Boaters Edge

It's Friday.

The dogs are ready for another boat weekend, we'll see how the weather feels.
If you're going out this week don't forget your safety gear and boat check before heading to the ramp. Don't run old fuel (e-free please), turn the battery switch off when you're done, stay hydrated, and have a good time.

(321) 383-4173
boatersedge.net
419 N Washington Ave, Titusville, FL

Thursday for some Pick Up Day for others.

There's a rhythm to it. Boat rolls in a couple weeks back with a problem to solve, we walk the owner through what we found, they sign off, we get after it. Then one afternoon it's cleaned up, hooked up, and headed home ready to get back on the water.

If you've been putting off a call, late-summer slots are still tighter than they usually are for this stretch. Better to book this week than wait for it to become an emergency later.

(321) 383-4173
boatersedge.net
419 N Washington Ave, Titusville, FL

It's Wednesday and we have plenty of work.

Everyday we make a game-plan, what jobs we're going to close out, start, or discuss. Although we can't always predict what will happen with each job we always have something to jump to. No time is wasted around here.

(321) 383-4173
boatersedge.net
419 N Washington Ave, Titusville, FL

TUESDAY TIP: Take five minutes and really look at your prop.

Props are one of the most overlooked parts on a boat. They live underwater, out of sight, and most owners don't check them until something obvious happens.

Here's what to look for:
~Dings and dents on the blade edges- Small nicks are fine to keep an eye on. Sharp folds, bent tips, or missing chunks change how water flows across the blade and cost you speed and fuel. Some props can be re-pitched and repaired depending on the damage.
~Fishing line at the prop shaft- This is the silent killer. Line wraps behind the prop, cuts into the seal, and lets water into the lower unit. Pull the prop nut once a season, take the prop off, and check for line. It takes ten minutes and saves a $2,000+ lower-unit rebuild.
~The seal itself- If you find any line, look at the seal underneath. A cut or a groove means water has probably already been getting in. Have the lower-unit oil checked- if it looks milky or has metal in it, act fast.
~Vibration at cruise- A subtle vibration that wasn't there last year is your prop trying to tell you something. Bent blades, spun hub, or a hub bushing on its way out. Any of them, worth a look.
~Spin test on the trailer. With the motor off and out of gear, spin the prop by hand. It should turn smoothly. Any grinding, clicking, or hard spots means the lower unit needs eyes on it.

If any of that shows up when you look, bring it in and we can send it out for you. Prop and lower unit problems are cheap when caught early and brutal when ignored.

(321) 383-4173
boatersedge.net
419 N Washington Ave, Titusville, FL

First Monday of August. The day is busy before we even open the doors.

The shop is busy this time of year. Some are coming for regular maintenance after the spring and others are coming because it's been a while and something doesn't sound right. Nothing wrong with either answer, although we suggest getting on the schedule if something sounds funny. A small problem can turn into an expensive one quicker than you think!

(321) 383-4173
boatersedge.net
419 N Washington Ave, Titusville, FL

Last Friday of July

Keep an eye out on the weather this weekend if your out on the water. The rainy season is coming and the Florida winds can feel unpredictable if you haven't been caught in the rain before.

Have a safe weekend, we'll be back on Monday.

(321) 383-4173
boatersedge.net

Another one ready to head back to the water.

The best days at the shop are the ones where a customer picks up their boat, we walk them through what we did, and the next call we get from them is a report on how the weekend went.

If you have been trading text messages with your motor all summer -misses at speed, hard starts in the heat, a temp gauge that is not sitting where it used to- get on the schedule. Late-summer slots go quickly.

(321) 383-4173
boatersedge.net

Middle of the week, middle of the shop. Every boat that rolls in gets the same thing -eyes on it before any wrench comes out.

A lot of what looks like one problem ends up being two smaller ones talking to each other or a smaller issue that was caused by a bigger, underlying, issue. Rough idle that is really a fuel issue plus a spark issue. Overheating that is really an impeller plus a partially blocked pickup. That is why we slow down at the start -so the fix actually lasts.

If your boat has been telling you something is off, tell us what you are hearing, feeling, or smelling. Half of a good diagnosis is a good description from the owner.

(321) 383-4173
boatersedge.net

TUESDAY TIP: Test your bilge pump and float switch BEFORE the next afternoon thunderstorm.

Florida summer means a boat can catch two inches of rain in twenty minutes while you are at work. The bilge pump is what stands between that and a very expensive Monday morning. But bilge pumps and float switches are quiet parts -most owners have no idea theirs is dead until the water is already up.

Thirty-second test you can do at the dock or in the driveway:
~Manual test. Flip the bilge switch at the helm to ON. You should hear the pump run and see water discharge if there is any in the bilge. No sound = pump is dead or wiring is bad.
~Auto/float test. Reach into the bilge and lift the float switch by hand (or pour in a gallon of water). The pump should kick on by itself. If it does not, the float switch is the failure, not the pump.
~Look at the discharge. Weak stream, sputtering, or a pump that runs but does not move water usually means a clogged intake screen, a stuck check valve, or debris in the hose.
~Check the battery side. A bilge pump wired to a battery with a dead cell will not run long enough to matter. If the pump only runs a few seconds and quits, load-test the battery.
~Multiple pumps. Bigger boats often have a primary pump low in the bilge and a secondary higher up. Test both. And if you do not have a high-water alarm, that is a cheap add for peace of mind.

If the pump is buzzing but not moving water, or the switch will not trigger, bring it in. This is a small job that saves a huge one.

(321) 383-4173
boatersedge.net

It's Monday and the schedule is full.

For some, a busy schedule can be intimidating-but we actually enjoy being able to jump from one job to another. Some problems are tough to track down, and staring at the same one for too long doesn't always help. That's when it's nice to switch it up, get on another boat, and come back with fresh eyes. More often than not, the answer shows up on the walk back to the bench.

A full board isn't stress around here. It's momentum.

Call to get put on the schedule now if you have any worries.

(321) 383-4173
boatersedge.net