11 Essentials You Need On Your Next Boating Trip

Most people invest in a boating trip to have fun and escape from the hustle and bustle of a hectic working schedule. However, to make your boating trip stress-free and enjoyable, you must plan your vacation carefully. Ensure you have everything you need, particularly if you’re with pets, seniors, and children.

No matter how much does it cost to rent a yacht, bringing the following essentials on your next boating trip will surely ensure the ultimate comfort you deserve:

1. Emergency Grab Bag

An emergency grab bag is one of the absolute essentials you should never forget on a boating trip. Your passport, cellphone, cash, and a list of your emergency contacts must all go in this bag. It’s also for your personal emergency items, such as floatation devices, emergency supplies, and global positioning system (GPS) devices.

2. Anchor And Rode

A lot of people don’t bring an anchor and rode because they don’t plan to anchor out. However, it’s never a wise move because these items are handy, for instance, when traveling to different islands during your vacation trip. In addition, they’re considered safety gear.

If your boat breaks down and requires a call for a tow, having an anchor will help you keep your position and make it easier for the tow boats to find you. It’ll also ensure that your boat won’t drift into a rocky shoreline or busy channel.

3. License And Registration

Another essential you need on your next boating trip is the license and registration. Months or weeks before your trip, you must prepare your registration, proper documents, and licenses, especially if you’re planning to sail to another state.

Many states require an education card and boat registration. Moreover, other states require everyone who operates any motorized water vessel to have a boating license.

4. Entertainment 

Instead of relying on streaming services, consider bringing CDs and DVDs with you. The good thing about them is that they don’t need recharging and can help you save your phone’s battery life. You may also bring other mobile devices, like tablets as many yachts have a charging station.

Aside from mobile devices, you should also remember to bring playing cards, magazines, and books. If you love sunsets and enjoy birdwatching, cameras and binoculars may come in handy.

5. Emergency Repair Items

While a boating trip is supposed to be fun, emergency repairs are inevitable. With this in mind, having emergency repair items, such as spare parts and a well-stocked toolbox, can help you perform necessary fixes quickly. It’ll ensure you get home safely and prevent serious damage to the boat.

Some of the repair items to bring include the following:

• Electrical tape
• Duct tape
• Flashlight
• Portable jumper pack
• Adjustable crescent wrench
• Screwdriver with Phillips and regular heads

6. Enough Water And Food

If you want to travel by water, one of the essentials you need is enough food and water for everyone. Whether you’re going for a whole-day or half-day ride, you must bring ample supplies.

For a long boating trip, you should consider preparing meal plans that’ll last for several days or the whole duration of the boating trip. Just be sure to have proper cooking equipment on board.

7. Sun Protection

Other than safety gear, you also need something to protect yourself from the sun. Some of the sun protection essentials include chapstick, sunscreen, and sunglasses.

You may also protect your head from extreme sun exposure with a stylish hat. Remember that boating trips might expose you to more ultraviolet (UV) rays than usual, which may lead to possible skin damage and sunburn. Even on cloudy days, your skin can be susceptible to UV rays, so you must consider protecting your head and skin from such harmful rays.

8. Safety Gear

No matter how you plan your next boating trip, you can’t control what will happen in the middle of the sea or ocean. So, having safety gear, such as personal floatation devices (PFDs) and life jackets, is vital to keeping your boating trip safe and enjoyable.

Life jackets and other safety gear can save lives. If a passenger wears one, the chances of survival from falling overboard or capsizing are high. So, make sure everybody on the boat has or wears a life jacket.

9. Communication Devices

If you’re on a big boat or a yacht, you can bring the communication devices you need to stay connected with family, friends, and authorities at all times. However, your options might be limited if you’re traveling on a small boat.

If there are communication gadgets you need to bring, you must have a mobile phone and marine radio on board. Just ensure that your devices are waterproof. If not, keep them in waterproof cases so they won’t get wet.

10. Rain Gear

Foul or rain weather gear consists of pants, boots, and jackets with waterproof and windproof qualities. The right gear keeps your crew dry and safe during inclement weather situations.

The costs of these gear pieces may vary widely depending on the brand and type. However, regardless of your budget, you can always find affordable rain gear made with quality materials.

11. First Aid Kit

Accessing immediate medical care during your boating trip can be challenging, especially if you’re far from the land. Therefore, it’s crucial to bring appropriate first aid kits to help you self-manage basic health issues.

If you already have a first aid kit in your boat, make sure to check it before you travel. While gauze, bandages and antiseptic cream are essential, you may add more things, like motion sickness medication, particularly if you have someone who’s a first-timer in boat travels.

It’s also an excellent idea to add antihistamine medications for allergies, pain medication, and decongestants. You must also have something for fever. If you have a medication prescribed by your doctor, never forget to bring it. An insect repellant is also a must-have item during the boating season.

The Bottom Line

The key to having a fuss-free and fun boating trip is not worrying about contingencies. To ensure everyone’s safety, it’s critical to equip yourself with the above essentials. This way, you can make the most of your boating trip experience and, most importantly, have peace of mind throughout your trip.