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Marine Service Blog

Expert advice, maintenance tips, and industry insights from our technical writing team — over 150 combined years of hands-on marine service experience.

Maintaining Your Boat's Watermaker: The Complete Guide for Southwest Florida Cruisers
GeneralMarch 19, 2026

Maintaining Your Boat's Watermaker: The Complete Guide for Southwest Florida Cruisers

Marine watermaker maintenance guide from 25+ years of field experience in Southwest Florida. Covers pre-filtration, fresh water flushing, pickling, chemical cleaning, pump service, and spares kits for Spectra, Schenker, and Sea Recovery systems.

Roland — Accumar Marine Technical StaffRead Article
The 3-Year Major Service: Protecting Your Naiad and Wesmar Stabilizers
marine-systemsMarch 19, 2026

The 3-Year Major Service: Protecting Your Naiad and Wesmar Stabilizers

Active fin stabilizers from Naiad and Wesmar require a critical 3-year major service including shaft seal replacement, hydraulic cylinder rebuilds, and full oil changes. Skip it and a $300 seal job becomes a $10,000 shaft replacement. Here's what the service involves, brand-specific challenges, and the real cost math.

Roland — Accumar Marine Technical StaffRead Article
Lithium vs AGM: Choosing the Right Marine Battery for Your Boat's House Bank
batteriesMarch 19, 2026

Lithium vs AGM: Choosing the Right Marine Battery for Your Boat's House Bank

AGM or lithium for your house bank? We break down usable capacity, charging speed, weight, voltage stability, total cost of ownership, and the system upgrades lithium requires — based on 25+ years of marine battery installations across Southwest Florida.

Roland — Accumar Marine Technical StaffRead Article
Signs It Might Be Time to Change Your Boat's Batteries
batteriesMarch 19, 2026

Signs It Might Be Time to Change Your Boat's Batteries

Marine batteries weaken over time — and a dead battery can strand you miles offshore. Here are the 5 warning signs every Southwest Florida boater should watch for, from slow cranking to swollen cases, plus what to do before your next trip out of Fort Myers, Naples, or Marco Island.

Roland — Accumar Marine Technical StaffRead Article
How to Maintain Your Boat's AC in Southwest Florida
Air ConditioningMarch 19, 2026

How to Maintain Your Boat's AC in Southwest Florida

Your boat's AC isn't a luxury in Southwest Florida — it's survival gear. Here's the complete maintenance guide from 25+ years of keeping vessels cool from Fort Myers to Marco Island, including raw water flow monitoring, condenser descaling, humidity control, and the routine checks that prevent five-figure repair bills.

Roland — Accumar Marine Technical StaffRead Article
Lightning Protection for Boats: Control the Strike
ElectricalFebruary 22, 2026

Lightning Protection for Boats: Control the Strike

You can't prevent a lightning strike — but you can control what happens next. Learn how a properly installed Lightning Protection System turns your boat from a victim into a safe conductor, plus personal safety rules and how to protect your electronics from EMP damage.

Captain RolandRead Article
AC System Builder Walkthrough: Sizing a 42ft Grand Banks Trawler with Steve Harmon
Air ConditioningFebruary 22, 2026

AC System Builder Walkthrough: Sizing a 42ft Grand Banks Trawler with Steve Harmon

Walk through a real AC system sizing for a 42-foot Grand Banks trawler in Fort Myers. See how the AC System Builder tool determines system type, compressor, circulation pump, and installed pricing — zone by zone, no guesswork.

Captain RolandRead Article
A/C Airlock: The 5-Minute Fix Every Boat Owner Needs to Know
Air ConditioningFebruary 22, 2026

A/C Airlock: The 5-Minute Fix Every Boat Owner Needs to Know

Your marine AC compressor is running but no cold air? It's probably an airlock. Learn what causes it, three proven methods to fix it in under 5 minutes, and how to prevent it from happening again. Includes video walkthrough.

Steve HarmonRead Article
Marine Power Upgraded: A Guide to High-Output Alternators and Lithium Integration
ElectricalFebruary 22, 2026

Marine Power Upgraded: A Guide to High-Output Alternators and Lithium Integration

A comprehensive engineering guide to upgrading your vessel's charging system with high-output alternators and LiFePO4 batteries. Covers stator technology, external regulators, serpentine conversions, ABYC compliance, load dump protection, and proper wiring for 100A–250A systems.

Tom BrennanRead Article
Smooth Sailing: The Expert Technician's Guide to Marine Heads (Macerating Type)
PlumbingFebruary 21, 2026

Smooth Sailing: The Expert Technician's Guide to Marine Heads (Macerating Type)

USCG Master Captain's 25-year field guide to operating, maintaining, and winterizing the Raritan SeaEra macerating marine toilet. Covers safety protocols, electrical specs, prohibited chemicals, and court-ready maintenance standards.

Mike CastilloRead Article
Beyond the Hype: 7 Impactful Realities of the Marine Lithium Revolution
ElectricalFebruary 21, 2026

Beyond the Hype: 7 Impactful Realities of the Marine Lithium Revolution

The marine lithium revolution is real — but so are the risks. From BMS shutdown paradoxes to insurance implications, here are 7 engineering realities that separate a safe upgrade from a potential disaster.

Tom BrennanRead Article
The Silent Revolution: 6 Things You Didn't Realize About Upgrading to Marine Lithium
ElectricalFebruary 21, 2026

The Silent Revolution: 6 Things You Didn't Realize About Upgrading to Marine Lithium

Upgrading to LiFePO4 isn't a simple battery swap — it's a full electrical system redesign. From alternator traps to cold-weather plating risks, here are 6 critical realities every boat owner must understand before making the switch.

Tom BrennanRead Article
Marine Pump Maintenance & Troubleshooting: The Complete Guide for Boat Owners
pumpsFebruary 20, 2026

Marine Pump Maintenance & Troubleshooting: The Complete Guide for Boat Owners

Keep every pump on your boat running reliably with this complete maintenance and troubleshooting guide. Covers AC circulation, freshwater, bilge, diesel transfer, and sanitation pumps with brand-specific tips.

Mike CastilloRead Article
Marine AC Pump Replacement Guide: Scot vs Oberdorfer vs March — Which Pump Is Right for Your Boat?
pumpsFebruary 20, 2026

Marine AC Pump Replacement Guide: Scot vs Oberdorfer vs March — Which Pump Is Right for Your Boat?

A comprehensive guide to choosing the right marine AC circulation pump. Covers Scot 67/68 series, Oberdorfer 107M replacements, magnetic drive options, sizing for BTU capacity, and installation tips from 25+ years of experience.

Mike CastilloRead Article
Marine Watermaker Maintenance & Troubleshooting: Complete Service Guide
watermakersFebruary 20, 2026

Marine Watermaker Maintenance & Troubleshooting: Complete Service Guide

Keep your marine watermaker running at peak performance with this complete maintenance and troubleshooting guide. Covers membrane care, pickling procedures, common problems, and when to call a professional.

Steve HarmonRead Article
How to Choose the Right Marine Watermaker: Size, Type & Brand Guide for 2026
watermakersFebruary 20, 2026

How to Choose the Right Marine Watermaker: Size, Type & Brand Guide for 2026

A comprehensive guide to selecting the right marine watermaker for your boat. Learn about daily output requirements, AC vs DC power, energy-efficient models, and which brands lead the market.

Steve HarmonRead Article
Marine Generator Maintenance & Troubleshooting: The Complete Owner's Guide
generatorsFebruary 19, 2026

Marine Generator Maintenance & Troubleshooting: The Complete Owner's Guide

Learn essential marine generator maintenance schedules, common problems and their solutions, when to repair vs replace, and how to extend the life of your marine generator. Expert advice from 25+ years of marine generator service.

Mike CastilloRead Article
How to Choose the Right Marine Generator: Size, Brand & Fuel Type Guide
generatorsFebruary 19, 2026

How to Choose the Right Marine Generator: Size, Brand & Fuel Type Guide

A comprehensive guide to selecting the right marine generator for your boat. Learn how to calculate electrical loads, compare Cummins Onan vs Kohler vs Westerbeke vs Northern Lights, and choose between diesel and gasoline generators.

Mike CastilloRead Article
Best Marine Chartplotters 2026: Garmin GPSMAP vs Simrad NSX vs Raymarine Axiom 2
electronicsFebruary 19, 2026

Best Marine Chartplotters 2026: Garmin GPSMAP vs Simrad NSX vs Raymarine Axiom 2

A hands-on comparison of the top marine chartplotters for 2026. Captain Roland compares the Garmin GPSMAP 1223xsv, Simrad NSX 3012, and Raymarine Axiom 2 Pro 12 after installing hundreds of each.

Bill TraversRead Article
How to Choose Marine Electronics: Chartplotters, Fishfinders & Radar — A Captain's Guide
electronicsFebruary 19, 2026

How to Choose Marine Electronics: Chartplotters, Fishfinders & Radar — A Captain's Guide

With 25+ years on the water, Captain Roland breaks down how to select the right marine electronics for your boat — from chartplotters and fishfinders to radar and autopilots. Compare Garmin, Simrad, Raymarine, and B&G.

Bill TraversRead Article
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Captain's Maintenance Bulletin

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