December 17, 2024
Andrew’s Poem for your Batteries (Could They Light Rudolph’s Nose?)
Dec 19, 2024‘‘Twas the night before Christmas and all ‘…
November 19, 2024
Ask Andrew: Engine antifreeze technique – Part 2
Nov 21, 2024In Part 1 last issue we learned that Two wi…
October 22, 2024
Ask Andrew: Carbon Monoxide
When operating at a slow idle, carbon monoxide can buil…
October 8, 2024
Ask Andrew: End of Season boating
time in the water can be enjoyable in the colder months…
September 24, 2024
Ask Andrew: Keeping Fresh with Fuel Additives
Sept 26, 2024Fuel has a shelf-life. We don’t often noti…
September 10, 2024
Ask Andrew: Trimming – it’s just plane sense. Part 2: Trim Tabs
Sept 12, 2024Last time, we looked at outboard and stern…
August 20, 2024
Ask Andrew: Trimming – it’s just plane sense. Part 1
an outboard engine trimmed in the ‘up’ positionAug 22,…
July 9, 2024
Ask Andrew: What’s in a survey?
July 11, 2024I’ve found, in speaking with boaters the l…
June 25, 2024
Ask Andrew: Battery Tests part 2 – What to do if your battery fails a test
Load testing a batteryJune 27, 20241) If the battery fa…
June 11, 2024
Ask Andrew: Battery Tests – Part 1
June 13, 2024Testing voltage with a multimeterModern Bo…
May 21, 2024
Ask Andrew: What To Look For If You Launch Late
performing engine checks before start-upMay 23, 2024The…
May 7, 2024
Ask Andrew: Engine fires and other scares
(not a Canadian shot btw)May 9, 2024Boats aren’t inhere…
April 25, 2024
Ask Andrew: How to Keep your Brightwork Bright
Before PhotoApr 25, 2024In the early spring, just after…
April 8, 2024
Ask Andrew: Understanding Fiberglass
Most of the boats on the water in Canada today are made using fiberglass – which is essentially a layer of fibrous stands, infused with a resin that will chemically react with a hardener, to make a strong, solid block.
March 26, 2024
Ask Andrew: What Story is Your Gelcoat Telling?
Mar 28, 2024Note the chalky appearanceAs kids we’re tol…
February 20, 2024
Ask Andrew: Mid-winter boat hugs
Feb 22, 2024obvious engine damage – likely water was le…
January 23, 2024
Ask Andrew: Dealing with Pesky Pests
Jan 25, 2024bird droppings cover a deckA boat trip can…
January 9, 2024
Ask Andrew: Off-season Prop Repairs
Jan 11, 2024With boats out of the water and underwater…
December 19, 2023
Ask Andrew: Customers and Boat Yards – Part 2
Dec 21, 2023In Part 1 I took a look at how customers fi…
December 5, 2023
Ask Andrew: Customers and Boat Yards – Finding the Right Match
Dec 7, 2023I hear stories about boaters’ experiences wi…
November 21, 2023
Ask Andrew: Winter battery storage
Nov 23, 2023a great time to clean up wiring and termina…
November 6, 2023
Ask Andrew: VC17 – Some Facts and Suggestions
Nov 9, 2023The News: Boaters were met with signs like t…
October 24, 2023
Ask Andrew: Post haul-out checklists
Oct 26, 2023The end of the boating season is not on the…
October 10, 2023
Ask Andrew: Pre- haulout checklists
Oct 12, 2023review of the engine systemsBoat yards, mar…
September 26, 2023
Ask Andrew: Electrical Testing Onboard
two examples of common digital multimetersSept 26, 2023…
September 12, 2023
Ask Andrew: Diagnostics explained
Occam’s razor is a problem-solving principle that I often use in my work as a marine technician. It’s simple but is also often overlooked; and it’s easy to when we’re confused or scared of the outcome and its effect on our investment.
April 11, 2023
Ask Andrew: Maintaining your anchor and anchor rode
‘A chain is only as strong as its weakest link’ is a cliche that is quite applicable in boat maintenance. In a literal sense, a weakest link can apply to an anchor rode, and a weak link in this chain can spell disaster.
March 21, 2023
Ask Andrew – Andrew’s Almost Ultimate Spring Commissioning Checklist
It’s that time of year again. The groundhog has been consulted, and we all anxiously wait for the boating season to begin. Here’s a brief outline of maintenance items that you can check off your list when getting ready for launch:
March 7, 2023
Ask Andrew: Lifting, launching and trailering
Launch-day is filled with boat owners who aren’t sure where best to place the slings, and are left to rely on the best experience of the crane directors and travel-lift operators.
February 21, 2023
Ask Andrew: Off-season maintenance tasks – Part 2
Despite sub-zero temperatures and snow on the ground across the country, we still believe that warm winds and sunny days are coming. In only a few short months, boat prep will be upon us. Boat shows are in full swing from East to West coast which gets the ideas flowing and forces us to think about upkeep and upgrades.
February 7, 2023
Ask Andrew: Spring – Under the Hood Pt 1
This is part 1 of a 2-part series on off-season maintenance and upgrades that are ideal to get a jump on now, and aren’t dependent on warmer temperatures (unlike fiberglass, painting and caulking).
January 10, 2023
Marine Industry Career Path: “Ask” Andrew McDonald
The next graduate in our Marine Industry Career Path series is one of Canadian Yachting Media’s very own, Andrew McDonald! Andrew most recently graduated from Georgian College in Ontario and has years of great experience in all aspects of the marine industry.
January 10, 2023
Ask Andrew – January 6, 2023
With boat show season upon us some will walk the show looking to be inspired, others will be looking for a great deal. Either way, I’m sure you’ll find it. One the great niche markets is the creative ways that the marine industry is supporting getting new boaters on the water.
December 20, 2022
Ask Andrew: Suck Squeeze Bang Blow Pt 2 – Compression in a diesel engine
This is Part 2 of a two-part series on compression testing. Last edition explored how an engine works, why compression is important in engine operations, and what a compression test can reveal about the state of the engine.