The summer is here and the weather is cooperating. People are enjoying their boats. Everything seems to be wonderful. However now is not the time to get too complacent. In between trips to Block Island or before a lazy Sunday cruise around the bay is a great time to check over the boat. With the hot temperatures, so too can the temperatures of the water in your boat's batteries. Be sure to check them to make sure the water hasn't "boiled" out of them. If they are low, be sure to fill them. Check the batteries manufacturer's specs on the correct procedure for filling and the proper fluid to use. Also take the time to give your vessel a halfway through the season cleaning. Not just the interior of the boat or inside the cabin, but also the hull as well. A quick washing and waxing will get the salt off from the ocean spray and help keep it protected throughout the rest of the summer and into the fall season. One last thing is to also periodically check the bottom of your boat. With the warmer temperatures also comes algae growth and barnacles. Algae growth and barnacles can clog water intake strainers, stick to the hull and props causing performance related issues and attach to transducers, hindering depth/ sonar readings. With the boat anchored and the engines shut off, take dip and check the condition of the bottom of the boat. If you don't want to take a dive, we do offer hauling the boat out of the water to check the hull of the boat for you. Performing these tasks will help keep you boating and enjoying the summer season.

Now that the boating season is upon us, the boats are being launched and the trailers are being put into summer storage. With the trailers not being in use throughout the summer, the disc brakes can develop a condition know as "Lot Lock". Lot Luck happens when corrosion between the disc brake pads and disc rotor buildup over time. This causes the disc brake pads to freeze to disc brake rotor. Here are some helpful hints to help prevent Lot Luck:
Store the trailer in a protected are and if you cover the trailer, make sure there is circulation around the brake area.
After disconnecting the trailer, set the brake actuator to neutral or, if equipped, to a "no pressure" position by pulling the coupler out or forward.
If your actuator is equipped with a "stop flow" solenoid, make sure you have not locked in pressure when you disconnect the trailer.
For periods of long storage, you can use a very light coat of spray paint on the exposed disc brake rotor surface. DO NOT spray paint on any other parts of the disc brake system. When the paint is dry, rotate the disc brake rotor so that the disc brake pads are on the painted surface. The paint will come off during the first use.
DO NOT use any type of oil or WD-40 type of lubricating oil to coat the disc brake rotors as these can reduce braking power and/ or hinder braking performance altogether.

Whether you own Raymarine, Garmin, Lowrance, etc., electronics, it is a great idea to update the navigational charts periodically for these electronics. Companies like Navionics release thousands of updates throughout the year to keep boaters aware of coastline and buoy changes, newly marked submerged structures and much more. Stay informed on these changes and updates by updating your electronic navigational charts today.

We have received some information regarding Marine Carbon Monoxide Detectors.

Got an outboard with a powerhead that isn't worth fixing and don't know what to do with it? Turn it into CASH! Send an email to parts@silverspringmarine.com giving a full description of the engine, ie; make, model and year, and we will reply with an offer. We are currently only in the market for model year 2000 and newer. Once we have received the email, we will reply with an offer.