If your computer use and skills fall into the home or work user category, all the hype over "virtualization" has probably gone mostly unnoticed. If you've heard the term at all, it's likely been in the context of something your company is doing with their servers, or perhaps something that a geek friend was fiddling around with. But virtual machines- essentially, complete and independent virtual computers existing within the operating system you're familiar with- can be an incredibly useful tool for home users as well.

Crawling around an engine bay, trying to reach some deeply buried component with three flex fittings on a socket wrench, is nobody's idea of a good time.

Thankfully, at least a handful of production boat builders have recognized this, and offer reasonably good access to the critical bits of the sterndrive system's prime mover.  Still, it seems there will always be a few that insist you hire a double-jointed 8-year-old with the mechanical skills of a Formula One pit crew just to change a spark plug.