Outfitting your boat with boat gear is almost as exciting as choosing the boat itself. Indeed the most important boat outfitting you need is the safety equipment. In addition to obvious safety devices (such as life jackets], the first electronic safety item you should get is a VHF marine radio.

 

Fixed mount VHF marine radios have access to all U.S. and also international VHF channels (marine only). Channel 16 should be monitored whenever the radio isn’t being used for communications. Some boaters add a handheld VHF radio as a backup. They’re great in the event of accidental sinking because they are waterproof and can be operated with one hand only. Your primary VHF radio should be considered essential boat gear

 

 

You probably know how hand GPS systems are for your car, and they are just as useful on the water. You may well come to think of your marine GPS system as essential boat gear. Some of the systems record waypoints to get you back to where you started as easily as possible. several GPS devices are sold with built in fish locatros, making them even more useful on-board. A particularly nifty item you might want, or that you might buy as a gift for a fishing enthusiast is a combination wristwatch / fish finder. They are as low as $100 and  automatically turn off the sonar sensor once you are  out of the water. And yes, they are water resistant!

 

To make fishing all the more efficient, outriggers and rod holders are excellent ideas for boat outfitting, whether clamp-on or flush mounted. For trolling, downriggers are available either by themselves or combined with fish finders. They come in a wide price range with many different capabilities built in. This is the kind of equipment that makes fishing even more fun.

 

And of course, if you intend to be trolling, trolling motor is required, and choosing the right one is very important. It will depend on whether you are fishing in saltwater, or fresh water, or both. Even if you’re only going to be fishing in saltwater part of the time, you need a saltwater-friendly trolling motor. The  borad type will also help in determining the most suitable trolling motor, whether it’s a pontoon boat, canoe, or Jon Boat, as will your typical fishing conditions, for example: fishing in windy conditions or trolling against a current.

 

There are also many entertainment devices that may not be essential boat gear, but can make boating even more enjoyable. There are marine MP3 hookups so you can take your favorite tunes with you, and there are satellite receivers for watching television, and combined audio / video systems.

 

And while electrical equipment may not be as exciting as a marine  player, it is exactly the kind of boat gear that makes your fishing experience much more fun. Circuit breakers, electrical connectors, electrical panels and other gadgets designed for the marine environment are  part of equipping procedure, keeping the boating more safe and pleasurable.

 

 

Boat outfitting is a lot of fun, but it is the second most expensive proposition after buying the boat itself. When  deciding on the kind of boat gear you require, start with the safety-essential items , and then see what extras your budget allows.

Equipping your boat with boat gear is almost as fun as choosing the boat itself. Of course the first boat outfitting you need to do is with safety equipment. In addition to obvious safety devices (such as life jackets], the first electronic safety item you should install is a VHF marine radio. Fixed mount VHF marine radios have access to all U.S. and international marine VHF channels. Channel number 16 should be always monitored whenever the radio is not used for communications. Some boaters add a handheld VHF radio as a backup. They’re very useful in the event of accidental sinking because they are waterproof and can be operated with one hand . Your primary VHF radio should be considered essential boat gear You probably know how hand GPS systems are for your car, and they are just as useful on the water. You may well come to think of your marine GPS system as essential boat gear. Many systems record waypoints to get you back to where you started as easily as possible. several GPS devices are sold with built in fish locatros, making them doubly useful on-board. A particularly nifty item you might want, or that you might buy as a gift for a fishing enthusiast is a combination wristwatch / fish finder. They cost less than $100 and automatically shut down the sonar sensor when you’re not on the water. And yes, they are water resistant! To make fishing all the more efficient, outriggers and rod holders are great ideas for boat outfitting, whether clamp-on or flush mounted. For trolling, downriggers are available either by themselves or combined with fish finders. They come in a wide price range with many different capabilities built in. This is the kind of equipment that makes fishing even more pleasurable. And of course, if you intend to be trolling, you need a trolling motor, and choosing the right one is very important. It will depend on whether you are fishing in saltwater, or fresh water, or both. Even if you are going to fish in saltwater for sevral hours, you should have a saltwater-friendly trolling motor. The type of boat you have will also help to determine the best trolling motor, whether it’s a pontoon boat, canoe, or Jon Boat, as will your typical fishing conditions, for example: fishing in windy conditions or trolling against a current. There is a variety of entertainment devices that may not be essential boat gear, but should make theboating even more pleasurable. There are marine MP3 hookups so you can take your favorite tunes with you, and there are satellite receivers for watching television, and combined audio / video systems. And while electrical equipment may not be as exciting as a marine DVD player, it is the boat gear that makes your boating experience much more enjoyable. Circuit breakers, electrical connectors, and electrical panels designed for the marine environment are part of equipping your boat with the electronics you need to keep safe, catch fish, and have lots of fun. Boat outfitting is definitely a lot of fun, but it is also the second most expensive proposition after purchasing the boat itself. When figuring out the kind of boat gear you need, start with the items that are essential to safety, and then see what extras your budget allows.