We love blue tape. It is helpful for labeling and reminding you of important items to track and monitor. In this Offshore Cruising tip called “Analog Gauges”, Jeff recommends using blue tape to help you mark your gauges for quick verification that all is well. Analog gauges have needle indicators that move to and remain in a safe operating “normal” position once they are warmed up and running. By marking the “normal” needle location with blue tape, you can quickly check that your gauges are where they should be. If you start running hot, losing voltage or oil pressure you have a simple pre-alarm warning. This same tip can be used for main engine analog gauges. Simply cut blue tape into small triangles and mark the normal needle locations for voltage, oil pressure, and coolant. This practice can be used for all of your analog gauges including proper pressure points for steering, fresh water, etc. A swift glance lets you verify your status. To learn more about safe travel at sea, please consider signing up for “Offshore Cruising – Preparing Craft and Crew” and you will learn why it has become one of the most popular classes Boaters University has ever offered. JMYS is proud to partner with Boaters University and we truly believe this course will be a huge help for all boaters who desire to and/or enjoy traveling offshore. To log in and sign up for the course, please go to this link, https://www.boatersuniversity.com/courses/offshore-cruising/?omhide=true JMYS clients can insert the discount code JEFFSAVES at check out to receive a 20% discount. Thank you for watching this special tip video, we welcome your comments. Please visit our website: https://www.JMYS.com Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeffmerrillyachtsales/?fref=nf Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/merrillyachts Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jmystrawlers/ To get in touch with Jeff Merrill: Mobile +1 949.355.4950 | Email Jeff@JMYS.com

You can sign up for Jeff’s Offshore Cruising course by going to https://www.boatersuniversity.com/ This Offshore Cruising Tip is called, “Through hulls”. Through hulls are vital operational features that every boat owner needs to understand. Many owners take through hulls for granted and don’t give them much thought. We’d like to encourage you to remember their vital roles. We recommend that you identify the location and purpose of each through hull on your boat. As part of your check lists and routines we suggest you test regularly and make sure each through hull is working – it can be freely opened and closed. When they aren’t used, they can “freeze” or become stubborn. Through hulls that supply raw water to strainers seem to get more service since they are closed off to clean out the strainers, then re-opened. Other through hulls, like deck drains, are rarely adjusted since they are almost always left open. “Exercising” through hulls keeps them active and ready. One tip we recommend is using a PVC pipe as a “long reach” to check those through hulls tucked away outboard and also as a “persuader” that can give you the extra leverage you need to nudge a through hull that has become stiff due to lack of use. Never force a through hull, you could break it and open the flow of water. It is a good practice to have soft wooden bungs and a soft blow hammer nearby to plug a broken through hull and stop the inflow of raw water. If your boat is hauled out you can be a bit more aggressive, but if they are really stuck, they may need to be disassembled or replaced. To learn more about preparing for safe cruising, we invite you to sign up for “Offshore Cruising – Preparing Craft and Crew” and learn why it has become one of the most popular classes offered. To log in and sign up for the course, please go to this link, https://www.boatersuniversity.com/courses/offshore-cruising/?omhide=true JMYS clients can insert the discount code JEFFSAVES at check out to receive a 20% discount. JMYS is proud to partner with Boaters University and we hope that you will sign up to take the course. We truly believe this course will be a huge help for all boaters who wish to travel offshore. Thank you for watching this special tip video, we welcome your comments. Please visit our website: https://www.JMYS.com Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeffmerrillyachtsales/?fref=nf Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/merrillyachts Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jmystrawlers/ To get in touch with Jeff Merrill: Mobile +1 949.355.4950 | Email Jeff@JMYS.com

You can sign up for Jeff’s Offshore Cruising course by going to https://www.boatersuniversity.com/ In February of 2019, Jeff spent three intense days in Jacksonville, FL to film a new Boaters University course. The result is a very comprehensive series of video clips to watch and documents to download. The online curriculum offered by Boaters University includes a series of video courses taught by well-known marine industry personalities who specialize in different fields. “Offshore Cruising – Preparing Craft and Crew” was created to help sailors and power boaters better understand how to get ready and what to expect before traveling offshore. During the filming of lessons, the film crew asked Jeff to shoot a couple of “teaser shorts” to explain some helpful tips for cruising boaters and give a taste of what to expect from the entire series. This Offshore Cruising Tip is called, “Labeling Your Boat”. As you become more familiar with your boat, you quickly realize there is a seemingly endless number of components, equipment and details to keep track of. To help you better understand and remember what everything is (and what is normal), we recommend that you arm yourself with a roll of blue tape and a permanent ink pen (Sharpie) to inventory and prepare a reminder label for crucial components. By creating simple identifiers – what it is, normal settings, what to monitor – you will become more aware of your boat and therefore become more in tune with safe operations and proper performance. Jeff’s clients like to tease him about the contagious amount of blue tape that he normally plasters all over and affectionately refer to it as “Merrill Pox”. You may be surprised how quickly you will appreciate these friendly reminders. This basic procedure to identify and monitor equipment is the foundation of “Dialing-in-your-boat.” Over time you can upgrade the blue tape labels with more professional looking label maker stickers. To learn more about preparing for safe cruising, we invite you to sign up for “Offshore Cruising – Preparing Craft and Crew” and learn why it has become one of the most popular classes offered. To log in and sign up for the course, please go to this link, https://www.boatersuniversity.com/courses/offshore-cruising/?omhide=true JMYS clients can insert the discount code JEFFSAVES at check out to receive a 20% discount. JMYS is proud to partner with Boaters University and we hope that you will sign up to take the course. We truly believe this course will be a huge help for all boaters who wish to travel offshore. Thank you for watching this special tip video, we welcome your comments. Please visit our website: https://www.JMYS.com Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeffmerrillyachtsales/?fref=nf Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/merrillyachts Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jmystrawlers/ To get in touch with Jeff Merrill: Mobile +1 949.355.4950 | Email Jeff@JMYS.com

You can sign up for Jeff’s Offshore Cruising course by going to https://www.boatersuniversity.com/ In February of 2019, Jeff spent three intense days in Jacksonville, FL to film a new Boaters University course. The result is a very comprehensive series of video clips to watch and documents to download. All of these are designed to help prepare sailors and power boaters who wish to travel offshore. During the filming of lessons, the film crew asked Jeff to shoot a couple of “teaser shorts” to explain a helpful tip for cruising boaters. This Offshore Cruising Tip is about Centering Your Helm and reminds you the importance of knowing your steering wheel position and rudder angle before you depart the dock. Boaters University offers a varied curriculum with instruction taught by well know marine industry personalities who specialize in different fields. JMYS is proud to partner with Boaters University and hope that you will sign up to take the course if you plan to do some cruising offshore. JMYS clients are able to use the discount code JEFFSAVES at check out when you subscribe to get a 20% discount. To log in and sign up for the Offshore Cruising course, go to this link, https://www.boatersuniversity.com/courses/offshore-cruising/?omhide=true When you go to the checkout to pay be sure to include the discount code. Thanks for watching this special tip video. We truly believe this course will be a huge help all boaters who wish to take their boats offshore. Please visit our website: https://www.JMYS.com Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeffmerrillyachtsales/?fref=nf Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/merrillyachts Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jmystrawlers/