Top 10 Essential Boating Accessories

Being a safe and responsible boater is like being a good boy scout – it all comes down to being prepared. Apart from the basic safety equipment that the Coast Guard requires all boats to have on board, you’ll not want to leave the dock without these 10 boating essentials onboard.

Extra Dock Line

Isn’t it always the way – you arrive at the dock, you go to tie up and the rope breaks, leaving you with two short ends, neither of which is long enough to really do the job. Wouldn’t life be so much easier if you could just reach into a storage locker and whip out a fresh new dock line, solving your problem in seconds?

Dock lines are cheap, and they don’t take up much space. There’s honestly no excuse to not carry a couple of spares somewhere on board.

Tool Kit

One of the best investments you can ever make, a compact tool kit should be standard equipment on every boat. You can buy pre-made kits, or create your own – in either case make sure you have a good selection of basic tools, like a hammer, various screwdrivers, a socket set, a portable saw, pliers and wire cutters. Then add basic supplies, like electrical tape, duct tape, replacement fuses in all the sizes you need (don’t forget the lights on your trailer), some twist ties, various sizes of plastic tie wraps, heavy cord and a selection of screws, nuts and bolts.

If you’re equipped, you can deal with small problems right on the spot and get back to enjoying yourself. Otherwise, you risk allowing even a small issue to potentially ruin your weekend – or someone else’s.

First Aid Kit

It seems obvious, but it is astounding how many boats do not have even the most basic first aid kit onboard. If that’s you, just go buy one and be done with it.

Bottled Water

Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink? That could be you, if you have a mechanical problem and wind up being out there longer than you planned. Always tuck a few water bottles away somewhere on board. You’ll be amazed how often you use them.

Sunscreen

Guests often don’t think to bring sunscreen for a day on the water, and let’s face it; we’ve all forgotten it at home at least once. Toss a couple of bottles into the boat at the beginning of the year and they’ll probably be used up by season’s end. Just think of all the pain and itching you just managed to avoid!

Rain Jackets

Another item that guests frequently overlook, a couple of spare rain jackets always come in handy. Buy spares in large sizes, so they fit everyone.

Spare Propeller and Prop Wrench

Even the most powerful boat on the water won’t go far without a propeller. Just like having a spare tire for your vehicle, having a spare prop for your boat just makes sense. It’s just too easy to hit a rock or a piece of floating debris while underway, and damage your prop to the point it’s no longer unusable. Being able to swap it out for a spare right on the spot gets you back in action without delay.

It may go without saying, but make sure you also have a prop wrench onboard. The prop wrench is to your spare prop what the car jack is to your spare tire. One won’t go without the other.

Dramamine

It doesn’t take big waves and lumpy seas for some people to begin feeling queasy on boats. Avoid problems by carrying a small container of Dramamine onboard. That’s one problem that can be taken care of easily.

Mylar Foil Blanket

Originally developed by NASA for the space program, Mylar foil blankets may look odd, but they can protect you from hypothermia if for some reason you’re forced to spend a night out on the water.

Because they fold up to be incredibly compact, Mylar blankets are a great choice on boats, where space is often at a premium. Unfold them and they’re surprisingly warm – and water repellent.

Snacks

A few granola bars can be mighty welcome if you wind up out on the water longer than planned. Always stash a few away, and replenish them often to ensure they stay fresh.