Repair & maintenance guides
Plain-English, step by step, written for owners. Pick your engine to see the guides that apply to it.
51 of 509 guides · page 3 of 3

Two-Stroke Premix Conversion: Living With an Engine That Had Its Oil Injection Removed
Bought a two-stroke outboard or PWC whose oil injection was removed, or thinking of doing it? Learn how to confirm what was done, mix fuel at the ratio from your manual every single time, label your tanks so nobody forgets, choose NMMA TC-W3 oil and understand the real risks.

Using a Pontoon Boat in Salt Water: Tubes, Anodes, Flushing, Rinsing and Copper-Free Bottom Paint
Keep an aluminum pontoon alive in salt or brackish water: protect the tubes and hardware from corrosion, use the right anodes, flush the outboard the correct way, rinse the deck, furniture and trailer, cover only when dry, and never let anyone put copper-based (cuprous oxide) bottom paint on aluminum tubes.

V-Drive Transmission Care for Wake and Ski Boats: Fluid, Cooler, Coupler and Shaft Seal
Wake boats and many ski boats put the engine in the stern, backward, and turn the power through a V-drive transmission. Learn how to check and read the transmission fluid, why the cooler and its drain matter in winter, what the coupler and shaft seal tell you, and which noises and leaks mean it's time for a technician.
Safety: BoatMend is for information only and does not replace a certified marine technician. You are responsible for your safety and your boat. Read the full disclaimer.