Good point about the fuses. Never thought what metal was on the fuses before.  Now I'll have to go check. 

A tip about tires:  replace them every 5-7 years REGARDLESS of remaining tread!  If you store your boat outside, error on the shorter time.  It's UV light that kills the rubber.  Over time, it weakens it.  Then you'll get a bulge, or worse, a blow out....even though there's plenty of tread left on the tires.

It's age, not tread life, that determines when they should be replaced.

Funny U mention the corrosion thing Rob. At the fish in on Saturday, about halfway thru the day I noticed My batteries were goin dead. Well, so I thought.  I have two new batteries that were fully charged that morning; but around noon they seemed to be producing little power. So I had Christy drive me from dock to dock with the big motor. (thanx Christy ) Then all of a sudden around 2 o'clock full power came back to my troller.  So I figured there was a connection issue or something. When I got home, I noticed that blue corrosion you were talkin about. Although it was not on the batteries or the connections visible around the batteries, it was however visible INSIDE the connectors and on the wire inside the connectors. So check your connectors, as well as the obvious connections around the batteries and you shouldn't have this problem. Also check your fuses and their connectors too to be safe. Get yourself some gold plated fuses because they won't corrode; but the copper or brass at the connections will. Wherever two dissimilar types of metal meet are the hot spots for corrosion.

Just some insight
Don't let this happen to you

Some more things I just fixed or noticed on my boat. I installed a fuel/water seperator. If you don't have one, you need one. This new fuel is terrible with water problems. 2 more engines down to water and fuel hose crap in fuel. Check all your connections at your batteries. I just cleaning off that blue corrosion crap that builds up, and it about ate through 2 connectors which I had to replace. Those break on the water and your screwed. Check your trim tab caps. They are the pieces were your trim rods extend out of. They can back off, then your motor presses on them when you trim down and now you have problems. Also grease the ends of your rods. Some Mercs have ball bearings on the end. If those rods mushroom out, they ruin your seals in the down position.

My guess would be the grease could possibly end up in the brake drum? Donno but I would imagine that could cause a problem if that's where it goes. I can see all the other places on my boat and where the grease ends up and I usually have to wipe it off with an ol rag or something. Then I put new grease on but I never see where th wheel grease goes.

Well if the grease disappears, it went out somewhere, which means water can get in. Some probably works itself out, but not causing huge alarm. Not 100% sure on the specific time, but there is  way to tell they are bad for sure. It depends on different factors I'm sure. Saltwater guys need more frequent changes. I don't think you can grease too much for the bearings, maybe the seal in the back but that would be tons of grease. It will come out of the bearing buddy before you hurt something. We load tons of grease around the hub and bearing before installing the wheel and topping off.

I'm not trying to plug for Limit Out or anything, I just really want you guys to learn from some of the guys I have seen with there rigs in there.

How often should U swap out the bearings? And where does all that grease go ? Just askin
I was told to pump enuff grease in until u see the diaphragm move every trip. Not until the diaphragm tops out cuz that puts excessive pressure on the bearings. Is this true? I bet U learned alot there. U could probably write a book on the stuff u learned so I'll keep it simple.....      .....for now.

Good reminder Rob.  Don't overlook the tires.  I caught a bad tire on my trailer last year.  Look at the tread while you are going 5mph, it shouldn't be wobbling side to side 

So after 5 weeks of helping at Limit Out, I have learned several things I have over looked when it comes to maintenance. Filters including fuel/water seperators. If you don't have one, you need to have one installed. Trailer bearings. Routine tune ups. Especially now that the fuel (ethanol) issue has been in play. Water pump impellers. Lower unit lubes. I'm telling you guys, don't sell yourself short or you'll pay in the end. My boat hasn't ran since May and I don't want to see anyone else go down. Get it in and have it done. There are things a good mech will see that you don't and will cause you problems on the water or on the side of the road on your way to the lake.