Boat
How to Change Outboard Lower Unit Gear Oil, and Read What Drains Out
Changing outboard gear oil takes 15 minutes. Here is how I drain and refill a lower unit, and how to read milky oil, water and metal on the magnet.
On the water
Gear that has actually been wet.
Kayaks, trolling motors, batteries and tackle — written up by someone who paddles most weekends and does his own maintenance. Including the repairs, which is usually the part nobody writes down.
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Type a boat, a motor, a price or a species — every buying guide on the site is in this list.
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- 9 Best Fishing Kayak Under $800 – 5 Things You Must Know Fishing Kayak
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- Top 5 Best Fishing Tackle Boxes Tested Fishing
- 10 Best Fisher Finder Apps Compared Fishing
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- 7 Best Fishing Masks My Favorites Fishing accesories
- 7 Best Marine Subwoofers My 20 days Test Accessories
- 5 Best Kayak Seats My Personal Test Accessories
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- 15 Glues for Stone Tested & Used Glue
- Top 13 Best Boat Buffers – My Test Boat
- 7 Best Glues for Balsa Wood Glue
- 8 Best Kayak Trolling Motors Tested Trolling Motor
- 7 Best Fishing Pliers Researched Accessories
- 8 Best Fly Fishing Kayaks My Research Fishing Kayak
- 6 Best Lightweight Kayaks – My Personal Test Kayak & Canoe
- 5 Best Kayak Rudder Kits – My Opinion Accessories
- Top 9 Best Underwater Boat Lights My Test Boat
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- Top 15 Best Wave Durag for 2022– My Research Accessories
- Top 12 Best Boat Covers Tested for 2022 (Updated) Boat
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- Fishing Rod Holder for Canoe Kayak & Canoe
- Oil for Shimano Reels Fishing accesories
- Shimano Reels For Float Fishing Fishing accesories
- Shimano Reels for Saltwater Fishing accesories
- Shimano Reels For Bass Fishing accesories
- Shimano Reels for Jigging Fishing accesories
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- What is the Best Kayak for Beginners – My Test (2022) Kayak & Canoe
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- 5 Best Marine Battery for Trolling Motor Battery
- Trolling Motors My Research Trolling Motor
- 12 Best Marine Solar Panels for Sailboats Tested Marine
- Top 8 Best Kayak Paddle Under $100 Kayak & Canoe
- 11 Best Kayak Seats For Bad Back Kayak & Canoe
- 10 Best Boat Grills I Personally Tested Accessories
- 7 Best Fishing Shoes I Liked Most Accessories
- 5 Best Tackle Boxes Favorites Accessories
- 5 Best Kayaks For a Large Person Kayak & Canoe
- 5 Best Kayaks Under $200 My Favorites Kayak & Canoe
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- 4 best Kayak Sail Kits Kayak & Canoe
- 5 Best Ascend Kayaks My Research Kayak & Canoe
- 7 Best Kayak Fishing PFDs My Test Accessories
- 4 Best Modular Kayaks My Favorites Kayak & Canoe
- 5 Best Kayak Fishing Crates Tested Accessories
- Ice Fishing Rods Fishing Rod
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- 5 Best Kayak Carts Kayak & Canoe
- 7 Best Kayak Paddles for Fishing Fishing
- 8 Best Kayak Anchors Tested Kayak & Canoe
- Top 13 Best Marine Stereo System Tested Marine
- 5 Best River Fishing Kayaks My Test Fishing Kayak
- 6 Best Kayak for Leisure Kayak & Canoe
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- Top 10 Best Anchor Ropes For your Boat Boat
- 7 Best Dry Bags for Kayaking Accessories
- 6 Best kayaks for camping Tested Kayak & Canoe
- What are the Best Time of Day to Go Fishing? Beginner’s Guide Fishing
- 7 Best Kayak Cockpit Covers Accessories
- 5 Best Kayaks for Kids a Family Test Kayak & Canoe
- 7 Best Kayak Scupper Plugs Tested Accessories
- 6 Best Baitcasting Reels My Test Fishing
- Boat Wax for Scratches Boat
- Anchor for Pontoon Boat Boat
- 6 Best Japanese Fillet Knives I Tested Accessories
- Fish Finders for Crappie Fish Finder
- Fish Finders Under $400 Fish Finder
- 5 Best Fishfinder GPS Combos I Tested Fish Finder
- 6 Best Fishing Float Tubes Kayak & Canoe
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- 5 Best Salmon Filleting Knives Tested Accessories
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How I judge kit
Marine gear is sold on specifications that mean very little once there is wind and chop. These are the questions that decide it.
01
How does it behave loaded?
An empty kayak on flat water tells you nothing. Tracking and stability change completely with gear and a passenger.
02
Is the rating honest?
Thrust, capacity and run time are quoted in ideal conditions. What matters is the number you get in a headwind.
03
What breaks first?
Every piece of kit has one. Knowing it beforehand is worth more than a star rating.
04
Can you fix it yourself?
Parts availability and whether the job needs the boat out of the water.
05
Cost per season
Not sticker price. A cheap battery replaced every year is the expensive one.