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Some boaters will spend two hours fixing a doodad they could have bought new for two bucks. Or they'll waste time trying to fix something that just can't be properly repaired. If you fit into this category, it's time you learn when to cut your losses. If one of these five problems pops up on your boat, leave the tools in the shed and reach for your wallet instead.
1. Cracked or Leaky Fuel Lines
Fuel lines that are exposed to direct sunlight have a limited lifespan, and after five or six years, they crack or leak. Sure, it's tempting to cut out the offending section and barb-and-clamp the line back together. But once one crack appears, more are sure to follow. Considering how dangerous a fuel leak can be, it's not worth messing with. Buy a new hose. If you have an outboard, replace the entire assembly. Why fix one piece of it, when you know the rest is as aged as the section that went bad?
2. Sticky Thermostats
Thermostats are easy to identify, remove, and clean, so when they fail it's common for boaters to pop them out and try fix to them. But once they fail, it's likely they'll fail again. Next time it might not be so easy to fix, which can be a real problem if you're miles from the marina. Plus, thermostats have a limited lifetime and are cheap to replace. If you've already taken it out, just replace the entire unit.
