The Wire
Stories from across the boating world.
Walkthroughs, boat show coverage, and the guides that make owning a boat easier, reported by the Nautical Network team.
OwnershipNovember 5, 2026
Boat Batteries in Winter: Store Them Right or Buy New Ones in Spring
More marine batteries die over the winter than on the water. The difference between four seasons and one is what happens between November and April.
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OwnershipNovember 3, 2026
Winterizing Your Boat Engine: The Right Order of Operations
Most winterization damage comes from doing the right steps in the wrong order. Here is the sequence that protects the fuel system, the block, and the spring startup.
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OwnershipSeptember 28, 2026
Winterizing the Engine, Properly: What a Full Service Actually Includes
What a real winterization covers, from stabilized fuel and fogging oil to antifreeze and gear lube, how the job differs by engine type, and where the DIY line sits.
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OwnershipSeptember 28, 2026
Shrink-Wrap, Indoor Storage, or Staying In the Water: The Real Winter Tradeoffs
The honest differences between shrink-wrapped outdoor storage, indoor racks, and wintering in the slip: moisture, ventilation, battery access, and what each choice asks of you.
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OwnershipSeptember 27, 2026
Hurricane Prep for Boat Owners: Write the Plan Before the Cone Shows Up
Haul or stay, doubled lines, stripped canvas, and the insurance fine print: the hurricane decisions Florida boat owners should make in May, not at the storm briefing.
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OwnershipSeptember 27, 2026
The Fall Haul-Out Checklist: Everything Between the Last Cruise and Winter Sleep
A working checklist for haul-out day and the week after: what to inspect while the hull is dripping, which systems to put to bed, and what to book now so spring goes smoothly.
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OwnershipSeptember 27, 2026
Taking the Boat South for Winter: The Snowbird Playbook
Truck transport, a captained ICW delivery, or running it south yourself: what each option really involves, plus the insurance clause every snowbird should read before casting off.
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OwnershipSeptember 26, 2026
E10 and Your Marine Engine: Phase Separation, Storage, and Stabilizer Habits
Why the same gas your truck burns happily can wreck a boat engine: what E10 does in a vented marine tank, how phase separation works, and the habits that prevent it.
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OwnershipSeptember 26, 2026
The ICW Southbound: A First-Timer's Guide to the Fall Migration
The route from Mile 0 in Norfolk to Florida in broad strokes, when the fall fleet moves, the bridge clearance numbers that matter, and the Carolina service stops worth knowing.
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OwnershipSeptember 26, 2026
Batteries Over the Winter: Storage Charging Done Right
Tender or disconnect, aboard or at home, and why lithium wants different treatment than AGM: a plain guide to putting marine batteries away so they wake up healthy in spring.
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OwnershipSeptember 25, 2026
Marine Batteries, Explained: Starting vs Deep Cycle, and Why Boats Eat Them
Starting, deep cycle, or dual purpose; flooded, AGM, or lithium. A plain-words guide to picking marine batteries and keeping them alive in Florida heat.
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OwnershipSeptember 25, 2026
Winter Is Refit Season: Projects Worth Doing While the Boat Sleeps
Electronics, canvas, and gelcoat work all fit neatly into the months the boat sits idle, and northern pros have quieter calendars in winter. How to plan the off-season refit.
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OwnershipSeptember 25, 2026
Lay-Up Insurance in Plain Words: What Winter Lay-Up Periods Actually Mean
What a lay-up period is in a boat policy, why using the boat inside one is a real problem, and the agreed value reminder worth checking at renewal. Educational only, talk to your agent.
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OwnershipSeptember 24, 2026
Bottom Paint in Florida Water: Ablative vs Hard, and When to Start Over
How ablative and hard antifouling paints actually work, what Florida water does to both, when a bottom needs stripping and barrier coat, and why your diver's report is gold.
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OwnershipSeptember 23, 2026
Propellers in Plain Words: Pitch, Diameter, and What a Dinged Blade Costs You
What prop pitch and diameter actually mean, what a sandbar ding does to performance and your gearcase, aluminum vs stainless, and when to repair instead of replace.
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OwnershipSeptember 23, 2026
Boat Clubs vs Ownership vs Fractional: The Honest Comparison
How clubs, fractional shares, and full ownership actually differ, the availability and flexibility trade-offs nobody advertises, and the questions to ask before signing any of the three.
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OwnershipSeptember 23, 2026
The Winter Project List: Upgrades Boaters Regret Not Doing
The off-season upgrades owners wish they had done sooner, from an anchor windlass and a lithium house bank to lighting, sound, and new canvas, and why winter is when good shops have time.
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OwnershipSeptember 22, 2026
Bilge Pumps, Float Switches, and the Coast Guard Safety Short List
Your bilge pump is smaller than you think and your float switch is the weak link. The dewatering setup worth having, plus the USCG-required equipment list, verified.
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OwnershipSeptember 21, 2026
Winterizing a Boat in Florida: What Actually Matters in a No-Freeze State
Florida boats skip the antifreeze, not the off-season checklist. What fuel, batteries, growth, and covers need when the boat sits, plus the North Florida cold-snap exception.
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OwnershipSeptember 20, 2026
Boat Trailer Maintenance: Bearings, Brakes, Lights, and the Saltwater Dunk
Your trailer gets dunked in saltwater and left in the sun, then asked to carry your boat at highway speed. Here is what bearings, brakes, lights, and tires need, plus a pre-trip checklist.
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OwnershipSeptember 19, 2026
The Florida Boat Maintenance Calendar: A Year-Round Rhythm That Works
Florida boats run all twelve months, so maintenance has to run on a rhythm, not a season. The monthly beat, the engine-hours clock, and what belongs in spring, summer, and the quiet months.
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OwnershipSeptember 18, 2026
What a Boat Really Costs per Year: The Honest Categories
The purchase price is the entry fee. An honest look at the recurring lines, storage, insurance, maintenance, fuel, and the surprise, and why the ranges depend on your boat and your region.
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OwnershipSeptember 17, 2026
Marine Corrosion Basics: Galvanic vs. Stray Current, and When to Call a Pro
Your boat sits in an electrolyte. How galvanic corrosion differs from stray current, what bonding and shore power have to do with it, and the warning signs that mean call a marine electrician.
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OwnershipSeptember 16, 2026
Boat Storage in Florida: Wet Slip, Dry Stack, or Trailer at Home
Where your boat lives decides half its maintenance and most of its hurricane plan. What wet slips, dry stacks, and home trailers each really mean for a Florida owner.
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