Ethanol should be avoided at all costs
July 2009
I look forward each month to receiving my issue of Soundings Trade Only Magazine. This magazine is full of information and news for and about the marine industry.
Avoid pitfalls when rewiring your boat
June 2009
Accessory wiring in your boat can be a blessing if it is done correctly or an absolute nightmare if not. Wiring is relatively easy, but there are many pitfalls to avoid in order to have a reliable and safe system.
Manuals provide flushing directions
May 2009
I have been writing columns for more years than I care to admit. In all those years, I cannot remember a single column that generated as much reader response as the one I wrote about flushing your engines. I am pleased and flattered that so many of you took the time to e-mail your questions about the topic.
Flushing will save you big bucks
March 2009
I have asked many customers how often they flush out their engines, and the answer is almost always the same. They tell me they flush their engines every time they use them.
How do 4-strokes, 2-strokes compare?
February 2009
I recently received the following e-mail from a reader: “I have a 22-foot bay boat with a 200-hp motor on it. The boat is heavy, but does an honest 52 mph. I want to upgrade to a new 225 hp. I have limited my choice to two motors. One is a 4-stroke and the other is a direct-injection 2-stroke.
Don’t forget winter preparations
January 2009
As we move into the colder months of the year, you may be questioning whether or not you should winterize your boat. In Louisiana, our winters tend to be mild compared to our neighbors in the northern half of the country. Up north the temperature drops so much that most of the lakes and rivers turn to ice. They have no choice but to remove their boats from the water and basically park them until springtime arrives.
Boating gifts keep on giving
December 2008
Christmas is just around the corner, and you are probably busy trying to figure out what gifts to get for your many friends and loved ones on your list.
Don’t forget the basics of ownership
November 2008
I don’t think I will ever forget one day when my dad and I were working behind the parts counter at our dealership, Big M Marine. A customer walked up to the counter, and after the usual greeting, he regaled us with a tale of his recent fishing trip to Venice.
You can salvage your submerged boat
October 2008
It was just a little over three years ago when Louisiana was dealt a horrific one-two blow from Katrina and Rita. Now, thanks to Gustav and Ike, boat owners in Louisiana are facing many of the same problems that existed back then.
Time for duck hunters’ wake-up call
September 2008
Each year when duck season closes in January, most hunters simply park their mud boats and forget about them. We usually have other things such as fishing, cruising and water skiing on our minds.
Easy ways to save fortune in fuel
July 2008
With gasoline prices soaring to all-time highs every other day, I am getting questions about how to stretch the fuel mileage of my customers’ boats.
Ignition glitches often tough to diagnose
June 2008
From time to time I get questions from boat owners regarding problems with their engine’s ignition system. One such recent question was about an engine that had no fire at the spark plugs.
Important trailers are underappreciated
May 2008
I have written a lot about maintaining your boat and engine, but the trailer is quite possibly the most important component of your rig. It is also likely the most overlooked component of your rig.
Got a fuel problem? Troubleshoot it
April 2008
Not all mechanical problems are the result of a failed engine. In a recent e-mail, a boat owner described a problem he was having with the brand-new engine he had just re-powered his boat with. He explained that he had performed the usual break-in, and liked what he had seen up to that point.
Ask Captain Paul
The Boat doctor 
