Boating Education

Boating Equipment Adventure 

Boating equipment can be a wide and diverse subject. When you take up the sport of boating, the amount of boat equipment, boat supplies, boat parts, and boating accessories you need is as complicated or as simple as you want to make it. But the basic boating equipment that everyone needs includes a boat, life jackets, and a trailer if you want to take it to the water.

You have to have a boat in order to participate in the sport of boating. If you want to take your boat to different waterways you will need a trailer. It’s essential that you match your boat trailer to your boat. This will depend on the size of your boat mainly, but there are other considerations to be thought about as well.  

What is the size of the vehicle you will be using to tow your boat on the trailer? There are some lighter weight trailer models that can accommodate vehicles with less horsepower. Ideally, you’ll want a four-wheel drive truck that can handle both the boat and the trailer easily. But if you just have a small truck, look into a lightweight aluminum trailer that is easily towed by a smaller truck.

The type of boat you choose is also dependent on your vehicle. Most people choose their vehicle first and then their boat. If all you have is a smaller truck with little horsepower, you won’t want a 30 foot power boat traveling behind you. Handling will be difficult, and you run the risk of harming others on the roadway if you don’t pay attention to this big detail.

So, you’ve got your boat and you’ve got your trailer, what other type of boating equipment will you need in your boating adventures? Your boat must be outfitted with a life jacket for every person aboard, fire extinguishers, some type of sound emitting device (your mother-in-law doesn’t count), and adequate lighting for night boating.

Two other essential pieces of boating equipment would include a two way or VHF radio, as well as some type of navigation device like a GPS system. When you are on the water, you don’t want to risk becoming stranded and not having any way of communicating with the outside world or being able to find your way back to shore.

If you will be participating in water sports, the boating equipment will differ from pleasure cruising. For water sports, you’ll need a tow rope and some skis or an inner tube for tubing.

The type of boating equipment, boat supplies, or boat accessories you need will really depend on how you’re going to be using your boat. Decide for yourself what’s important to you and then go buy your boating equipment, but be sure you have the basics as outlined above!

You can find more boating equipment at http://www.boatersmarinesupply.com/

         Safe Boating

Boaters Marine Supply provides articles on Boating Education, Boating Basics, Boating Requirements, and numerous Boating Education Topics.  We utilize numerous resources for our articles like the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, The US Power Squadron, Federal, state and local requirements.  Boating Education is extremely important in order to keep up with current boating safety requirements.  Boaters Marine Supply also provides educational information related to boating products, Boating accessories, Marine Electronics, and marine products.  Boater's Marine Supply was created by boaters, for boaters. We know what boaters want because we are boaters, too.