

What You Need to Know About the 500 GPH Air Conditioning Circulation Pump

The 500 GPH circulating pump by March Pump is used almost exclusively for marine air conditioning. It pumps lake water through the condensing coil found on the air conditioning unit. The pump is also water-cooled. This means that some of the pumped water is actually circulated through the electric motor housing to cool it.

This is a Coast Guard approved pump and ignition protected for gasoline bilges. It’s a centrifugal pump and must

Our goal is to educate you about the purpose and function of many of the boat and marine parts required to keep your boat running smoothly. Whether you're a veteran seaman or a novice, one thing you all know is that a boat comes equipped with hundreds of moving parts.

No one person can know everything there is to know about the proper functioning of every boat part. That's why we've tapped the collective wisdom of our long-time technical experts to share their knowledge and expertise.

What You Need to Know About the Crusader Carter Fuel Pump

The Crusader big block fuel pump is unique to the 454 and 502 Crusader marine engine using a mechanical fuel pump. The pump is a Carter Fuel System design built to Crusader's specifications with the pump inlet and outlet located in the proper position.

This is a USCG approved diaphragm-type, positive displacement pump, mechanically operated by a lever arm. It was used from the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s on the Crusader 454 and 502 cubic inch engines.

Our goal is to educate you about the purpose and function of many of the Crusader marine engine parts required to keep your boat running smoothly. Whether you're a veteran seaman or a novice, one thing you all know is that a boat comes equipped with hundreds of moving parts.

No one person can know everything there is to know about the proper functioning of every boat part. That's why we've tapped the collective wisdom of our long-time technical experts to share their knowledge and expertise.

What You Need to Know About the Crusader RP061022 Impeller Kit

This Crusader impeller kit is unique to the Crusader/PCM engine product line. It was engineered and designed by the Pleasurecraft Engine Group specifically for their Crusader and Pleasurecraft line of engines.

This impeller kit comes complete with everything you’d need to change the impeller in the pump; the pump cover o-ring and the bolt o-rings are all included. It's good practice to carry a spare impeller kit onboard. If you’re on the