Model Year End Clearance Sale

All our 2013 in stock inventory has been reduced! We will not be undersold! We guarantee the absolute lowest prices on any of our in stock 2013 boats.

We are ready to deal. This is your best opportunity to purchase the new boat you have been thinking about at a price that no other dealer can beat. 

We invite you to stop by our showroom and explore our in stock inventory.

Tips for Winterizing Your Boat and Engine

Winterizing your boat and motor is more than just pulling it out of the water. Winterizing your boat and motor is the most important maintenance you can perform to help ensure safe boating in the spring.

Whether you choose to do it yourself or have Sinclair Marina do it for you, winterizing is the best way to prepare your boat for the season to come. Whether you decide to store your boat inside or outside; much care is needed to protect your boat’s engine.

Here are some basic steps to winterize your marine engine and equipment:

• Fill the fuel tanks and add the appropriate amount of stabilizer. Run the engine long enough to get treated gas into the fuel line and engine. Left untreated over the winter, gasoline deteriorates into varnish and gum, making starting difficult.
• Flush the cooling system. (Flushing kits are available from boat dealers.) Also remove block plugs and drain all the water from inboard and inboard outdrive engines. This cleans out accumulated sediment and rust flakes. Pump in anti-freeze to avoid trapped ice pockets. Use an environmentally safe product to avoid contaminating the marine environment.
• Fog the engine with oil to prevent rust. Available in bulk or aerosol cans, fogging oil is formulated to stick to the cylinders and not slide down the walls. Follow the instructions that come with the product making sure to spray some of the oil into the cylinders through the sparkplug holes once the engine has cooled down. Check the spark plugs and replace them as necessary.
• Replace the oil and oil filter on inboard and inboard outdrive engines. Be sure to dispose of the used oil at an authorized recycling center.
• Change the lower unit gearcase lubricant on outboards and inboard/outdrive engines. Even a little water trapped in the gearcase can cause damage, especially if allowed to freeze.
• Check the props for nicks. Even slight damage can hinder performance. Worse yet, blade damage can cause vibration, damaging other engine parts and the drive system. Some damaged props can be repaired by marine dealers for a fraction of the cost of a new one.
• Store outboards in an upright position. Consider having the water pump impeller replaced every two or three years. The rubber legs can get stiff, reducing water circulation, or they may break off, eliminating coolant flow completely.
• Spray a moisture displacing lubricant such as a silicone product onto electrical terminals and the fuse panel. Read the label to make sure the spray is safe for use on electrical components.
• Inspect steering systems, including tiller steering friction fittings on outboards. Tighten them if they're loose.
• Clean the backfire flame arrester on inboard engines with carburetor cleaner.
• Clean boats inside and out and cover when stored, even indoors. Allow for air circulation under the cover to prevent mildew.
• Drain water from the bilges and leave the transom drain plug out. It's a good idea to place a reminder note in a conspicuous place to avoid embarrassment at the boat ramp next spring.
• Hang life jackets up where they can air out.
• Examine trailer tires and grease the wheel bearings, replacing them as necessary. Check bulbs and electrical contacts on the plugs as well as sockets where the bulbs screw in. Spray contacts with a moisture displacing lubricant and wrap electrical tape around the plugs to keep them dry.
• Put the trailer on blocks and remove the tires to prolong rubber life and hinder boat thieves.
• Check the owners manual for tips that are particular to your own brand of boat, engine and trailer.
  
  
  If you are not comfortable winterizing your boat’s engine, please contact us and schedule your boat’s winterization with one of our qualified marine technicians. Taking time now to get your boat and motor ready for winter means that you can be one of the first boaters out on the water in the spring.
  
  

Fall Fishing and Boating Tips

With Autumn weather comes cooler water temperatures. You may want to take the boat out one last time before putting it away until next boating season. Our friends at BoatUS Foundation has some great fall fishing and boating tips to keep you safe while out on the water.

Sunshine isn’t your friend: Don’t let the sunny day deceive you - while it may be T-shirt weather in the morning at the launch ramp or dock, the weather can change quickly during this time of year. Bring extra clothing to dress in layers and always bring foul weather gear.

Float your plan: The fishing hole of raft-up spot crowds may be gone, but that also means your closest potential rescuers are long gone too. A simple sharing of your float plan with family or friends letting them know where you’re going and when you’ll be back could save valuable time in locating you if something happens.

Murphy likes you: Does your boat have any lingering maintenance issues? This isn’t the time of year to find out. Ensure any problems - engine, fuel, charging systems, or safety issues such as navigation lights - are fixed before you go.

I’ve fallen and I can’t get up: A simple fall overboard can kill this time of year. Hypothermia is a real threat. By wearing your life jacket, if you do find yourself accidentally over the side you will float and have time to get back aboard, preferably with a knotted or looped rope attached to the gunnel or ladder that be reached from the water. If you’d like to see just how hard it is to get back in a boat, go to www.BoatUS.com/foundation/boardingladders.

Don’t leave without me: If you are alone and fall out, will the boat keep going? It won’t run away if you had your engine cutoff lanyard attached to you or use another type of shutdown device.

8 Fall Boating Tips

Are you planning on taking in the change of colors from your boat? 

Fall boating can be a relaxing and family fun experience on the water. But it can also be dangerous if you do not make your safety and those of your passengers, your number one priority.

Here are eight fall boating safety tips:

Update Charts

Keep in mind the helpful landmarks that you relied on during the summer to help point out shallow sections of the water that may look different due to the fall weather changes. You may be cruising home in the dark more often, making those landmarks hard to spot. Also, keep in mind that local and private aids to navigation such as channel markers and buoys may be pulled early in some areas, so make sure your charts, either electronic or paper, are up-to-date.

Check Lights and Flares

Always ensure your boat’s navigation lights are in working order and that your emergency flares are not expired. Waterproof flashlights are also great to have and some spare batteries as well. In case of an emergency, a flashlight can be used to signal for help.

Carry a VHF Radio

During the fall, the waterways will be less crowded. This can be peaceful, but in case you run into trouble, chances are you may not see another boater. A VHF radio can be used to call for help in areas where your cell phone may have no signal.

Dress in Layers

Remember to dress for the water, not the weather. The sun may be shining but water temperatures are cooler. The days are becoming shorter and with that comes rapid changes in air temperature from day to night. Dressing comfortably in layers that can be easily removed or added. Bring along some rain gear. Fast moving storms can come on suddenly and bring sudden temperature drops. Also, make sure your lifejacket (PFD), can fit over your layers. You want to make sure you’re comfortable and not tempted to take it off. It’s also a good idea to check the weather so you know what to expect.

Wear a Life Jacket

According to the U.S. Coast Guard’s Data, your chance of drowning in a boating accident while wearing a lifejacket is 1 in 66; not wearing a lifejacket is 1 in 11. Even though, only children under 13 are required to wear them, it’s always a good idea for everyone aboard to wear a life jacket, regardless of age. There are even some life jackets that come with lights so in case of an emergency, rescuers can locate you in the water. Also, as water temperatures start to drop, boaters that may accidentally fall overboard run into an increased risk of hypothermia, and for those who want to enjoy the water but don’t know how to swim, a life jacket can save their life.

Boater’s Float Plan

Always inform a family member or friend of your float plan. Protect yourself and your passengers because you never know what may happen while out on the water. A float plan includes a description of your boat, who is onboard, any medical conditions they may have, a description of the safety equipment you are carrying, your itinerary, and your emergency contacts. It’s just not enough to tell, text or post a note on the refrigerator letting someone know that you’ll be back before dark. A float plan is vital in an event of an emergency because it provides rescuers the information needed to locate and assist you.

Check Your Boat

Do an inspection of your boat’s engine, communications, and safety gear to make sure everything is in working order. Keep up with your boat’s maintenance so you don’t run into any unexpected mechanical problems while out on the water.

Leave Alcohol at Home

Remember that alcoholic drinks drain your body of heat, bringing on hypothermia much sooner than during the warmer summer months. So leave the alcoholic beverages at home to enjoy when you get back.

What other fall boating safety precautions do you take?