Owning a boat requires a lot of ongoing expenses and work. You will need to pay to keep your boat well-maintained, stored, and protected from storms and other sources of damage. In short, being a boat owner is no piece of cake. However, it is much easier if you know what kind of gadgets to have on hand. While some of the items in today’s list are technically optional, they are all essential for boat owners who want to be safe and comfortable out on the water. So, let’s take a closer look at some of the essential gadgets that every boat owner should have!
Climate Control Equipment
If you have a larger boat, climate control can be a serious issue. This is particularly true if you operate your boat in colder climates during certain times of the year. Being out on the water in sub-zero temperatures can be dangerous if you don’t have the right kind of clothing and equipment to stay warm and dry. Fortunately, there are various portable heaters from companies like Xtreme Heaters to ensure that you can stay safe in colder climates.
Fire Extinguisher
For safety purposes, you should always have a fire extinguisher onboard. You never know when an electrical fire could break out and put the safety of you and your crew at risk. It may seem strange to worry about fires when you are surrounded by water, but boat fires are actually far more common than many people realize. So, always keep your fire extinguisher nearby and ready for use.
Safety Kits
First aid kits and marine safety kits should be on every boat. Many locations will require you to keep safety kits onboard (as well as fire extinguishers), but some boat owners still try to skirt the rules. However, in the event of a serious medical emergency, this can be a terrible mistake. Having a safety kit can mean the difference between life or death in some cases, especially if someone on your vessel needs fast medical attention while you attempt to get back to shore or call in support.
Jump Starter
Nothing is worse than being out in the middle of the ocean or a large body of water and having your engine cut out. While you may not be able to handle all of the repairs on your own, a jump starter ensures that you can restart the battery if and when it loses power. Depending on the type of jump starter, you may be able to jump off other pieces of equipment as well, so it’s always a good idea to keep one of these helpful gadgets on your boat.
Portable GPS Device
Most modern boats have some kind of built-in GPS navigation system. However, you never know when your boat’s internal systems could go haywire. For this reason, it is essential to have a portable, backup GPS device to help track your location. This way, if you get lost, you can help search and rescue find you and you can keep track of your general location to get to safe waters as soon as possible.
