Steve

You love kayaking, but you have been looking for a way to get better control of your kayak. Till now, you have been at the mercy of the water conditions. You have managed okay, but the kayak has been steering you as much as you have been steering it. You have heard about the modern …

With the sun shining brightly and your marine battery undercharged, you are yearning to charge your battery and go for a nice boat ride. But you don’t have a traditional battery charger available. You don’t even have a trickle charger. So what should you do? You remember the solar panels that you have in your …

In our world, it often catches us by surprise when the technologies we rely on so heavily fail us. This is especially frustrating when your car tire goes flat: I mean, what are you going to do, drive to the store and get something to fix it? The spare, of course, can only get you …

Your trolling motor has been like a best friend. It gives you full command of your boat. With it, you have out-maneuvered even the smartest of fish. When the fish try to slip away, you have been able to steer your boat in the right direction, all but forcing the fish to gravitate to your …

In 1659, Otto von Guericke invented the first air pump, a vacuum-style mechanism utilizing a simple piston. This machine, with a hand-operated plug and valve, helped give early scientists insight into the physics of a vacuum-like never before. Since then, dozens of advancements improved these original and simplistic air pumps and optimized them for specific …

It’s the night before your little sister’s birthday, and you are supposed to be in charge of decorations.  A quick trip to the drug store equips you with a spool of streamers and a bag of balloons, but you can’t find a place to fill them up.  Well, the gas station has an air pump, …

No. At least without a little help, they won’t, but luckily there are a few other ways to make balloons float. If a balloon is filled with the same air outside the balloon, the relatively denser external membrane (usually and hereafter referred to as plastic) will bring the entire balloon crashing down.  To overcome this …

It’s a beautiful summer day, and you’re out riding the rapids in your trusty inflatable kayak. But suddenly, you come upon rougher waters than you were expecting. Maybe a flash flood comes out of nowhere to take you by surprise, or the rapids suddenly become fiercer than you expected. Maybe a storm blows in, catching …

If you’re into kayaking, you’ve probably heard about skegs. Maybe your inflatable kayak even came with a skeg. But what are these pieces of equipment, exactly, and why should you care? Skegs are similar to rudders in that they can help you with steering and maneuvering, but they serve a different purpose than rudders and …

You can’t begin to describe the excitement you have had with your kayak. You have glided along quiet lakes and ripped through treacherous rapids. Maybe you have even tested some international waters. All along, you have taken every measure to keep your kayak in good condition. This includes keeping it clean and storing it properly. …

Insurance protects you and the things you love. But what about your kayak?  You spend endless hours gliding in your kayak through calm waters and bouncing over rapids. You carefully cover your kayak when you store it. You keep it clean to avoid staining and skin damage. Still, you know the unexpected can happen. So …

Your inflatable kayak is zooming you down the rapids and giving you the thrill of your life. Your heart pounds as you tilt left and right at the mercy of the waves. You crash into a monster wave. You are hurled in the air and then dropped back into the rapids with walls of water …

Every boater should know how old his or her marine batteries are. The batteries are arguably the most important items on your boat— they give your boat life. It is necessary to know the age of your batteries so you can properly maintain your boat’s electrical system and help prevent any issues. No boater wants …

The boat is rocking and the fish are jumping out of the lake as if to say, “Come and get me!” But all you can think of is that big trip you have planned to Florida. Oh yes, you’re going to get plenty of fish there. Bass, sailfish, and who knows what else will be …

You have a marine battery that has been pronounced as dead by the marine store technician. Of course, he would prefer that you buy a new battery. You are determined to see if you can get the marine battery to take a charge. That would give you extra funds that you could put toward some …

If you’re new to using rechargeable batteries, you may think you can stick them on the charger and leave them. But did you know that doing this can actually cause some serious problems with your battery? Unless you have a smart charger to monitor your battery’s charging progress, you run the risk of overcharging your …

If you have any electronics on your boat, then chances are marine batteries are an important part of your setup.  But despite their ability to start your boat engine or provide hours of power to your devices, marine batteries are not invulnerable. As their charge is used up, their voltage tends to drop. And if …

Now you did it. A gas station with an air pump better is nearby. You can hear the noise. Crickity crick, crick…..ssssssssss. You get out of your car and look at the rear tire. It is about as low on air as it can be without being flat.  There’s an intersection about a quarter of …

Marine batteries have a tough life. Unlike a car battery, which starts the car with a jolt of power and then is allowed to recharge, marine batteries must also fill the role of a more traditional battery keeping the lights, pumps, and other boat functions operational after providing that quick surge. With this in mind, …

You have tried the other charger types to charge your marine battery. This includes a  and a . Now, you want to see if you can charge your marine battery with a regular charger. But are there any cons to using a regular charger? Is there a step-by-step guide to completing the task? You are …