Guides
Boating Knowledge from the Helm
Outboard maintenance authority and Treasure Coast local boating — written by the shop that's been keeping Vero Beach on the water for 20 years.
Subscribe via RSSYamaha Outboard Maintenance Schedule Guide (Florida Saltwater)
How to follow Yamaha's 100/300/1000-hour maintenance schedule when you run your outboard in Vero Beach saltwater. Built by a 20-year Treasure Coast shop.
100-Hour Outboard Service Checklist
What's actually included in a 100-hour outboard service: oil, filters, plugs, gear lube, anode check, and the Florida-specific items most shops skip.
300-Hour Outboard Service: What Gets Replaced?
Water pump, thermostats, anodes, and a full 100-hour service rolled in. Why the 300-hour interval is the most important service you'll do on an outboard.
1000-Hour Outboard Service: Timing Belts, Valve Adjustment & Fuel Pumps
The 1000-hour service replaces the parts that fail without warning. Here's exactly what we do and why missing it ends in a destroyed powerhead.
How Often Should You Service an Outboard in Florida Saltwater?
The Yamaha schedule says 100 hours or annually. In Florida saltwater you should run a tighter interval — here's the Fox Marine guideline by use pattern.
Signs Your Outboard Water Pump Is Failing
Weak tell-tale, alarm at idle, steam from the cowling — the symptoms boaters miss until the powerhead overheats. What to watch for and what to do.
Outboard Thermostat Problems: Symptoms Boat Owners Miss
Stuck-closed thermostats overheat the powerhead. Stuck-open thermostats kill fuel economy and foul plugs. How to spot the difference.
What Are Zincs/Anodes and When Should You Replace Them?
Sacrificial anodes are the cheapest way to keep saltwater from destroying your lower unit. Here's how often to swap them in the Indian River Lagoon.
Why Your Boat Battery Keeps Dying
Parasitic drain, bad ground, dying alternator, or just heat? How to find why your boat battery won't hold a charge.
Boat Won't Start? Common Outboard Problems in Vero Beach Saltwater
The five most common 'won't start' calls we get from Vero Beach, Sebastian, and Ft. Pierce — and what to check before you call a mechanic.
Best Boat Ramps from Ft. Pierce to Melbourne Beach
The complete Treasure Coast boat-ramp guide — every public ramp from Ft. Pierce Inlet to Melbourne Causeway, with parking, fees, and access notes.
Vero Beach Boat Ramp Guide
Every public boat ramp in Vero Beach — MacWilliam, Riverside, Round Island — with parking, lanes, and what each is best for.
Sebastian Boat Ramp Guide
Sebastian Yacht Club, Donald MacDonald Park, and Sebastian Inlet — where to launch in Sebastian and what each ramp is best for.
Ft. Pierce Boat Ramp Guide
Stan Blum, City Marina, and Causeway Park — the Ft. Pierce ramps locals actually use, with notes on inlet access and parking.
Melbourne & Melbourne Beach Boat Ramp Guide
Front Street Park, Ballard, and the Melbourne Causeway — Melbourne-area ramps and what to know before you launch.
Best Sandbars and Boating Stops Near Vero Beach
Where the locals raft up — the best sandbars, anchorages, and boat-in stops from Vero Beach to Sebastian Inlet.
Where to Launch a Boat Near Sebastian Inlet
Sebastian Inlet ramp, Wabasso Causeway, and Sebastian Yacht Club — the best launches if you're headed for the inlet.
Treasure Coast Hurricane Boat Prep Checklist
Strap-down, haul-out, block, or wet-slip? The hurricane-prep checklist Fox Marine uses with every customer when a named storm enters the Atlantic.
Saltwater Boat Maintenance Tips for the Indian River Lagoon
The lagoon is brackish but corrosive — what to flush, rinse, and inspect after every trip to make your boat last 20 years instead of 8.
Best Public Parks and Beaches for Boaters on the Treasure Coast
Boat-accessible parks and beaches from Ft. Pierce to Melbourne — where to picnic, swim, and beach the boat for the day.
How to Flush Your Outboard After Every Saltwater Run
Step-by-step flush procedure for Yamaha, Mercury, and other outboards run in Indian River Lagoon salt.
Do You Winterize an Outboard in Florida?
Florida boats don't freeze, but they do sit. Here's the off-season prep that actually matters in Vero Beach.
Common Marine Electrical Problems (and How a Shop Diagnoses Them)
Salt + 12V is a brutal combination. The most common electrical failures we see on Treasure Coast center consoles and how we hunt them down.
Repower vs. Rebuild: When to Pull the Trigger on New Engines
An honest cost/benefit breakdown for Treasure Coast boat owners deciding whether to rebuild aging outboards or repower with new.
Best Fishing Spots on the Indian River Lagoon (Vero to Sebastian)
Local picks for snook, redfish, and trout in the lagoon between Vero Beach and Sebastian Inlet.
Boat Trailer Maintenance for Saltwater Use
What corrodes first on Treasure Coast trailers and the cheap fixes that buy you years.
What Treasure Coast Boat Insurance Actually Covers (and Doesn't)
A plain-English read on hurricane named-storm deductibles, agreed-value vs. ACV, and what your survey report should say.
Barnacles, Slime & When to Repaint Your Bottom
Florida bottom-paint reality: how fast growth comes back, what paint we recommend, and when to schedule the haul.
Ethanol Fuel & Florida Outboards: What Actually Goes Wrong
Phase separation, varnished carbs, gummed injectors — what ethanol pump fuel does to outboards on the Treasure Coast and how to prevent it.
Lower-Unit Gear Lube: Why That Milky Color Means Stop Now
How to read your lower-unit gear oil, what causes water intrusion, and the seals we replace before it becomes a $3,000 gearcase rebuild.
Saltwater Corrosion Prevention: What Actually Works on Vero Boats
Anodes, sprays, washdown habits, and the small things that double the life of a Treasure Coast outboard's powerhead and wiring.
Boat Trim Tabs Not Working? Here's the Order We Diagnose Them
Hydraulic and electric (Bennett, Lenco) trim tab troubleshooting from a 20-year Vero Beach shop. The pump, the actuators, the helm switch.
Running Out the Fort Pierce Inlet: What Locals Know
Tide windows, the south jetty shoal, where to fuel up, and the best ramps for trailering a 25–35 ft center console offshore.
Wabasso Causeway: The Underrated Mid-Lagoon Launch
Why Wabasso Causeway is Fox Marine's favorite quiet launch for Indian River Lagoon fishing, sandbar runs, and weekday paddleboarding.
Indian River Lagoon No-Wake & Manatee Zones (Vero to Sebastian)
Where FWC enforces idle-speed and slow-speed zones between Vero Beach and Sebastian Inlet, and how to read the signs before you get a ticket.
Snook, Redfish & Trout: Treasure Coast Season Calendar
Open/closed seasons, slot sizes, and where Fox Marine customers are catching snook, redfish, and trout from Vero to Fort Pierce.