Best Boat "Accessories"

[TheFormerlives]

What do you consider the most important accessories on your boat? By that I mean anything like a fish finder/depth finder, livewell, navigation lights, power tilt n trim, radio, storage compartments, rod holders etc etc...

The reason I ask is I have a fairly basic bass boat which I would like to add some things to to make fishing a little easier. Also, if you have any creative home-made designs for anything feel free to share those as well! Thanks!

 

[crazyinkc]

Re: Best Boat "Accessories"

The first thing I add to any of my boats is a fish finder. I mainly use them to keep me from munching another prop. I set the alarm at 10ft that way if it goes off while I am on plane, I usually have enough time to make a course change to aviod an unpleasant meeting with a pile of rocks.

 

[izoomie]

Re: Best Boat "Accessories"

Absolutely the first thing is the fish finder to know the depth you're boating in. Once you use it you'll never want to be without it.

It's great for finding structure when you are fishing to.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Best Boat "Accessories"

We can't be without a bimini top, for rain, but more for protection from the sun. Also a depth finder is very important. All depends on what you're gonna be doing out in the boat. Good Luck!

 

[dingbat]

Re: Best Boat "Accessories"

I'd take a good chart plotter over a fish finder in a heart beat. On a good plotter I have both depth and locations of structure.

The fish finder give me more accruate depths but it's search area is so small its pretty much usless for locating structure on an unknown body of water.

 

[clarkbre]

Re: Best Boat "Accessories"

The best accessories on my boat are as follows in this order:

Storage: I built a front deck with a hatch. You?ll find the best accessories are designed and built custom for the boat. This storage hides the battery, all my gear and I can put a cooler or crab pots on top of it. Another good storage item is rod holders along the sidewalls of the boat. It stores the rods ready to go and they are safe and out of the way.

Bimini top: Like said above, not just for rain but for sun protection as well. It can turn too hot or too wet weather into a good day of fishing.

Fish finder: For me its low on the list but it is nice to have. Its? nice to know how deep of water you?re in.

GPS: I don?t leave the launch without it. Its good for marking way points, navigating, and makes finding crab pots way easier.

 

[mphy98]

Re: Best Boat "Accessories"

The gps fishfinder with side imaging and navonics chip. Can't get lost, can "see" the bottom structure, and see the fish where they are.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: Best Boat "Accessories"

a Carmen Electra look-alike 1st mate.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Best Boat "Accessories"

I don't consider navigation lights to be accessories- they are basic requirements, IMO.

The other items will depend on where you boat, but a fish-finder or depth gauge would top my list, followed by at least a handheld VHF radio if you boat on anything but the smallest waters.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Best Boat "Accessories"

storage compartments
lots of storage
trolling motor or an outboard 20 hp or less
convenient lines for launching/loading/docking
power tilt n trim
cooler to keep the fish fresh
fish finder/depth finder

in that order

 

[TheFormerlives]

Re: Best Boat "Accessories"

Thanks for all the great replies. I currently have a fish/depth finder but its very outdated so I think I will replace it. Next on the list I'd like to add is power TnT, but I've heard that an aftermarket CMC unit won't bolt up to an 89 Force 50hp which is what I have. I'll have to look into that more.

I also thought this might be a decent thread for posting home made gadgets that we've made an what-not that make life easier for us. Someone posted a homemade front storage compartment which was pretty neat! Anything else like that? Keep the ideas coming guys!

 

[Expidia]

Re: Best Boat "Accessories"

I gave this a lot of thought . . .

Here are THREE I'd start with :

 

[npd4432]

Re: Best Boat "Accessories"

Love having as much storage as possible and the cup holders for my adult beverages are a plus.

 

[ddrieck]

Re: Best Boat "Accessories"

In this order for me...

- Depth finder/fish finder
- Tilt & Trim
- jack plate for running in skinny water
- GPS
- Deck lighting (I fish at night so there handy)
- Good hand held spot light (type that plugs in the cigarette lighter)
- Rod Storage
- pole holders

 

[floatingwoody2006]

Re: Best Boat "Accessories"

Im a fisherman, so my downriggers i could not live without.