(content by Captain M)
You must provide essential supplies such life jacket, anchor, necessary documents, mobile phone or working VHF radio, portable fire extinguisher, first aid, water, and fuel supply. Most of the items on this list are required by law or common sense.
Experienced boaters may already have these accessories, but here’s our list of boat accessories that you can have on your boat to enjoy the extra bit of luxury or to ensure some additional safety measures.
Accessories You Should Not Miss On Your Boat
Given below are some of the important boat installations that you must have when on board—
Air Conditioning Installations
Good ventilation is essential to boat maintenance and is necessary for your and your crew’s comfort. Good ventilation system: Reduces moisture and humidity below deck when the boat is unattended. Maintaining a dry climate allows for longer use of electronics and textiles.
It reduces the probability of the appearance of osmotic blisters due to the saturation of the body with moist air. All cabins and heads must have some sort of ventilation system.
Covered doors and vents can be extremely helpful if you want to block the air-conditioned space from the rest of the boat. In addition, sturdy doors help circulate air in cabinets and front tops.
Vents should be covered or removed to prevent water infiltration. Freestanding air conditioners are usually the best for boats up to 40 feet.
The device uses R-417A or R-410A, a new type of refrigerant, which is an environmentally friendly product that does not destroy the ozone layer at high altitudes.
Split systems have air conditioning components separated into two separate units. These systems provide flexible load management and peak electrical load reduction.
Personal Floatation Devices
PFD or Personal Floatation Device is already a must for the US Coast Guard. Additionally, it is a safety device for everyone riding a boat.
You must get your PFD in the correct size. Each approved PFD has a label indicating the device’s intended use, the appropriate size for a person, and how to wear it properly.
You must wear an approved PFD when riding a personal watercraft (PWC). If your boat is longer than 16 feet, you will need at least one type of inflatable PFD. The inflatable PFD is not approved for use by persons under the age of 16.
Marine First Aid Kits
A first aid kit should be available, depending on the usual number of passengers and the distance from the ride area.
The basic package meets the most common needs within a short distance of day trips to the home area and emergency services. If necessary, increase the number of equipment to accommodate more passengers or maintain a greater distance from emergency services and increase the likelihood of injury.
Coast Guard regulations require all 26-foot motorboats to be equipped with a USCG-approved Type B-1 fire extinguisher.
Visual distress signals are another must-have, especially when traveling far from the coast. But, again, most marine stores sell prepackaged kits that handle most guesswork.
Marine Distress Signaling Instruments
How to use the emergency signal and what device to use depends on the time. There is no need to light every flame if the lifeboat knows your location and path. Fireworks and flashlights are available during the day but are more visible at night or in heavy fog.
Learning how to make an emergency call from a boat is important to boating safety. In addition, a VHF radio is an essential safety tool that any boat should have, especially on offshore trips.
Use Channel 16 to report vessels in distress to the Coast Guard and ensure you are aware of the situation and location of signal vessels.
Specify the MMSI, the nature of the problem, and your location. For example, if you are worried about the ship sinking, you wonder how long it will take for the boat to sink completely.
Additional Accessories
Other than the ones mentioned above, you must also carry the following accessories when on the water—
- A general safety kit.
- Battery charger.
- GPS.
- Marine compass.
- Dry sacks.
- Basic tool kit.
- Boarding ramp and ladder.
- Boat steam umbrella.
- And lastly, a waterproof camera to capture every moment of your voyage!
