Top 10 DIY Tips
Keep these practical nuggets in your mental toolbox for when the do-it-yourself spirit takes hold.
Steve Zimmerman
Steve Zimmerman is the president of Zimmerman Marine, which operates five boatyards in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Zimmerman has been building and repairing boats for more than four decades.
How to Prevent and Troubleshoot Core Moisture
Moisture is the enemy. Here’s how to keep it out—and what to do if it gets in.
Feel The Burn: The Fuel Consumption Equation
Our expert troubleshooter, Steve Zimmerman, unpacks the often confusing metric of fuel burn.
Creating a Haul-Out Game Plan (Photos, Checklist)
Whether Hauling Out Annually (Northeasterners) or Less Often (Southerners, Westeners), Get the Most From Time 'on the Hard'
Troubleshooter: How to Manage a Successful Refit
Take the following considerations to heart during your next refit to save time, money and your sanity.
Blow-By, Puke Jugs & CCVs
Manage these engine exhaust system components to keep your diesels firing on all cylinders.
Troubleshooter: Best Practices When Under Tow
Following a few basic procedures can ensure that you and your boat arrive with no more problems than the one that stopped you in the first place.
The Right Stuff: Washdown Rig
This clever DIY anchor chain washdown is what every gunkholer needs.
Troubleshooter: How Long Will My Engine Last?
Eventually, time and wear catch up and the situation will call for a rebuild, a remanufactured engine, or a new engine.
Troubleshooter: Shorepower Danger
The Definitive Guide To What You Need To Know About Shorepower Code Changes - It Could Save Your Life.
Troubleshooter: Adhesives, Caulks, Sealants
Steve Zimmerman explains choosing the right sealant for the job and why 5200 shouldn't be your go to.
Troubleshooter: Stability Concerns
Steve Zimmerman walks through the pro's and con's of various methods of stabilization.
The Right Stuff: Chain Reaction
Steve Zimmerman goes over best practices for storing anchors while underway and broaches the controversial topic of anchor swivels.
Maintain your Seawater Pumps
Our troubleshooting guru, Steve Zimmerman, takes us through how to properly maintain your raw water pumps.
TROUBLESHOOTER: What To Do When Your Engine Won't Start (and it started yesterday)
Steve Zimmerman explains how to troubleshoot issues with your marine diesel engine's starter.
Troubleshooter: Generate Solutions
A reliable genset can be essential to comfortable cruising. These skills can save your cruise.
Troubleshooter: Steering Systems
Technical contributor Steve Zimmerman on how to manage and maintain cable and hydraulic steering systems
Steve Zimmerman The Right Stuff: Articulated Rudder
Steve Zimmerman's espouses the virtues of an articulated rudder in his latest column "The Right Stuff"
Troubleshooter: Understanding Shaft Seals
It’s a simple problem, though not an easy one to solve: How do you allow a 2-inch-diameter propeller shaft to penetrate through the bottom of your hull, give it enough freedom to spin over 1,000 times a minute, yet not allow water to pass through the hole?
Mad Cow Disease And Shore Power Cords
Boat buyers often take strong positions on galley stoves, insisting that they would never expose themselves to the risks of an explosion posed by propane.
Patch Test: Blisters Need Not Be A Deal-Killer With Proper Evaluation
Let’s imagine that the boat has been hauled, and a dozen or so blisters can be observed. How do you determine the severity of the problem? Should you walk away, or perhaps renegotiate in hopes of lowering the price?
Troubleshooter: Take Your Trawler's Temperature
An Inexpensive Piece of Gear Can Diagnose an Engine’s Illness; Both cheap and easy to use, a handheld pyrometer could be one of the most useful tools in your collection.
Troubleshooter: In Defense Of The Pocket Reference
In my many decades of working on boats, it is quite possible that the most reliable tool i have ever carried is not actually a tool at all; its my little black book.
Troubleshooter: Shake Hands with Solenoids
Like the proverbial tail wagging the dog, a $50 solenoid can stop a $3,000 windlass from raising the anchor or prevent the engine from starting. Knowing how these simple devices work may save your cruise.
The Secrets of Quadrant II Boat Commissioning (BLOG)
If you are commissioning your own boat, it can be a challenge to prioritize your time. What should be done before launching? What should be done just after launching? And which tasks can be tackled during the season?
The Secrets of Quadrant II Boat Commissioning
If you are commissioning your own boat, it can be a challenge to prioritize your time. The late author and consultant Stephen Covey taught people how to manage their time by dividing the demands into four quadrants:
