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Toms Tips on Finding Good Marine Products
Contributed by Tom Neale - This blog has been viewed 18 times and there are 0 comments
Posted: November 12, 2009


Tom’s Tips on Finding Good Marine Products
1. Avoid products that are packaged to look like a similar well known tried and true product but that are not made by the original manufacturer.
2. Is it stainless? We generally know that you can check with a magnet to see if a product is stainless. But low grade stainless (which may be acceptable for some uses) will normally have considerably more magnetism than high grade stainless which should have very little.
3. Read the fine print on packaging. A few examples of what to look for are energy consumption, life expectation and light ...... Read More

Tom’s Tips About Look Buckets
Contributed by Tom Neale - This blog has been viewed 52 times and there are 0 comments
Posted: November 03, 2009
1. If your boat is moving as you use it, be sure it’s moving very slowly and that the boat operator is keeping watch, not looking through the look bucket.
2. Use of a look bucket usually involves leaning over the side. This can be particularly dangerous for children and even for adults if it is rough, the boat tips too much and for other reasons. Wear life jackets, proceed very slowly, if at all, and don’t have too much weight on one side of the boat.
3. Often you can see many interesting things by simply anchoring, or drifting with the current. This is s...... Read More

Toms Tips About Chain
Contributed by Tom Neale - This blog has been viewed 188 times and there are 0 comments
Posted: October 01, 2009

If you don’t have enough fresh water to spray your chain, take it out regularly when you’re at dock and spray it thoroughly. Also from time to time wipe salty residue out of your anchor locker with wet towels.
If it’s practical to spray fresh water in there to wash it out, this is better. You can then dry with towels.

When you spray your chain with fresh water, be sure to get the water between the links by pressure and thorough spraying.

Like most other equipment, there are different qualities of chain. Go with a known reputable brand.
...... Read More

Toms Tips About Head Hoses (As if you really want to know)
Contributed by Tom Neale - This blog has been viewed 212 times and there are 0 comments
Posted: September 17, 2009

Use only hoses that are designed for marine sanitation use.

Many older boats have black radiator type hoses. These really cause problems. For example, their interior walls allow the build up quickly, and they permeate odor much more than marine sanitation hoses. Also, if there is wire insert, this is likely to rust and poke a hole through the hose.

The white marine sanitation hoses can be very stiff when you’re trying to get them onto a hose barb or whatever. But if you carefully and evenly heat them, just a very little, they’ll become more pliable u...... Read More

Toms Tips on Stinging Nettles
Contributed by Tom Neale - This blog has been viewed 201 times and there are 0 comments
Posted: September 03, 2009

Wearing long sleeved T shirts and some sort of tight fitting long pants will help if you think stinging nettles are around, but things like this are hardly a guarantee. And it’s not really fun if a nettle gets inside.
Any clothing can be an impediment to your floating and swimming, particularly if it is bulky or loose.
Long sleeved and long leg diving suits are much better, but be sure to clean them off well when you come out.
I’ve known salvage divers, who must go down no matter what, to smear exposed areas of the body (such as the face outside the mask and...... Read More

Toms Tips About Putting Mout’ On It
Contributed by Tom Neale - This blog has been viewed 238 times and there are 0 comments
Posted: August 20, 2009

When some bureaucrat asks you to put Mout’ on something, pretend you can’t hear. It’s much better for them to think you’re deaf than for you to put Mout’ on it.
When you’re feeling so good about things that you slip up and put Mout’ on something, pour some salt in your right hand and throw it over your left shoulder and then spit upwind over your right shoulder. I’ve heard this works for black cats, so maybe it’ll work for this.
When you’re feeling depressed because everything’s going great and you’re afraid...... Read More

Toms Tips About Installing An Outboard
Contributed by Tom Neale - This blog has been viewed 225 times and there are 0 comments
Posted: August 06, 2009

Whenever you install an outboard (or anything else to your transom) take very particular care that all holes into your transom fiberglass are sealed so that water won’t get to the core inside and cause transom rot. A good marine sealant should be applied around the through-bolt holes and the outboard’s bracket.

This is a good time to check for stress cracks, not only where the outboard is mounted, but also in the area where the transom joins the sides and bottom.

Superficial stress cracks in the gelcoat may not be a problem, but they may be indicative ...... Read More

Toms Tips about Family Boat Projects
Contributed by Tom Neale - This blog has been viewed 223 times and there are 0 comments
Posted: July 09, 2009

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Toms Tips About Night Sky and Your Boat
Contributed by Tom Neale - This blog has been viewed 234 times and there are 0 comments
Posted: June 26, 2009

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Toms Tips About Cold Water
Contributed by Tom Neale - This blog has been viewed 235 times and there are 0 comments
Posted: June 11, 2009

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