Author: Breeze Marine

A practical guide to sizing solar power for boats: counting daily loads, choosing where panels go, rigid vs flexible panels, MPPT controllers and installation basics.

A hot shore power plug is a fire warning. Learn why connections overheat, which signs to look for, what you can check safely and when to call a marine electrician.

What an AGM to lithium conversion really involves on a boat: sizing the bank, protecting the alternator, fusing, charging profiles and what owners can check first.

Why a boat shifter or throttle turns stiff, how to tell a worn cable from a worn control box, what owners can check safely and what the repair involves.

A practical boat day checklist for a cabin cruiser: essentials to pack, clothing, galley food, weather checks, seasickness tips and extras for fishing or sunset trips.

What to do after a collision, grounding or storm, how insurers and warranty providers handle boat repairs, and which records help a claim go smoothly.

Chips, chalking and fading on a boat's topsides: what causes them, how a durable touch-up is done and the signs that a full marine refinish is due.

A guide to marine head problems: clogs, water creeping back, leaks, humming electric toilets and odor, with owner checks and what a professional repair involves.

Why marine exhaust manifolds, risers and elbows corrode, the warning signs of a leak or water in the cylinders, simple owner checks and what a proper repair involves.

Why a bilge pump stops working or keeps running: power faults, stuck float switches, clogged intakes, hose and check valve trouble, owner checks and when to get help.

A practical guide for your first time renting a boat: choosing the kind of day, what to bring on a boat, weather checks and safety basics for the whole group.

A good autopilot installation is more than a control head at the helm. Learn the parts of an autopilot system, how the drive is matched to your steering, where the heading sensor should go, why...

An outboard that runs for a few minutes and then dies is often starving for fuel because the tank cannot breathe. Learn how venting works on old vented caps and modern EPA-compliant sealed tanks, how...

Water and diesel bug are behind many clogged filters and engines that lose power at sea. See how a diesel fuel polisher cleans the fuel you already have, how to spot contamination, when polishing is...

Salt spray and sun age a boat faster than hours on the engine. Learn what a proper wash down includes, how often boats in Long Beach should be rinsed, the mistakes that strip wax or scratch...

Tired settees, flat berths and mildew make a whole boat feel old. This guide to sailboat interior upholstery covers fabric and foam choices for Southern California, ventilation under cushions,...

The wrong screw can leak, stain or snap. Learn where 316 stainless belongs and where 304 is fine, how galvanic and crevice corrosion attack fasteners, how to bed deck hardware so it stays dry, and...

Wakes and surge snap dock lines tight thousands of times a season. A mooring shock absorber takes the edge off those loads. Compare rubber, spring and hydraulic snubbers, learn how to size and...