Must Haves for Boaters

[dingbat]

Re: Must Haves for Boaters

Yeah, we're already checking into this. We've taken a few courses throughout the years...something that was required in order to rent boats through the military base that we were previously stationed at but we definitely want to take a refresher course.

In Maryland, boater education is not an option. You must pass the Maryland Boater's exam before you can operate a watercraft in the State of Maryland.

http://www.boat-ed.com/md/index.htm

 

[dingbat]

Re: Must Haves for Boaters

LIFE VEST one for everyone in the boat and one throw able!
Fire extinguisher!
Paddle
you need these before anything else.

Maryland does not require a paddle.

Maryland regulations:

Boating Safety Education Certificate - Applicable if operator is born on or after July 1, 1972.

Certificate of Number - Except all non-motorized vessels.

Validation decal

PFD?s: - Type I, II, III or V
Children under 7 years of age must wear a PFD while underway on a vessel under 21 feet in length. In addition, children under 4 years of age and/or less than 50 pounds must have a PFD equipped with a grab strap, inflatable headrest and crotch strap.

Type B-I Fire Extinguisher - Boats under 26?

Type B-II Fire Extinguisher - Boats over 26?

Ignition Safety Switch - boats under 16? in length

Backfire Flame Arrestor /Ventilation System / Muffler(inboard engines)

Horn, Whistle, or Bell

Daytime Visual / Night TimeDistress Signal - One orange distress flag or one electric distress light ? or ? three hand-held or floating orange smoke signals and one electric distress light ? or ? three combination (day/night) red flares: hand-held, meteor or parachute type.

Navigation Lights

Marine Sanitation Device - If installed toilet, vessel must have an operable MSD Type I, II, or III.

Copy of Navigation Rules (inland only)

 

[cr2k]

Re: Must Haves for Boaters

Yea, Bubba! Those should have been on top of the list, good call!

I am betting this thread has given even seasoned boaters a few item that they will consider and maybe not have thought about.

Excellent Questions Jillybean!!! I think you have contributed quite well the overall iboat community!

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Must Haves for Boaters

A hula doll with the grass skirt to stick on the dashboard

 

[superpop]

Re: Must Haves for Boaters

BEEEER (in my best Homer Simpson voice)

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Must Haves for Boaters

These were all excellent suggestions. HOWEVER: If you are a woman, a hot, ripped husband or boyfriend with a big package in a speedo and if you are a man, a hot wife or girlfriend in a teeny bikini (big hooters optional--the bikini is usually enough) to make everyone else jealous. Aw, C'mon! Take it with the humor it was intended to have!

 

[woosterken]

Re: Must Haves for Boaters

MUST HAVE : a camera to share your good times with the rest of us
a pfd for the two 4 footed friends in you avatar plus water and food for them

woosterken

 

[pduquette]

Re: Must Haves for Boaters

Big US flag ; and if you have dual citizenship a smaller marguritaville , or Jollyrodgers . peter

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Must Haves for Boaters

The others have all given good suggestions, so I'll not repeat most of what they ahve said.

To me, the single most important gear items that you will buy for your boat, are PFDs that are comfortable enough for passengers to actually wear at all times that the boat is moving. It gets very easy to think you need "this do-dad or that do-dad," but with the exception of other safety gear, there is nothing more important than good PFDs.

That said, you are about to embark on a love affair like no other. Its more than just fun - its a passion, a lifestyle and the perfect way to unwind from the craziness of everyday life.

Bon Voyage!



???

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Must Haves for Boaters

One thing that helped me when first starting was to make a checklist of sorts for all the stuff you need to do before and after your trips to the lake. Its easy to be excited and forget something like a plug. Once you have taken a half dozen trips the list becomes stamped into your memory and is just instinct but until you get a good ritual its nice to have for reference. laminate it and hang it off the key to the boat or something. It may go something like this
plug in---straps off trailer---life jackets---required safety gear---cell phone---blower on pre start---supports off outdrive---etc.
That way you cover all of the esentials BEFORE you are already in the water and your new boat is filled up cause you forgot the drain plug(it easy to do) As you stated going with friends/renting is pretty care free now ALL of the responsibility is on you two for your and any passengers safety and fun. If you trailer to your lake every time a truck/trailer list is a good idea as well as that is a whole other set of new duties to remember(lights pluged in and working,hitch locked,safety chains secured, etc.) Good luck be safe and have fun, any questions you may have can be answered here, and any items you may need can be purchased here for a very competative price.

 

[marinebucaro]

Re: Must Haves for Boaters

Bumpers for when you launch your boat or tie up to others, hand held VHF radio and a leather man pocket knife that has everything you could need i.e. scissors, tweezers, knife and pliers for when you are in a pinch.

 

[Bearfan]

Re: Must Haves for Boaters

You can never have enough rope in my experience.

When I outfitted my new boat this month:

Basic tool set (well, not that basic)
Tarp
Clamps
WD40
First Aid Kit
2 Anchors and Line
4 Bumpers (I keep mine in a slip)
Flashlight
Duct Tape
Electrical Tape
Zip Ties
Spark Plugs
Fuel Filter
Wing Nuts for Battery
Chart of the Lake (It's 43 miles long with lots of bends and coves)
PFDs galore (including one for our dog)
Throwable
TP
Paper Towels
Trash Bags
Include Spare Plug on this list if you need one (pontoon here)
Bottle Opener (Essential)
Insurance Card
Carried a spare prop on my last boat (because I had one)

More I'm sure, that's just what I remember.

 

[dave11]

Re: Must Haves for Boaters

EPIRB or PLB Personal Location Beacon

VHF radio

In addition to what is legally required to be on board.



Anything else is just personal preference.

 

[ENSIGN]

Re: Must Haves for Boaters

These are all great posts and ideas,When you get everything together PM me,you're going to need a bigger boat.Good luck,Ted

 

[JDs Dorsett]

Re: Must Haves for Boaters

well, I don't know if anyone mentioned this, but here I go....
"drain plug in" " lights on the truck out" and some type of whistle, horn, sounding device in plain veiw! good luck on your new boat!

 

[Jillybean]

Re: Must Haves for Boaters

You guys are awesome! You?ve provided us with so many great ideas. I now have a list a mile long ...many of them seem like common sense now, but they hadn?t crossed our minds earlier. Now we just need to start shopping for some of these items.

I like the checklist idea from Utah. I hate to look like some newbie dork out there with a neon card around my neck but if it prevents us from forgetting the drain plug, I?m all for it. I also like the spare keys in the boat/truck idea, and the floater for the keys ( I learned that the hard way). Several years back I dropped the keys to the car into the water at the marina in Key West. Luckily, I could see the keys in the crystal clear water about 6 feet down but no one wanted to jump in after them because of the crazy amount of barracuda swimming around the dock. Thankfully an employee had a long stick with a magnet attached to the bottom and he was able to easily retrieve them.

Thanks again everyone, I appreciate it. I?m loving this forum.

 

[blairjbyrd]

Re: Must Haves for Boaters

spotlight, basic tools, extra prop for sure, coozie cups a must and plenty of fun

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Must Haves for Boaters

WOW.... WOW!!!

Most of us could survive on a desert island indefinately from what I see on here! don't forget the bigger engine to mke up for all the added weight...

seriously, I do tend to travel fairly light - depending on which boat and where I'm going. Fishing offshore is different than skiing and tubing on the relatively crowded local river is different than exploring the vast miles of fairly deserted sound...

I ususlly do carry a stainless steel large caliber revolver... (don't have to worry about rust as much as others), but that's just me...

Of everything else I see mentioned, the one that I think I didn't see is being organized and having things tied down, stowed in places they won't go flying around right when you really need to be paying attention to what's going on around you, etc...

one of those smaller sized power cannon type squirt guns is nice for unruly passengers as well...

enjoy!!! going to be nice here today and tomrrow - boat is coming out!

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Must Haves for Boaters

I used one of the vinyl 3x5 card holder and stuck it to the dash above the ignition so I could see it, but also remove it easily. I didn't want to make passengers too nervous. Then I moved on to a "captians log" if you will it helped me jot down things I wanted to look at once home or even where rocks, submersed trees, near ramps I frequented. That was in a small planner I could zip closed and stow right next to the helm. It helps for maint. records as well, when you go to sell the boat if you have documentation of every time you checked fluids, replaced this or that, I guarantee you it will help you sell the boat. I sold one once that I don't think the guy totally loved the boat but he loved the fact EVERYTHING I had done was documented in the log book, including reciepts. One other thing don't bother carrying a spare prop unless you have all of the washers,lock rings, nut, wrench to put it on with.

 

[Black Snow Slide]

Re: Must Haves for Boaters

1. Pay off your credit card. Head to your local boating supply store or you can help support the forum and shop iboats.

2 Have a rod holder installed in the gunwell. A gas kettle grill that mounts with a rod holder mount. Keep rod holder hole away from the gas vent. The grill will be used all the time and cooking food on the water is a must.

3 GPS.. I am a fan of garman. Very intuitive with easy access to charts for lakes and such.

4 If the boat only came with one battery have a second installed. All day listening to tunes, charging cell phones, Ohh and the over use of the blender can suck the juice from a battery. Speaking of needing a jump start. SeaTow or Towboat.

5 A Tackle box to make into a first aid kit. Bad things can happen to you or another boater and help is never close by.

6 VHF radio. Don't go crazy buying the most expensive radio out there. But do get the best antenna you can afford.

7 Life jackets.. Get comfortable ones for every one. The orange ones are horrendous to wear.

8 Little blow up mattresses for the water. Electric pump for the lighter. Make sure they have the quick air release valves so deflation is easy.

9 6 good quality lines for tying up at the dock or for rafting up. Have an anchor that is 1 size up from what your boat needs. Fenders.. get the same color as the boat. They may cost a little more but I am having fun spending your money.

10 An adjustable wrench to hang off the safety chain from the eye to the winch post. *** If the wrench is still hanging there when you take off the safety chain you have forgotten your drain plug.*** There are 3 kinds of boaters : The ones that have forgotten the drain plug. The ones that are going to forget the drain plug. And the ones that are going to lie about it. I choose to lie about it.

11. Make sure your tow vehicle is in top notch order and when driving allow time to drive like Nana.

I am so happy for you. Please keep in touch. What state are you boating in?