Featured Tips
1

Boat Buying Advice

best boat to buy for a cottage on a lake or river

Buying a used boat, motor, and trailer requires extensive research and some careful planning. While most sellers are honest, it is important to protect yourself and ensure the transaction goes smoothly. Read the full tip »

2

Boat Maintenance in Spring

Spring checklist for boat maintenance.

Basic maintenance in the spring ensures a problem-free boating season.
A boat-maintenance checklist is a good start to keeping the boats clean and in good condition. Read the full tip »

3

Wildlife Problems and Solutions

Porcupine

Raccoons, porcupines, beavers, mice, deer, bats, and bears can make life at the cottage a bit more challenging and sometimes even dangerous. Read the full tip »

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Popular Tips

On The Water »

Boat Motor Sank: Now What?

[20 Jul 2021 ]

2-cycle boat motor
When the outboard motor gets fully submerged people often think the boat engine is ruined. That’s not necessarily the case. In fact, a few simple tricks can get your outboard motor running again after it sinks to the bottom of the lake. Read the full tip »

About The Finances »

10 Ways to Work from the Cottage

[28 Dec 2020 ]

How to work from the cottage

Cottage owners would love to work from the cabin. The pandemic has made this possible for those who can telecommute on a permanent basis, but many people don’t have that option.

Here is a list of other ways you can potentially retire early and still work and earn money from side gigs while living at the lake house. Read the full tip »

In The Woods »

8 Tips to Store Firewood

[15 Nov 2020 ]

firewood storage tips
Proper storage keeps the firewood in good condition so that we can always enjoy a great fire when it gets cold at the cottage. Read the full tip »

On The Water »

Boat Motor Won’t Start: Top Tips to Find out Why and Fix the Problem

[30 Oct 2020 ]

boat motor won't start

What do you do when the boat motor won’t start?

Boat motors have a lot of parts but there are a few simple things to check when trouble first arises.  Most of the time you can solve a basic issue yourself and avoid the inconvenience and expenses of taking the motor to a repair shop. Read the full tip »

On The Water »

10 Steps to Winterize the Boat Motor

[29 Oct 2020 ]

how to winterize a boat motor

Winterizing the boat motor is easy and shouldn’t take much time. In addition, proper boat motor maintenance in the fall will make sure the boat engine is ready to go first thing in the spring. Read the full tip »

In The Woods »

Firewood Tips: How to Split Wood

[28 Oct 2020 ]

how to split wood with an axe

Knowing how to properly split wood with an axe saves time, energy, and frustration at the cottage. A few simple tricks can make the difference between a productive afternoon of splitting wood and one that leaves you wishing you had a mechanical wood splitter. Read the full tip »

On The Water »

Boat Trailer Checklist: 10 Essential Tips to Avoid Trailer Trouble

[13 Oct 2020 ]

Boat Trailer checklist

The boat trailer spends most of its life sitting in a field or stuck beside the house. Working through a quick checklist ensures the trailer is in good condition before we need to hit the road. Read the full tip »

In The Cottage »

How to Update Old Furniture at the Cottage

[30 Sep 2020 ]

How to restore old furniture

Chairs and sofas take a beating at the cottage and often need a bit of care, or even a full-blown restoration. How can you give the cottage furniture a new look without spending too much money? Read the full tip »

Maintenance »

Closing Tip: How to Winterize the Outdoor Equipment

[15 Sep 2020 ]

lawnmower maintenance

The cottage lawnmower, chainsaw, trimmer and other maintenance equipment often get neglected during the rush to close the cottage for the winter. Read the full tip »

Maintenance »

Closing Tip: How to Drain the Hot Water Tank

[11 Sep 2020 ]

cottage water tank

Draining the cottage hot water tank is an essential step when closing the cabin for the winter. Winterizing the water heater properly will help avoid a nasty surprise when you open the cottage next spring. Read the full tip »

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