A lot of people dream of owning a boat or a yacht. Who wouldn’t want to spend their weekend boating and enjoying the water? If you have your boat, it’s like you can drift to another world freely. Also, there are a lot of fun activities that you can do aboard. It’s almost impossible for boredom to exist when it comes to boating.
Nowadays, it’s easier to own a boat or yacht compared to how it was before. There are many ways to find an affordable second-hand and brand new boat. With that, almost anyone can now become a boat or yacht owner.
As years pass by, more people are getting into boating. As a result, more businesses have started offering boat accessories, too. Online businesses are now selling quality and affordable boat accessories. There are a lot of accessories to choose from — making it easy for new boaters to start their hobby.
But even though the options are endless, it can be hard to narrow down which accessories to prioritise. In this article, let’s look at six must-have boat accessories for new boaters.
1. Life jackets and lifebuoys
Whether you’re an experienced boater or a new one, you should never overlook your safety. Before purchasing any other boat accessories, you should first have life jackets and lifebuoys on your boat.
This is critical, especially when you’re taking your family and friends aboard. Even though you’re a licensed boater, you should still have life jackets on your vessel. It’s no exception whether you always check the weather and tide conditions before sailing.
Remember, it’s better to be sure than sorry. No one can tell when or how an unforeseen accident will happen. That’s why it is a boater’s responsibility to keep themselves and the people who are with them safe at all times.
2. First aid kit
The second must-have accessory to keep on your vessel is a first aid kit. Even though a first aid kit is not a boat accessory, a lot of boaters include this on their list because of its importance. Here’s a scenario where having a first aid kit is necessary. Imagine, you and your friends are visiting an island that you haven’t been to before. As you’re about to leave, one of your friends starts feeling nauseous.
Of course, you can’t just start the boat and leave when your friend is in bad condition. If you have a first aid kit that has different kinds of medicines for headaches, painkillers, and such, you can provide immediate relief to your friend. We don’t wish for this kind of situation to happen. But having a first aid kit onboard could provide relief in almost any situation.
Even though you’re not sensitive to motion, you should still have a complete kit for first-aid purposes. Bondages, disinfectants, painkillers, and such should be on your boat at all times.
3. Fenders
If you just recently bought your first-ever boat or yacht, you’re likely treating it as if it’s your child. After all, whether you’ve purchased a used or brand new boat, you’ve still allotted a huge amount of your money to it. You’re probably feeling a strong sense of pride and sentiment towards your first vessel.
And so, you probably want to take good care of it. You’re very careful not to have scratches or leaks on your boat. If you feel that way, you should immediately buy a boat fender. If you’re planning to visit a lot of boardwalks and other locations, this is a must.
Also, if your boat or yacht will be docked at a public jetty, having fenders will prevent your boat from scratches. Fenders can also avoid any issues with other boaters. They won’t only protect your boat, but also the vessel parked next to you from any scratches.
4. Mooring ropes
To a boater, a rope has many purposes. If you have a rope, you can use it for anchoring, docking, and more. Different types of rope are available for boating. Each type is also designed for a specific boat type and size.
Before purchasing a mooring rope, I suggest doing your research first. Also, it’s best to go for high-quality nylon ropes that are made for anchoring and mooring. High-quality nylon ropes won’t cause you any problems in the future as well.
Keep in mind that ropes tend to age and lose their quality over time. That’s why investing in a high-quality mooring rope is better than going for a simple rope that can’t last for a long time.
5. Boat deck lights
Investing in a good deck light for your boat is another essential must-have. There are days when the dark comes early; there are days when the day is long. Regardless, having a deck light is essential to your boat.
Whatever the size of your boat is, deck lights help you through your sails. Aside from safety purposes, it can also help highlight the beauty of your boat at night. Moreover, all boats are required to have night lights.
Even though your boat already has an existing night light, I suggest having portable ones, too. Portable boat deck lights can be handy, especially if your boat lights won’t suddenly work.
6. Signal flares
Last but not least is signal flares. Even though small boats are only required to have signal flares at night, it’s better to have them on board at all times. You might think that since you’re a new boater, you won’t stay out on the water at night. But, even though that may be true, having signal flares in case of an emergency could be your lifesaver.
Having two to three signal flares on your boat is enough. As a beginner, you should never neglect your safety. It’s best to think of the worst so you get to prepare yourself in case of an emergency.
Safety should be your priority as a new boater.
If you’ve finished this post, you can tell that the six-boat accessories I shared are for safety purposes. As you start your boating journey, I hope that you’ll never be complacent and get too comfortable breaking the safety rules.
Always remember that you’re putting your life on the line every time you sail. No matter how much you think that you’re a good boater, remember that accidents happen without any warning. It also doesn’t choose a victim. In other words, it can happen to anyone, anytime.
So, as a new boater, make it a habit to keep these six boat accessories aboard with you at all times. Happy and safe sailing!
About the author:
Bianca Banda is a writer for Shop Marine, an online marine store that offers the best boat accessories and fishing equipment that you need. All items sold by Shop Marine are Australia service guaranteed and are marine quality warranty.
