Did you know that people and companies around the country spend more than $12 billion every year on the boat building industry? It takes more than 41,000 people to build all of the boats that the market demands each year. These numbers make it clear how much people enjoy their time out on the water.
When many people first get a boat, they are unsure about what boat supplies they should stock it with. Other people have been enjoying their boats for so many years that they no longer pay as much attention to their stock of boating supplies.
However, one of the most important parts of having a boat is making sure that you can use it safely and that you are ready for emergencies. On top of that, making sure that you have the right boating supplies and accessories will help you enjoy your time out on the water even more. So what are the most important supplies to make sure that your boat always has?
Read on to learn all about the most important supplies to include in your boating checklist!
Life Jackets Are an Essential Out at Sea
Sometimes, it is the simplest supplies that we tend to neglect the most. The more experience you have boating and swimming, the less it might seem necessary to have life jackets on hand.
However, there may be no other boating supply that is as vital to make sure that you have before you head out on the water. Life jackets can make the biggest difference in safety if you end up in an accident.
Many people start out using life jackets when they are first getting used to swimming in the sea. Then, when they get more experience, they stop using them. However, this can make some people think that the whole point of life jackets is to help novice swimmers get used to the water.
It is important to remember that life jackets are a safety tool more than anything else. If, for one reason or another, you end up needing to stay in the water for hours at a time, a life jacket can turn a marathon session of treading water into a much more sustainable experience.
Include Flotation Devices in Your Boat Supplies
Of course, you often need to have some advance notice to get your life jacket on in case of an emergency. In other situations, you may need to provide a flotation device to someone else out in the water. Although life jackets are great at what they do, they are not aerodynamic and can be difficult to throw far away from your boat.
Flotation devices are designed to be much easier to throw to someone who needs a lifeline out in the water.
Add Fire Extinguishers to Your Boat Supply List
Some people imagine that being out at sea is the time when you least need to worry about fires. However, if you have ever seen a fire on a boat, you will appreciate how incorrect this thinking is. In fact, there are few places where a fire is as dangerous as when you are out at sea.
Make sure that you have at least one fire extinguisher on your boat. Depending on the size of your boat, you might even want to have several fire extinguishers. Make sure to place your fire extinguishers in different places around your boat so that you always have one close at hand in case of a fire.
Include Distress Signals in Your Boating Accessories
In an emergency situation, you will need multiple ways to signal for help. You should have both visual and audible signaling devices for catching the attention of potential rescuers.
You can find great sound-signaling devices for boats that can be heard from a mile away or even farther. You can also find pyrotechnic devices that work as visual signals both at day and at night.
At night, you will want a device that produces a lot of light. In the daytime, it can be more effective to have a device that produces a lot of smoke.
Add Navigation Lights to Your Boat Upgrades
Especially at night, it can be difficult to navigate your boat without using navigation lights. The bigger and less maneuverable your boat is, the more important it is that other vessels be able to see it at all times.
Of course, navigation lights will also make steering your boat much simpler and less stressful. It can be worth checking out new boat products and accessories to get a sense of the benefits that modern navigation lights can provide for your boat.
Make Sure You Have a Stocked First Aid Kit
If someone gets hurt while you are out on the water, it can take a significant amount of time before you can get them back to land to see a doctor. That is one reason why it is so important to have a first aid kit on every boat. Make sure that you check your first aid kit every so often to make sure that it is fully stocked and that its supplies are not expired.
Know the Right Boating Supplies to Take Out to Sea
Before you head out to sea, it is essential that you have the right boating supplies to make sure that your journey is safe and enjoyable. Reviewing your checklist before you depart is one of the most important habits you can develop when you have a boat. As technology progresses, it is also worth checking out the latest boating accessories to see if any catch your eye.
To learn more about the latest information in boating, business, and more, take a look through our other articles!
