How To Keep Your Fillet Knife Sharp

When you catch that beautiful fish that you are excited to stick on the dinner table that night, you don't want to mess up that beautiful piece of meat when you fillet it just because your knife isn't sharp enough. Here we will talk about how to keep that fillet knife sharp so you will always have the perfect cut of meat.




Getting The Burr

The burr is a wire edge that forms across the blade opposite of what you are sharpening. Your job is not finished until you can see or feel the burr.

The Edge Bevel

Most kitchen knives have a 20-degree edge bevel. For filleting, an edge bevel of 12 to 15 degrees per side provides a clean easy cut and reasonable resistance to dulling. If you don’t cut bone, monofilament or bait with your fillet knife, a 15-degree bevel will be okay for you to use.

Set The Bevel

The easiest way to figure out what angle to set the bevel would be to stack two quarters high. Using this method is not exact, but it gets you pretty close.

To Push or To Pull

We each have those friends who swear by pulling the knife across the stone, and those who swear by pushing. Quite frankly, it doesn't matter. Both ways are just as effective. What does matter, is that the spine moves ahead of the edge. So, just make sure to angle it.

Sharpen

Draw the blade across the stone, sweeping it from heel to tip as you go. Once you have a full-length burr, sharpen to create a burr on the other side. Finish with blade-first strokes, like slicing a sliver from the stone, until the burr disappears.

Now you have the know how to keep that fillet knife just as sharp as when you purchased her. For more tips and pictures to go along, click here.

Now What? How To Spend Your Time During The Off Season

As the weather keeping us indoors and the boats are tucked away for the time being. We are sitting and wondering now what? This time of year may not be a favorite among boaters but there are some things you can do now to make your next boating season a great one.



This time of year is perfect for doing all those little projects on your boat that you never got to over the summer. You know which ones I'm talking about. Upgrading your navigation system, doing those minor repairs to keep your boat running in like new condition, and doing all those checks to make sure that your equipment and all your boating accessories are working properly. Getting these little things, or maybe even a couple of big things, accomplished over the winter will give you more time in the spring to spend on the water.



Maybe you were growing tired of your boat last season. It could have been it was just getting older or your boat wasn't giving you what you were hoping to get out of it. Whatever the reason, this time of year is actually a great time to research and buy a new boat. Take your time to do your research and find the perfect boat for you and your needs. Then during boat show season (Jan-March), you can make your purchase. You will never find a better price on a boat than at a boat show.



If neither of those fit your fancy for the off season, you can always take your boat and head south for the winter. There are places where the boating season never ends and boaters are always welcome. Really, those places do exist. Whatever you choose to do with your off season, we will be there to help you.

Keeping Your Gear Top Notch

This time of year is rough on us boaters, we can no longer spend every weekend enjoying our time on the water. During this time off, how can we keep our gear looking like new all year round? How you store your gear has a big impact on its lifespan and performance. 

It really doesn't take much to keep your gear performing like new, just a little extra effort. If you are anything like me, your rope gets pulled into the boat and laid on the floor in a heap after use. Make sure to take the time to coil the rope after each use being careful to loop it in 1-3 foot long sections. To make coiling easier, give your wrist a little half twist as you are coiling. It will make the rope want to wrap around itself. 

Your Wakeboard's edge is critical not only to how it performs, but how it ages. You don't want to stand it up in a corner on a hard surface. That is an easy way to crack the joint where the top and bottom of the board come together. If that happens, you board will come apart. Always place your board binding side down.  You could even go one step further and entirely remove your bindings to dry separately from the board. 

After your adventure on the water, your wetsuit needs drying before it is stored. The proper way to do this is to lay it inside out on a flat surface out of direct sunlight. doing this will maintain the seams and material. Once it is dry, you can hand it up on a hanger like a normal suit. Better yet, find an actual suit hanger with broader shoulders to help hold the shape of the suite better.

The last piece of gear is your life vest. Did you know that drying your life vest in direct sunlight can actually break down the fibers in the vest drastically reducing its life span? You also do not want to just stick in a storage compartment to dry. Doing this will create some not so pleasant smells and mildew problems. The best way to dry your vest is letting it drip dry in a cool dry area making sure it is vertical to allow the water to drain from the bottom. 

With these tips your gear will continue looking and acting like it did the day you bought it. What are some other tip & tricks you use to keep your gear looking and acting like new?

How To Change Your Spark Plug

With today's modern fuel injection engines, changing your spark plugs is few and far between, but that day will come that you will need to know how to properly change a spark plug on your boat. That is where we come in. Here are some tips and tricks for changing your spark plugs.

Choose The Right Plug

A tad short or not the right heat range won't fly. Close enough will not work when installing spark plugs. The best way to figure out the right spark plug is to contact the manufacturer. 

Using The Right Wrench

Spark plugs have a porcelain tip on them that is protected by a foam cover. Using a standard socket wrench could crack the porcelain. You will need a steady hand, socket extension and tight griping socket.

Using The Right Torque

Over tightening is one of the biggest mistakes. If you overtighten the spark plug when reinstalling it, your could strip the cylinder which would be costly to remove and have it re-threaded. The average torque wrench setting should be between 18-20 pounds per square inch. Make sure to check with the manufacturer before use.

Using The Right Gap

The gap is the distance the spark has to jump. If you have a gapless engine, then this is one step that you do not have to worry with. If your sparks need to be gapped, I would suggest investing in feeler gages. The gap setting can be found on the emissions plate of the engine or in the owner’s manual

Quick Tip: As you are changing your plug, check the others. Look for water droplets, aluminum bits, or a white substance on them. If you find any, take it to your dealer before you head out again.

Now that you can properly change your spark plugs, don't let the fear of what might go wrong stop you from enjoy a day relaxing on the water. If you are looking for some more tips on the subject, check these out. 

Tarp Tactics

It is the time of year that most boaters start to get a little depressed because the boating season is winding down. Winterization and storage options occupy our minds. There are my options for your winter storage needs ranging from having the boat here at the marina to storing it yourself at your house. If you choose to house your boat in your driveway, then you will need to know the basics for the use of a tarp. That is where we come in. 

There are many reasons to store your boat at home, the biggest is convenience. You can work on your boat whenever you have a free moment. No need to spend time driving to and from the marina and no more frustration if you left something at home. There are some challenges to storing your boat at home over the winter months. The first being how do you keep it out of the elements? A tarp. 

Using a tarp can be tricking and here are a few tips to make it easier for you. 

Sharp Edges 

On your boat you have sharp edges that no matter how many times you’ve tried to cover your boat with a tarp they inevitably rip the tarp. How do you prevent it? When you are covering your boat, first put old pieces of carpet or rags over the sharp edges and secure them with duct tape. The carpet rounds the edges which will protect your tarp. 

Securing the Tarp 

The best way to secure your tarp would be to wrap the bungee cords around the bottom of your boat. Doing that would make it very difficult to get in and work on your boat during the off season. The easiest way would be to fill a few milk jugs with rocks and water and tie them with rope to a few points of the tarp to hold it in place. When you want to get in the boat, you just need to undo a few jugs and not have to worry about exposing the whole boat. 

Tarp Support

 You will need to support your tarp at its low points or it will collect water which could completely compromise the tarp. The easiest way to do this would be to place a step ladder on the deck of your boat to keep the tarp supported. You now have the knowledge to better prepare your boat for winter storage at your home. Just remember to get proper ventilation under the tarp otherwise; you could end up having a mildew problem on your hands. Would you like more information on tarp tactics? Click here.

Campbell's Island

What do you know about Campbell’s Island? I’m sure that we have all seen or visited this island but do you actually know of its history? Let’s start with the basics. Campbell’s Island is an island and unincorporated community on the Mississippi River that connects to East Moline by way of a bridge.


Now, what makes Campbell’s Island important? This Island became known during the War of 1812. It was the site of the Battle of Rock Island Rapids, which is one of the westernmost battles of the war. During this battle is where the island got its name. The British Army fought American forces led by a Lieutenant John Campbell. During the battle, Campbell was forced to retreat. Even though he lost the battle, his name survived and lived on.


At the turn of the century, Campbell’s Island was bought by a streetcar company. This company bought the land intending to build an amusement park to take up the entirety of the island. During this time is when the first bridge to the island was constructed. This island became more of a resort area through the mid-20^th century.

The Campbell’s Island that we know today has changed and continues to change due to the power of the mighty Mississippi. The island is about 1.25 miles long and 0.5 miles wide. It is now the home of a suburban community, which due to the fact that Campbell’s Island is low sitting, is prone to flooding. When you tour the island expect to find their houses built on stilts.


We now know the history surrounding Campbell Island. So let’s take our new found knowledge and head out to explore this island for ourselves. Let us know what you discover.

Enjoying Your Personal Watercraft

Personal watercrafts can be a fun and enjoyable way to experience the water. They can give you the freedom and maneuverability like nothing else. They are also dangerous; the PWC (Personal Water Craft) is not a toy. Here we will discuss the proper way to enjoy a PWC.


The first thing to remember when riding a PWC is to always keep safety in mind. That means wearing a proper fitting life jacket to keep you afloat in an accident. Also, having good fitting eye protection is not a bad idea. Tight fitting wrap around goggles can protect your eyes from flying debris and water.


Once you have the proper safety equipment ready to go, you need to take the time to get to know the PWC. For example, the PWC do not have brakes. Everything is done with the throttle. Taking the extra time to learn the machine would make for an easier time on the water.


You know how to use your PWC; you have your safety gear ready to go; now it’s time to know the rules of the water for a PWC. There are many different rules to know before leaving the dock. One of them is they never have the right of way. The smaller more maneuverable the power boat the lower on the pecking order it is. Never assume that someone will dodge you. Get out of way.


Now you can enjoy the water in a whole new way. Grab your friends get on your PWC and head out to the water to enjoy a fun and safe personal watercraft experience.