Best Boat Gadgets to Have

After you decide to get into boating and have narrowed down the type, size, etc., you need to make sure it is equipped with the right boat accessories. This is not an exhaustive list, and it does cover some of the most essential boat gadgets to have in our opinion. These all make your boating experience more enjoyable. In this video, we cover:

0:00 - Intro
0:54 - Large Bimini Top
1:18 - Lots of cupholders
1:37 - Good Electronics (stereo, GPS, depth sounder, etc.)
2:16 - Grill for cooking
2:32 - Inflatable toys (tubes, floaties, lounges, etc.)
2:51 - Lots of fenders and lines
3:12 - Battery Charger/Booster
3:34 - Cooler
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For more info check out these resources:

*Get checklists and other boating resources here:

*Check out this video about the pros and cons of GPS systems here:

*One on one boat chat to ask me questions:

*Len's Cove Learning Center:

[barrybebenek]

Woohoo #1 to the table! 😅
Great tips on the Bimini. You don’t realize how hot it can get out there, and with no shade, I know I’d get sun/heat sick. 🇨🇦👍🏼

[WilberNStella]

Battery pack is first thing i get for the new boat.
Another great video.

[guyh.]

Good idea on the booster pack! FYI ladders can & will be an aftermarket item. Tops big yes! I'm in a colder climate so a complete enclosure is a benefit. GPS great too. Another one, even for those who don't fish is a fish finder, even an inexpensive one. I use mine a lot just to know where the bottom is. Fire extinguishers are another great item to have.

God suggestions! 🎉🎉🎉

[georgek]

I'm new to boating great channel and tips I can not wait to launch my boat in a couple months. I watch virtually all your videos and is they are giving me alot of knowledge

[fatfishdesignzllc]

fat fish designz make the ultimate fishing and boating accessories

[ratdude]

...and my boat only has the swim ladder and the inflatables. Then again, it was "free" and is a vintage bowrider from 1976 (16' Starcraft Montego, Mercruiser 302 IO), so that's to be expected! Technically it has two cup holders, so I guess I can kinda claim that too. But no stereo, no GPS (other than my phone), and no top (not even an option per the catalog... not invented yet?).

[bas]

Another candidate is a 12V socket so you can use a pump to inflate / deflate tubes and stuff

[nq]

My previously owned Tahoe didn’t come with a Bimini cover, recommended aftermarket companies? TIA

[JB_Hobbies]

I need to send this video to the family of--I'm gonna say lobsters--that I caught a few weeks ago coming back to the ramp in a boat that had zero shade protection whatsoever. I hope they still have skin.

[amiabledave]

Bimini is a great idea. Cockpit cover is a must to keep the elements off the interior while you're not using. If you can swing a full cover if your boat is on the trailer, better yet.
GPS is a must.
99.99% of the boats nowadays come with cup holders, a stereo and a ladder. You spend $40, 000 or more and it doesn't have cup holders, a stereo or ladder? Ridiculous. And if your boat doesn't have them. Tell them to put them in or you'll go somewhere else to buy.
Buy 4 of the correct size fenders and dock lines for your boat. Don't use your anchor line to tie your bow and Stern off. You'll look like a clown and it's a cluster F**k
Many boats don't come with anchors. Make sure you have the next size bigger anchor then your boat calls for. They always size it bare minimum.
Buy a handheld searchlight.
If your boat has one battery, have them add another battery with switching. **Forget the battery booster** Every year load test the batteries to make sure they hold a load. That's annual maintenance.
The gas Grill.... You go out on your boat to have fun. Who wants to clean a greasy grill when you come back in or have Burger grease leak onto the deck of your boat? Seen one catch fire. The captain had a hell of a time throwing it overboard. Not a pretty sight. Cook the night before or make sandwiches and throw them in the cooler.
This is no gadget **** Take a boating course with the Coast Guard Aux** it's cheap. You'll know what the heck is going on. And most insurance companies give you a 5 to 10% discount. That's my 3 cents.

[toddlong]

I try not to have ANYTHING labeled a "gadget" on my vessel

[zandemen]

Is this content written by drunken frat boys? Most essential; pumpin stereo, cup holders, shade, water toys...
Nope.
The actual list goes;
Compass, chronometer, anemometer, barometer, bilge pumping equipment, GPS, Sonar, Radar, VHF, anchor winch.
Some nice toys to add; downriggers, wash down pump, live tank, PV panels and charge controller.
Not necessary at all and a waste of space and weight; stereo, cup holders, shade.