6 Easy DIY Boat Upgrades

Boats are a lot like houses, in that most people don’t have one for very long before they’re thinking of ways to upgrade it for even greater convenience and comfort. Fortunately, DIY boat upgrades are fairly easy, and they’re a lot of fun, too. Looking to personalize your ride this summer? Here are some easy projects that can make a big impact, and they’re all super-easy to do.

1. Add A Security System

Monitoring systems provide unequalled peace of mind.

Everyone wants a boat, including people who have absolutely no intention of paying for one. To make sure that your pride and joy isn’t targeted by thieves, consider adding a remote security and monitoring system.

Thanks to some spiffy technical engineering, even highly advanced monitoring systems are plug-and-play easy to install. Most consist of a central brain box that connects various sensors mounted around the boat to a companion smartphone app, alerting you immediately if one or more of the sensors are triggered. Battery sensors let you know if power levels drop, bilge pump sensors send an SMS if the pump fails and water begins to collect in the boat, while canvas cover sensors let you know if someone – or something, like a raccoon for example – gets under the tarp and into your boat. Other sensors can track the boat’s location if it is stolen, making it easy for police to find it.

Many systems come in convenient kits with all the basics, and allow you to add additional sensors later as required. The ability to stay in touch with your boat with a quick glance at your phone is a big plus, making this one of today’s most popular DIY boat upgrades.

2. Upgrade The Cleats

No more painful stubbed toes with easy-to-install retractable cleats.

Bulky old-school mooring cleats can be a real pain – literally – whether they’re snagging fishing lines, getting caught on clothing or worst of all, stubbing someone’s bare toe. Lose the hassles for good by upgrading the ‘builder basic’ solid cleats with more modern retractable replacements.

Retracting cleats come in two basic styles – true retractable cleats that lay flush to the deck when not in use and telescope upwards when needed, and folding types that rotate to lay flat on the deck. Telescoping designs look a bit neater, but require more clearance under the deck, making them tough to install in some locations. At the end of the day, both styles do the same thing, which is getting that line- and toe-catching metal hook out of the way when you don’t really need it. Replacing your cleats is one of the simplest DIY boat upgrades, with online videos providing step-by-step instructions.

3. Spring For New Lines

Nylon is the best material for dock lines, being unusually tough and strong.

When it comes to boat upgrades, there’s nothing easier than replacing your old, worn-out mooring lines. Since they’re all that keeps your boat from drifting away, it pays to keep them in tip-top shape.

Lines come in a variety of materials but nylon remains the best, with an almost perfect balance of strength, flexibility, durability and stretch. While it does cost a bit more than some other types of lines, this is one instance where you really do get what you pay for.

Although nylon lines don’t float, they offer the kind of brute strength few other materials can match — steel cable included. And while nylon line will absorb some water, it remains comparatively elastic no matter how wet it gets. This unique quality makes the stuff absolutely ideal for high-stress applications, like emergency tow ropes, as anchor rope, and as dock lines.

Buy at least two lines – one for each end of the boat – and in lengths that are at least as long as the boat itself.

4. Add A Sunshade

Retractable sun shades can make a day on the water much more comfortable.

That glorious summer sunshine always feels so good after a long cold winter – at least until you’ve had your fill of it, and suddenly wish your boat had a bit more shade. Retractable sun screens let boat owners add awning-like sun protection in minutes.

Sun shades come in both manual and power styles, with power shades being preferred since they’re easier to deploy. People think that power sun shades are only for large yachts, but compact power screens like SureShade’s PTX Power Shade are an affordable option for boats up to about 26 feet. They’re available in multiple color options, and are a fairly easy DIY boat upgrade.

Best of all, most power screens can be left out when the boat is underway – unlike canopy shades that need to be retracted before you hit the throttle. They’re less fuss and more comfortable – two things that every boater can appreciate.

5. Add A Swim Platform

No swim platform? No problem, since aftermarket platforms are easy to install.

Whether you just yearn for a refreshing dip on a hot summer’s day or need someplace to stow the dinghy, swim platforms have become essential on today’s boats. But it wasn’t always that way. Fortunately, it’s easy to add a platform to the boat if it didn’t come with one from the factory.

Companies like Swim Platforms Inc. sell retrofit swim platforms in hundreds of different sizes and styles to provide a factory-original look and fit. The vast majority mount on brackets secured to the transom just above the waterline, so if you can put up a shelf, then this will be a piece of cake. Basic tools and an afternoon of your time can completely transform the look and functionality of the boat.

6. Install A Windlass

Forget about hauling on heavy anchor ropes, and leave the job to a power windlass.

Tired of hanging over the side hauling on the rope to retrieve a heavy anchor? Installing a windlass makes the old chore of raising and lowering the anchor push-button easy.

Windlasses come in a wide range of styles and sizes to suit vessels from ocean-going yachts to compact jon boats. All tie in to the boat’s electrical system to drive a power winch that does the heavy lifting, and attach to the boat by simply bolting onto the foredeck. Easy step-by-step instructions make this a simple DIY job that’s no harder than changing a light fixture or installing a ceiling fan. But the difference it makes in comfort is beyond measure, making it a very popular project among seasoned boaters.

Do you agree with our choices for these easy DIY boat upgrades? Think there’s something we left out? Let us know in the comments!