Mildew covered vinyl is a nightmare that many boaters face. Being such a popular issue, a lot of boaters have developed their own methods to clean the mildew off their vinyl boat seats. There are certain methods that are more effective than others, and some are even damaging to the seats. We hope to steer those of you with mildew covered boat seats in the right direction to properly care and maintain your vinyl to get the longest possible life out of your seats.
What's more satisfying than a good day spent on the boat? Maybe knowing that you've worked on it yourself! DIY work doesn't have to mean slapdash or chintzy. With quality parts, the right tools, and some spare time, you can make improvements you can be proud of. Here are five DIY projects to make your boat better.
Is winter boating a thing? Yes, though not so much in our part of the world. In the coldest months, we northerners catch most of our fish through holes drilled in thick lake ice. Winter offers great fishing opportunities and snow-kissed fun for the dedicated boater with access to open water - and who's not afraid of the cold.
Cold weather saps battery power. A battery loses 30 percent of its charge at freezing temperature (32F/0C). Keep your battery charged to avoid frustration when starting your motor. Also, watch for water in your fuel. Warm days followed by cold days cause condensation, which can contaminate your fuel. If you'll be using your boat over the winter, change your fuel/water separators and filters before cold weather sets in, as David Meeler of Yamaha Outboards advises. Adding a
Had a super specific, new/old stock gauge for my 2002 Maxum 1800sr. Couldn’t believe it. Even had the tech service sticker from the factory. Was clearly brand new, matched my gauges, and worked perfect after installation. Couldn’t be happier. Shipping was super fast also.
Tom K
I was in need of a piano hinge for a boat we are working on. There are many sizes and style hinges, so I wanted to make sure that we were ordering the correct one. I talked to Andrew at Great Lakes and he said he would get back to me that day with the hinge measurements......and He did, the SAME day. We live in a time that poor customer service is the normal. Andrew did exactly what he said and he is an upbeat sort of guy, friendly and nice to talk to. Thank you Andrew and Great Lakes.
Jeff D
I bought a new Yamaha outboard from these guys. Shipping went smoothly but the wrong accessory package was included. One phone call to these guys with the number of the installing dealer and parts were expedited and exchanged without my involvement. Mistakes happen, it's how we resolve those mistakes that matters.
Eric P
Ordered a bimini top for my boat from Great Lakes Skipper and could not have been happier with the transaction. The item was packaged very well, better than I could have done myself. It was nice to see they took care to make sure my item arrived as purchased.
