What are the essentials to carry when travelling by boat?
Boaters, especially those with trailers, should have a checklist of some sort for pre-departure as well as a checklist for trailering their boats. Some people use a checklist every year for their spring commissionings, while others use one for boat shopping and only refer to it when they’re doing sea trials on unfamiliar boats. However, shouldn’t each and every person have a checklist of the items they must bring on board when they step off the dock? Yes, you can.
There are 10 essentials you need on board any boat, no matter what type you are sailing:
1. A provision for the day
should ensure that you have some additional provisions as well.
When it’s hot, it’s easy to become dehydrated, so it’s always a good idea to have extra water on hand.
You might also want to bring some fresh watermelon, yogurt, or oranges with you, all of which are hydrating and provide energy.
Suntan lotion and bug repellent are also important items to take aboard a boat, as they can substantially improve your comfort level.
Safety equipment
2. Safety equipment
The top priority on our list is obviously safety gear and should be yours as well. No matter where or when you go boating, you should have the standard Coast Guard gear handy as well as additional items.
3. Extra lines
The extra lines can prove useful at the most inconvenient times. There are several waterfront restaurants without lines on the pier that you can go to raft up or have lunch with friends. Similarly, lines are useful for securing things.
4. A knife
Getting a fouled propeller is a common issue on the water. The prop can become wrapped around rope, dense seaweed, or fishing line, which can suddenly cause your boat to come to a halt. It may be necessary to call for a tow if you do not have a knife on hand to cut it loose.
5. Supplies for basic cleaning
If you clean up after a tow at home or back at the dock, you should have boat soap, soft rags, and scrub brushes on board as well. If you clean up spills immediately, you will be able to remove juice, wine, food sauces, or fish blood. Scrubbing them away can become incredibly difficult if they are allowed to dry in the sun. A boat’s vinyl, canvas, and carpet should always be cleaned and inspected regularly.
6. Plugs and chargers for yours electronics
There is nothing more annoying than losing power while talking on your Bluetooth speaker, using your cell phone, or using any other electronic device. Older boats have 12-volt outlets and most modern boats have USB outlets. You can usually plug in and continue having fun as long as you bring the appropriate chargers and chords.
7. Documentation properly
You are required to have the proper paperwork for both yourself and your boat in most states. It is best to check your particular state’s requirements, but in most cases boat registration and boater education cards, as well as personal identification like a driver’s license, are required.
8. A rod and Anchor
It’s possible that some people never carry an anchor and rode (the chain and line) because they never intend to anchor out. In reality, this is a bad idea, since anchors and rodes aren’t just useful for securing a boat in Party Cove or for snagging lunch on the hook. The devices should also be taken into consideration as safety equipment. The security of anchoring will maintain your position if you need a tow boat, while making the tow boat find you easier. Then, you will be sure not to drift into a busy channel or rocky shoreline.
9. Your mobile phone
Boating gives you a chance to unplug from the rest of the world so you can enjoy nature and the great outdoors without being interrupted by every ringing and pinging of your phone. As such, we suggest that you put the cell phone on silent mode or turn it off completely. However, you should still bring it with you.
This device can also be used as a navigation tool, a weather monitor, or a fishing tool, in addition to allowing you to communicate with the greater universe when trouble occurs.
10. A list of emergency repair items
There are far more boaters who want to have fun on the water than perform repairs or swing a wrench. If you aren’t a handyman, you probably won’t want to haul a toolbox full of spares and tools. The good news is, there are a number of easy, quick and cost-effective emergency repairs that you can perform as part of your routine maintenance to get you back on the water and/or prevent further damage.
Every boat should have the following repair items:
- When broken or ripped, duct tape can be used for securing items that might swing or flap.
For tightening screws that vibrate loose, this screw driver has regular and Phillips heads.
A crescent wrench allows you to tighten loose bolts as they vibrate.
If your battery dies, you can jump start it with this portable jump starter.
Repairing broken wires with electrical tape.
If you end up staying waterside past dark, you’ll need a flashlight for illuminating enclosed spaces.
Cool accesories: Bonus items
The following list of must-haves will not cover every possible thing you might want on board based on your specific preferences for activities while afloat.
For watersports enthusiasts, PFDs and tow toys designed for the sport they love are essential;
Fishing gear is the foremost concern for anglers;
There is a list of items that sailors need;
The checklist for boaters who love to cook out will be completely different.