Boat Tune-up Help!!

[PeteV]

I could use your Help.
For the area around Concord, Acton, Lowell, Bedford/Burlington.
Could any of you folks recommend a place I could bring my boat (17' with Johnson outboard) to have the fluids, oil & plugs checked.

Thanks for your help.
Pete

[iluvgear]

If the boat is on a trailer and the motor is a two stroke it is easier to do it yourself than it is to take it somewhere. The only fluid in a two stroke is the lower unit oil and changing spark plugs is slightly more difficult than changing a light bulb. If you are not mechanically inclined this is a perfect place to start to learn. To change to lower unit oil you need a drain pan, screw drier, lube pump and oil. To change plugs you need new plugs, a gap guage and a spark plug wrench. I'll assume you have a screw driver and the rest of the required tools cost less than $20. Even for a first timer it will take less than an hour. Everyone has concerns when doing something for the first time but this is very, very simple.

[PeteV]

Thanks... I am a first timer. I just didn't want to forget anything. I was hoping to learn how to do it myself so It maybe a smart use of time is to read up on the procedure and then give it a try.

I was thinking about bringing it into a shop just to establish a working baseline.