Dockline Blog

For many boaters, the local sandbar – a mound or ridge of sand that is built up in a lake, river or in coastal waters by the action of currents, wind and waves – is a popular place to drop ...

Barry Stokes, former host of Let’s Fish TV has been fishing professionally for 40 years, and he’s got a great tip that will help you get your boat in the water faster and easier, and with less anxiety. In this Mercury ...

When we share close quarters with others, our actions can have immediate consequences. Nowhere is that more apparent than in a marina. Whether you’re new to the boating lifestyle or a longtime boater who might benefit from a gentle etiquette ...

In a perfect world, every lake is full of biting fish and hosts a nicely pitched boat ramp with nobody waiting in line. But we all know perfect is just a fantasy. With more boats on the water and an ...

Need to transport your portable Mercury outboard? Maybe you want to bring it home for the winter to store it in your garage, or perhaps you need to take it to the dealer for some routine maintenance. With a portable ...

Whether you’re new to trailer boating or seasoned with years of experience, running through a pre-launch boat ramp checklist is just plain smart. We all forget something now and again and there’s a reason why putting a boat in the ...

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 ...

“Etiquette” is basically an old-fashioned word for good manners. While one of the many joys of boating is that it lets us go our own way and do our own thing, we still must share the water with other boaters. ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

When it comes to docking a boat it’s natural for boaters, especially new boaters, to feel a bit of trepidation. After all, you’re about to pull your pride and joy up next to a solid object that could cause scrapes, ...

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 ...

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 ...