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.
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
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.
Save 10% on boat deck and floor hatches, escape and ventilation hatches, portlights, and storage boxes through November 25, 2018! How many of us have caught wind of trouble and said, "Batten down the hatches"? We know we have. It's something we say and hear often, but have you ever thought of where the expression comes from?
Humans have been boating for tens of thousands of years. Spear points found on the Greek island of Naxos suggest that even Neanderthals took to the waves as long as a quarter of a million years ago. The far-flung islands of the vast Pacific Ocean were discovered by ancient seafarers, some of whom built the mysterious moai statues on Easter Island eight hundred years ago.
Father's Day is Sunday. While we're looking forward to new adventures with Dad, we thought we'd take a look back and share some of our favorite moments from the past. A few of the Skipper's crew were brave enough to share stories of creative boat covers, safety pin fishhooks, and other boating and fishing memories of their fathers.
A modest pleasure boat doesn't usually have all the comforts of home. It's easy enough to add a cooler in lieu of a refrigerator to keep food, drink, and bait chilled, but if a boat isn't equipped with plumbing, installing a head can seem a daunting project. Jumping overboard to answer the call of nature isn't always practical, not to mention responsible, and little boaters' potty needs are unpredictable. Installing a portable head is an investment that will repay you with comfort and peace of mind - and no plumbing required.
