Repair & maintenance guides
Plain-English, step by step, written for owners. Pick your engine to see the guides that apply to it.
52 of 509 guides · page 3 of 3
Shore Power Safety: Cords, Inlets, Burned Plugs and Electric Shock Drowning
An owner's inspection routine for your shore power cord, plugs, boat inlet, galvanic isolator and ground-fault protection, plus the right way to plug in and the facts about Electric Shock Drowning. This guide is for looking and testing only; any electrical repair belongs to an ABYC-certified marine electrician.
Switching to Lithium (LiFePO4) Boat Batteries: What Changes and When It's Worth It
What really changes when you swap lead-acid for lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries on a boat: the battery management system, charger settings, protecting the alternator with a DC-DC charger, not mixing chemistries, cold-weather charging, and which jobs (trolling, house, starting) suit lithium. House-bank conversions should be designed and installed by a qualified marine electrician.
Testing Your VHF Antenna and Coax: Radio Checks, SWR, Connectors and Mounts
Most weak or scratchy VHF radios have nothing wrong with the radio. Learn how to test the whole antenna system, from a proper radio check and a DSC test call to a multimeter and SWR meter, how to find corroded connectors and wet coax, and when to replace the cable, antenna or mount.
Underwater LED Lights: Care, Leaks, Corrosion, Wiring and the Rules
Keep underwater LED lights bright and your hull dry. Learn the difference between through-hull and surface-mount lights, how to clean growth off the lens without damaging it, what to check for leaks, wiring, fusing and bonding, when the boat has to be hauled, and why the lights should not be on while you're underway.
Safety: BoatMend is for information only and does not replace a certified marine technician. You are responsible for your safety and your boat. Read the full disclaimer.