While an illuminated vessel can be a breathtaking spectacle on the water, it's crucial not to compromise safety while achieving aesthetics. Therefore, it's vital to keep in mind some essential safety tips when upgrading your boat lighting. We will be going over three important safety tips for upgrading your boat lighting for any style light, whether it be a navigation light, stern light, LED strip light, or cabin courtesy light!
Notes From the Skipper

- Continue ReadingMay 10, 2023
- Continue ReadingApril 12, 2023
Spring is the time for rejuvenation and renewal. What better way to prepare for the oncoming boat season than to enter it with new seats. Follow the steps below for a fun and customizable DIY project.
- Continue Reading
Polar white is the brightest pure white they offer. Arctic white is an off white with a hint of beige. The third color is pure black.
Hi-Tide also makes custom colors for various boat makers with combinations of sand, beige, and grey. You will sometimes see those colors
- Continue ReadingApril 30, 2022
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.
- Continue ReadingOctober 18, 2021What'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.
- Continue ReadingJanuary 29, 2021Is 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
- Continue ReadingMarch 25, 2020We don't know about you, but the phrase "bimini top" conjures up a mental picture of a boat sheltered by a piece of women's swimwear. Luckily, the real thing offers a lot more coverage for your boat, and, like the bikini, the bimini's name was inspired by tropical island life.
- Continue ReadingMarch 11, 2020
We don't know about you, but at Great Lakes Skipper we are DONE with old man winter. We've had enough and we think you have as well. Here are a couple of simple projects that can be done while the boat is still in the garage.
- Continue ReadingFebruary 21, 2020
The thermometer might not be rising as quickly as we'd like, but with a few more minutes of light every day, spring is well on its way. The fish know it, too. As daylight lengthens and temperatures rise, fish leave their hideouts in the depths and come up to hunt. No need to wait for summer - grab your rod and tackle box and make the most of the early season.
- Continue ReadingFebruary 07, 2020
For those of us who are lucky enough to have a galley on board, food presents another point of contact for insect pests. Keeping your galley clean helps a lot, but even clean kitchens get bugs sometimes. There are some tricks you can try to keep them out or, if they’ve already invaded, to destroy them.