Boating How-to Articles & Guides
For over 25 years, Go2marine Boating How-To Articles & Guides has been a trusted online resource for boaters of all experience levels. Whether you're searching for the right replacement part or looking to enhance your time on the water, their extensive library of expert-written content is here to help. The Go2marine team includes seasoned boaters, certified mechanics, and both commercial and recreational fishing professionals, all dedicated to sharing practical knowledge and real-world advice to improve your boating and outdoor adventures.
Anchor, Docking, & Mooring
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Anchor Chain Sizing: G4 vs G7 vs HT (Which Grade for Your Boat?)
What is the difference between G4, G7, and HT anchor chain?
In practice, there is no difference between G4 and HT. G4, G40, G43, and HT are all nam...
Marine Deck Fittings Explained: Types, Uses & Installation Considerations
Your boat's deck is a working surface, and everything mounted on it either keeps you safe, keeps your lines organized, or keeps water where it bel...
The Art of Soft Landings: Fenders, Bumpers, and Dock Edging
Docking is the most stressful part of the day. Wind, current, and a crowded marina can turn a relaxing trip into a gelcoat-crunching disaster.
The ...
Boat Cabin, Galley, & Seats
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Boat Captain Chairs vs Helm Seats: How to Choose and Mount the Right Seat
Introduction
If you have shopped for boat captain chairs and helm seats, you have probably noticed the two terms used for what looks like the same ...
Marine Heater Systems Explained: Diesel, Propane & Solid Fuel Options
There is nothing worse than waking up on your boat and feeling cold air inside the cabin. The windows are wet with condensation, your hands feel st...
Boat Cabin Essentials: Cooking, Lighting & Comfort Accessories for Life on the Water
Imagine pulling into a quiet cove after a full day on the water. The anchor is down. The sun is setting. Now comes the real question: Is your cabin...
Boat Covers & Canopies
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Bimini Tops for Boats: How to Choose the Right Size, Frame & Fabric
A bimini top is a collapsible canvas canopy mounted on your boat to provide shade from the sun and protection from light rain. Choosing the right o...
The Ultimate Guide to LaPorte Products T-Top Boat Covers
When it comes to protecting your boat, nothing beats the quality and durability of LaPorte Products T-Top Boat Covers. In this post, we'll explore the different fabric types used in LaPorte's covers, the types of boats they accommodate, the warranty details, and a brief history of the company.
Electric Bimini Tops
Enjoy your boat even if it starts to rain or the sun is beating down on you. How? Just a push of a button and you're covered by a beautiful bimini top. Or uncovered if it's more sun you want. In this post we show you the literal ups and downs of electric bimini tops, and more.
Boat Engine Parts
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Marine Alternator Explained: Signs of Failure, Sizing a Replacement & Top Brands Compared
A marine alternator converts mechanical energy from your boat’s engine into the electrical power that charges your battery bank and runs your onboa...
Boat Trim Tabs Explained: How They Work, Sizing Guide & Bennett vs Lenco Compared
Trim tabs are adjustable metal plates mounted on your boat's transom that control the hull's running angle while underway. Lowering the tabs lifts ...
Marine Electrical Safety: Alternators, Switches, and Shore Power
Electricity and water don't mix. But electricity and gasoline fumes are even worse.
This is why the number one rule of marine electrical is Ignitio...
Boat Lights & Electical Systems
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Best Handheld VHF Marine Radios for 2026: Floating, GPS and DSC Compared
The best handheld VHF marine radio for 2026 is the one whose features match how you boat. For most U.S. boaters that means a floating design, a ...
Marine Electrical Panels and DC Systems: Power Distribution and Safety Explained
Your marine electrical system is one of the most critical safety systems on your boat. At the center of that system are marine electrical panels, w...
Best Emergency LED Boat Flares
When an emergency strikes on the water, being seen is crucial. LED boat flares are a safe, reliable alternative to traditional pyrotechnic flares, ensuring visibility for other boaters and the Coast Guard.
Boat Maintenance
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How to Choose the Right Marine Grill for Your Boat
For most boats, propane is the most popular fuel. It's small, lights fast, handles wind well, and is easy to store, using either throwaway one-poun...
How to Choose and Size an Anchor Windlass
Size an anchor windlass by the weight of your gear. Add up the weight of your anchor, chain, and rope. That total should be less than the windlass'...
Boat Trailer Roller Replacement: Types, Sizing, and Step-by-Step Install
Introduction
Worn boat trailer rollers are easy to ignore until they crack, flat-spot, or seize, and then they stop supporting the hull and start s...
Boat Plumbing & Pumps
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Which Jabsco HotShot Model Should You Choose?
When the day is over and the fish are cleaned, a HotShot washdown pump turns what used to be an hour of scrubbing into a few minutes of spraying—so you can spend more time on the water and less time cleaning up afterward.
Bilge Pump Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Size, Type & Brand for Your Boat
Choosing the right bilge pump depends on your boat’s length, bilge depth, and how the vessel is used. Most boats under 26 feet need 1,000–1,500 GPH...
Boat Plumbing Systems Explained: Marine Faucets, Toilets, Hose & Washdown Pumps
Let's Be Honest: Nobody Thinks About Plumbing Until It Breaks
You're out on the water, everything's perfect, and then the head starts smelling like...
Boat Streering & Drives
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How to Choose and Replace a Boat Steering Wheel
Picking a boat steering wheel comes down to three things: the right size for your helm and steering type, a spoke style and material that holds up ...
How to Size Boat Oars: A Length and Fit Guide
To size boat oars, measure the space between your oarlock sockets, divide by two, and add two inches. That gives you the "loom" length, the part of...
SeaStar vs Uflex Hydraulic Steering: Which One Belongs on Your Boat?
Putting a new engine on the back, moving up from cable steering, or swapping out a worn helm? Two names keep coming up: SeaStar and Uflex. Both mak...
Recreational Fishing
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Commercial Fishing Supplies Explained: Shrimping Gear, Crab Pots and Pullers
Commercial fishing supplies are the working tools behind shrimp and crab fisheries across the United States. From Gulf shrimp boats to Alaska crab ...
Save Your Back: The Ultimate Guide to Crab and Shrimp Pot Pullers
If you are shrimping in 400 feet of water, pulling pots by hand isn't sport; it's torture. To limit out on spot prawns or Dungeness crab without bl...
Rigging for the Haul: Downriggers, Gaffs, and Pro Rods
There is fishing, and then there is catching. The difference is usually depth control and reliable gear.
At Go2Marine, we stock the hard-to-find co...
Fishing Apparel & Life Jackets
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Types of Life Jackets and PFDs: The Complete USCG Guide for U.S. Boaters
Every person on a recreational boat in the United States must have a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD on board. The right choice depends on where y...
Why Industry Pros Are Switching to Tahma Boots
The New Standard for Grip, Comfort & Durability
Whether you’re hauling gear in the Bering Sea, deep‑cleaning tanks in a brewery, navigating w...
Survival Science: Inflatable PFDs vs. Foam Vests
The days of the bulky, uncomfortable "orange horse collar" are over. Modern Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) are designed so you forget you are we...