Good vibes happening on the tides has been a well-covered subject in conversation and literature for as long as boats have been in existence. And going forward, the romance of boating on the open water will continue - mainly because it's one of the best ways to enjoy parts of the outdoors you can't get to any other way.
The reality of being on a boat is that unexpected things do happen. Those things may not be crisis situations such as a leaking hull, an unforeseen storm, or an empty fuel tank - but they can nevertheless put a damper on an entire outing. Passengers unexpectedly get seasick. Wet floors sometimes lead to slips and falls where cuts, scrapes, or injuries occur. Important navigational charts, papers, or electronics become wet after getting splashed. Kids on board suddenly jump in the water and go swimming without safety gear. The list goes on.
In this article, we discuss 10 things you'll want to have onboard your boat. In other words, tried-and-true products that enhance safety, and some innovative ones designed to make your experience on the water more convenient and enjoyable.
1. Dry Storage Boxes
Dry boxes, also known as storage boxes, are rugged polyethylene containers with heavy-duty latches and latches. Most importantly, a tight watertight seal will keep any electronics, papers, or other important items in them dry. Or, use the boxes to scoop up and bail out water in a pinch. Note that while they are water-resistant, zero water leakage cannot be guaranteed if completely submerged. Generally, these boxes will float unless contents are very heavy. These and larger boxes can be found in our Dock Boxes section.
We've got the SeaSense Dry Box (12" wide by 6" deep by 10" high), Plano Emergency Supply Box (choose 15"w x 10"h or 17"w x 13"h with shelf), and Plano's smaller Shallow Emergency Dry Storage Supply Box (15"w x 8"d x 5.25"h) for starters. We also carry a range of water-resistant, ventilated SeaSense battery boxes designed with general dimensions to house a boat engine battery.
2. Water Bailing Containers / Safety Kits
Odds are you won't ever need to bail water out of your boat. But if you do find yourself in the unfortunate situation of having a small or moderate water leak, a bailing container can make the difference between getting your boat back to shore or losing it completely. Bailer safety kits are so inexpensive, we'd be remiss if we left them off our list.
Each container includes a waterproof flashlight, section of rope (around 50 feet) with an attached buoy, and a safety whistle to signal for help and alert others within range.
3. First Aid Kits
First aid kits make it easy to treat minor wounds and injuries fast, and we offer kits of various sizes starting under $10. For small storage areas, the Rothco Tactical First Aid Contents Kit includes over 20 bandages of different sizes, alcohol prep pads, antibiotic ointment, hydrogen peroxide, soap, tweezers, latex gloves, tweezers, safety pins, moist towelettes, aspirin, and more. Rothco's related Tactical Trauma First Aid Contents Kit adds ER-style scissors.
For larger boats, the Orion Signal Products Cruiser Marine First Aid Kit case can be mounted on a wall and contains adhesive strips, wound dressings, antiseptics & medicinals, cold pack, scissors, forceps, and more. And if only the most comprehensive first aid kit will do, we recommend the Rothco Military Trauma Contents Kit.
In our First Aid Supplies section, you'll also find other items such as individual bandage packs, surgical scissors/shears, splints, snake bite kits, burn gels, blister prevention packs, motion sickness bands, tick remover tools, and more.
4. Items to Combat Motion Sickness
If your boat's big enough to bring guests on, motion sickness (caused by a common type of inner ear disturbance) is always a possibility. Being prepared to help them with immediate relief can be a huge blessing to those who suffer. We've got inexpensive solutions such as accu-pressure wrist bands from Lewis N. Clark and SeaChoice as well as Lewis N. Clark Trip Ease Homeopathic Motion Sickness Relief Tablets.
5. Depth Finders
Depth finders will keep trouble away by telling you exactly how deep the water underneath your hull is. For this, we've selected digital gauges from Hummingbird, HawkEye, and Faria Beede Instruments. These gauges receive real-time information from an included transducer depth sensor mounted on the bottom of the boat's hull.
We've also got portable hand-held depth finders that provide instant depth readouts - just hold them in the water and press a simple button. If you prefer the flexibility that a portable sensor provides, take a look at the Vexilar Digital Handheld Depth Finder and the HawkEye DepthTrax 1H Handheld Depth Finder.
6. Life Jackets
No matter how strict you are about guests bringing life jackets on your boat, it's a safe bet somebody will forget theirs. Or, maybe everyone suddenly feels like jumping in the water for a swim. When you've got extra life jackets stowed on board, you can rest assured that everyone is protected.
Life jackets are inherently valuable because they'll keep you floating effortlessly with your head above water level conserving your energy for as long as necessary. In our Life Jackets & Vests sub-section, we've got a wide selection of vests equipped with foam cores surrounded by nylon, neoprene, or polyester shells. All feature adjustable straps for a comfortable yet snug fit which fully protects the wearer.
First, non-inflating "recreational” life jackets have front and rear sections which completely cover adult torsos and cinch snugly together via straps and buckles. These represent zero-maintenance, error-proof, low-cost choices. We've also got inflatable life belts & vests, life jackets specially sized for children and dogs, and Fishing Life Jackets equipped with lots of storage pockets.
For more information, check out our related article Life Jackets Keep Everyone Onboard Safe.
7. Extra Boat Fenders
Boat fenders are floatable buoy cushions that hang between a boat and the dock platform to prevent damage while the boat is docked. Even if your boat came equipped with loads of fenders tied to its sides, you'll often find it's beneficial to have a few extra ones on hand.
For all occasions and needs, we offer boat fenders in a variety of shapes such as round, cylindrical, V-shaped, flat, and more. Additionally, our products provide a choice of eyelets at one end, both ends, or no eyelets with a rope running through the center.
For the fenders, we also carry purpose-built nylon ropes, hangers and straps, storage racks, and more.
8. Beach Anchors
Beach anchors are must-haves for smaller boats that are able to beach in areas where there's no dock to secure to. Because beach anchors are designed to stake into all types of ground to keep your boat from drifting away, you can never have too many. If you'll be dealing with firmer ground, spike style anchors are easier to penetrate with a hammer. For soft sand, screw anchors usually provide a little more grab.
For more details and product breakdown, see our related article on boat anchors.
9. Portable Seats w/ Built-in Coolers
You always need extra seats when people come along to enjoy the water. And you can always use a cooler filled with favorite drinks. Naturally, a product integrating these two items is another must, and we’ve got a great selection in our Swingback Seats section.
In addition to a comfortable padded seat on top and a seatback that can be moved from one side to the other, these are fully-functional coolers with rubber seals, insulated sides, and drain holes. Unless specified otherwise on any of the product pages referenced below, seat upholstery materials are durable, weather-resistant vinyl that's easy to clean.
If you prefer a little bit smaller size, we've got 50-quart cooler seats from Moeller Marine and Wise. Moving up to mid-range dimensions, you may like the Wise 62-quart cooler seat. If large capacity is what you seek, there's the Wise Offshore 70-quart Swingback Cooler Seat and Wise Ice Cage 105-quart Cooler With Seat Cushion. Should you prefer a standard cooler without a seat, we've got a variety of them as well.
10. Solar-Powered Device Chargers
When you go out on a boat, it's a sure bet someone on board will have a phone or device with a weak battery that needs charging. For boats not equipped with standard electrical sockets or USB ports, we offer a number of compact, portable solar cells designed to roll up or fold up - with built-in batteries and power ports.
For example, the compact PowerFilm PowerFilm 15.4V 21W Rollable Solar Panel is a best value measuring 14" x 60" unrolled, with 1 USB port and 15-foot extension cord with O-ring terminals.
The Goal Zero Nomad Plus 7W Solar Panel with Venture 30 Power Bank provides power for 2 USB ports with a non-flexible, folding solar panel that’s approximately eight times the size of the power bank when unfolded.
If you've got more room to place a solar panel sheet, there’s the more powerful PowerFilm 15.4V 60-Watt Foldable Solar Panel (47” x 51” unfolded) that offers the ability to charge medium to large electronic devices directly using the DC power or by utilizing one of many available accessories. These are just a few of the products we offer in our Power Solar Kits section. There, you'll find larger solar panels in addition to the ones we've mentioned here.
In conclusion, we'll note that in addition to these products, we also carry a variety of parts for them as well as other interior appliances tailored for the mobile life such as refrigerators, microwaves, small appliances, furniture, lighting, bathroom components, GPS systems, propane tanks, air conditioners and heaters, and more.
We also encourage you to browse through other sections of BOATiD where you'll find some great marine electronics for navigation, cartography and communication, replacement parts for engine & assorted trim items, anchors and docking-related components, plumbing & sanitation products, lighting needs, maintenance & winterization, sailing-related parts & components, safety items (life vests, life rafts, fire extinguishers, signaling devices) and much more. Should you have questions about anything on our website, we're happy to help seven days a week!