Before we get into it, one honest note up front: this page is a general privacy policy template for Small Boat Wrench, an independent publisher of DIY small boat maintenance guides. It is not legal advice, and it is not a substitute for having a qualified attorney review your situation.

Small Boat Wrench is not a dealer, manufacturer or marine shop, and we have no affiliation with Mercury, Yamaha, Suzuki, Evinrude, Johnson, Tohatsu, Honda or any other brand. This policy explains, in plain terms, what data this site handles and what you can do about it.

The basics

Which data we collect

Like most websites, we handle two kinds of data: information you give us directly, and information your browser hands over automatically when you load a page.

Data you give us directly includes your email address and the contents of your message when you write to us, for example through a contact form or by emailing [email protected]. If you sign up for a newsletter, that is your email address too.

Data your browser shares automatically can include your IP address, browser type, device type, approximate location derived from that IP address, pages you visit, how long you stay, and the page that sent you here. This is the same technical chatter every website sees, nothing exotic.

We do not ask for, and do not want, sensitive data. Do not send us health information, financial account numbers or government IDs. If you email us about a stuck shift linkage on a 1998 Johnson 15, the engine serial number is fine, your Social Security number is not.

That is the short version. The sections below walk through why we use that data, the legal basis for it, how long we keep it, and the rights you have, in the same plain language we use for a water pump impeller swap.

Why we use it

Purposes of processing

We use the data described above for a small number of practical purposes.

Answering you. If you email us with a question about winterizing a carbureted Mercury 9.9 four-stroke, we use your email address to reply. That is the whole trick.

Running and improving the site. Technical data like page views, load times and error reports tells us which guides help people and which pages are broken or slow.

Newsletters, if you signed up. We only send these to people who asked for them, and every message includes an unsubscribe link.

Security and abuse prevention. Server logs help us spot spam, scraping and attacks, and keep the site standing.

Legal obligations. If a law or a valid legal request requires us to keep or hand over certain records, we comply, and only to the extent required.

The legal footing

US privacy law is a patchwork of state laws rather than one single rulebook. Where the GDPR applies, meaning for visitors in the EU and EEA, we rely on the following legal bases, and we apply the same common-sense approach to everyone.

Consent. For optional things like newsletters and non-essential cookies, we ask first. You can withdraw consent at any time, and withdrawing it does not undo anything that already happened.

Legitimate interest. For running, securing and improving the site, we rely on our legitimate interest in keeping a useful, working publication online, balanced against your privacy.

Contract or pre-contractual steps. If you contact us about something specific, we process your message to respond to you.

Legal obligation. Where the law requires us to retain or disclose data, that requirement is the basis.

How long it stays

Retention periods

We keep data only as long as it serves the purpose it was collected for, then it is deleted or anonymized.

Because this is a general template, we do not list fixed retention periods here. The concrete periods depend on the systems and providers actually in use, and they should be filled in and reviewed before this policy is published as final.

As a working principle: email conversations are kept as long as needed to handle your question and any follow-up, server logs are rotated on a short cycle, and newsletter data is removed promptly after you unsubscribe. Longer retention only happens where a legal obligation requires it.

Your rights

Your rights as a data subject

Depending on where you live, you have some or all of the following rights over your personal data.

The right to know what data we hold about you and to get a copy of it.

The right to correct inaccurate data.

The right to have your data deleted, subject to legal retention obligations.

The right to restrict or object to certain processing, including processing based on legitimate interest.

The right to data portability, meaning a copy of your data in a usable format.

The right to withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent, and the right not to be penalized for exercising any of these rights.

To use any of these rights, email [email protected]. We may need to verify your identity before acting, so we do not hand your data to a stranger. If you are in the EU or EEA, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

Small files

Cookies

Cookies are small text files your browser stores on your device. Think of them like the grease pencil mark on a cowling: a small note so the next step goes faster.

Strictly necessary cookies make the site function at all, for example remembering your cookie preference. These do not require consent.

Functional cookies remember choices you make, like display preferences.

Analytics cookies, if used, help us understand which guides get read and where people drop off, so we can fix what is confusing.

Advertising or tracking cookies, if used at all, are only set after you have given consent through the cookie banner.

You can change or withdraw your cookie choices at any time through the cookie settings on the site, and you can clear cookies in your browser whenever you like. Blocking some cookies may affect how parts of the site behave.

Reach out

Contact and questions

Questions about this policy, or a request to exercise your rights? Email us at [email protected].

Small Boat Wrench is an independent publisher. We are not a dealer, manufacturer or marine shop, and we have no affiliation with Mercury, Yamaha, Suzuki, Evinrude, Johnson, Tohatsu, Honda or any other brand. Data you send us is handled by us, not by any engine maker.

One last straight answer, same as we would give about a worn impeller: this template should be reviewed and completed by a legal professional before you rely on it. Laws differ by state and country, and a template is a starting point, not a finished repair.