Dockline Blog

Having your boat out of water presents the opportunity to do some critical routine maintenance – like inspecting your prop and prop shaft. While these inspections only require a few minutes of your time, they can help to ensure your ...

Every boat owner should know how to remove and install the boat’s propeller. The prop may become damaged and need to be repaired or replaced. You may decide to upgrade your propeller to improve performance or economy. Inspecting the propeller ...

Boating is one of the most demanding environments in which an engine can operate. Marine engines frequently run for extended periods of time at high rpm or wide-open throttle, often in corrosive saltwater. When not on the water, marine engines often ...

Fishing is one of life’s great pleasures, appealing to an incredibly diverse audience: from the young to the old and the causal to the passionate. Whether your goal is to reel in a fish worthy of the record books or ...

Safe boating is the responsibility of everyone on the water, and it starts with making sure you have enough life jackets of the proper type and size for everyone on board. This isn’t an area to cut corners. The best ...

Today’s outboards are modern marvels, borne of precision engineering and generations of innovation. They’re quiet, dependable and efficient, and they’re purpose-built to help people enjoy hassle-free days on the water for years. They do have a common bond with the ...

Knots can be among the most intimidating and confusing aspects of fishing. After all, there are dozens of them an angler could learn, and poor knots can easily cause you to lose fish. The good news is there’s no need ...

Boat covers are an awesome invention. A good cover will keep leaves from staining the deck and plugging the boat’s drainage system, and it will keep your seats dry and the windshield clean between outings. It’ll also discourage pets and ...

Looking for a new adventure that will have the kids grinning from ear to ear — and will result in one of the most fabulous feasts on the face of the planet? Then it’s time to think about going crabbing. ...

It’s no secret that trailering can take its toll on your boat and outboard over time. Bumpy roads, abrupt stops and harmonic vibrations all put stresses on your rig, especially the boat’s transom and the outboard’s tilt/trim system. Trailering with ...

Unpleasant stains in your boat’s carpet can be gone in a flash with the use of just a few household items and a little know-how. A spilled beverage on your boat is pretty much unavoidable, and any liquid with a ...

High water can be an exciting event for anglers. Fish typically move into the shallows and explore the new terrain in their underwater world. Feeding opportunities abound. Flooded or near-flooded conditions offer anglers exciting opportunities to fish what can seem ...

Often, boat trailers and tow vehicles are not made to go together. The hitch receiver height in tow vehicles can vary by several inches even in stock rigs, and hitches are available in all manner of drops and rises. The ...

Hard-water spots on your boat and engine will not make your boat run slower. But they don’t help it either. Hard-water spots are unsightly, annoying and not something you want to see every time you look at your otherwise awesome ...

Invasive species pose a massive threat to waterways everywhere. The introduction of a non-native species into an environment that is not equipped to keep it in check can result in disastrous and widespread disruptions of the existing food chain. Consequently, ...

Anglers and boaters alike all know the struggle of changing out a boat propeller. Whether you’re removing the boat propeller for maintenance or replacing the boat propeller for better performance and durability, this process can leave you frustrated and scratching ...

The anodes on your outboard engine are just like any other maintenance part: neglecting them may not hurt today, or tomorrow, but you can bet it will most assuredly do damage in the long run. Your engine’s sacrificial anodes (or ...

Your marine engine serial number is a very important piece of information you’ll need whenever you arrange for service or purchase parts. In this Mercury Quick Tip, we’ll show you how to find the engine data tag where the engine ...

It likely comes as no surprise that you need to wash your boat periodically, though exactly how often is a hotly debated topic. Most saltwater boaters agree that at least a quick scrub and rinse after each use is mandatory, ...

Loading your boat on the trailer and properly securing it after a trip on the water can be a little intimidating, especially when other people are waiting to load or unload their boats. While you want to be expeditious to ...

With a few simple supplies like docklines and fenders, and following these simple step-by-step instructions, it's easy to look like a pro. Watch the video Docking can be rather stressful for those new to boating, and even veterans can get ...

The bolts that secure your outboard to your boat’s transom endure tremendous stress when the boat is underway and even when the boat is being trailered. Those bolts are critically important, so don’t neglect them. Loose transom bolts can “wallow ...

Your batteries are among the most critical components of your boat. Neglect them, and you do so at your own peril; if they aren’t functioning properly, your boat’s going nowhere under its own power. Fortunately, it takes just a few ...

We all love the water, but the water can be very unkind to our equipment. Your Mercury outboard is built using space-age alloys and coatings to resist rust and corrosion, but it still requires some attention every now and then, ...

Airline pilots can command dozens of flights every month, sometimes multiple times per day on the same aircraft. And yet they physically and methodically go through a pre-flight checklist every single time. As responsible boaters, we can all take a ...

If you grew up around boats, you might remember your mom, dad or perhaps your grandad wiping down their trusty two-stroke outboard with a dirty shop towel. With all due respect to Pops, times have changed, and there’s a much ...

The weekend is finally here! Time to leave the stress of the weekdays behind and pit your wits against your favorite species of fish, or perhaps just relax and enjoy fresh air, beautiful water and awesome sunshine. However, you first ...

Step 1 Wipe down the cowl with a damp cloth to remove water spots and dirt. Step 2 Using a clean, dry cloth, continue to wipe the cowl removing any dampness. Step 3 Using a clean, dry cloth, apply Cowl ...