What's in your Boat

OK Guys this is what you think......................

Recently on a trip I found out that I did not have a spare fuse for my trolling motor:eek: .... Besides pi$$ing me off, it got me to thinking............... what else don't I have that I should. So I'm going to post somethings I think I need...........just I case. And I would like for you guys to help me by posting some of the stuff you carry to take care of the oopses that can happen on a fishing trip.

Besides the obvious...............

Spare Prop (big motor and trolling Motor)
Shear Pins ( " )
Tool (pliers, dikes, prop wrench, hammer, etc )
Spare Rope
Duct Tape
Heat Shrink Tubing
Rod Tips
Fire Extinguisher
Flashlight/Spotlight
Spare boat plug


I now have added to my kit

Spare Fuses......at least 5 of each of the kind I have in the boat
Zip Close bags
Towels cloth and paper
Knife ( a good em strong enough to cut through a 2 inch limb)
Aluminum Duct Tape......... the real stuff made from metal not cloth
Medicines (asprine, tylenol, pepto, etc)
Bandaids.........all sizes
A small bottle of the Hand Sanatizer

I have all of this stuff stashed eith in a storage compartment on the boat or in one of those RED plastic sealed tool kits they now have.

Please feel free to toss in your suggestions........... and any questions about why I have what I have........ ask.............I'll be glad to explain my reason.

Thanks guys............. I know there way more people on this site that are very experience and have had more aggrivating things happen that caused you to put stuff in your boat.
So that certain thing won't happen again, or feel that bad feeling of having your rear hanging out in the breeze for........... lets say......... forgetting to carry spare fuses for you trolling motor and the dang fish are hitting............. just outside of casting range.:D

Oh.......... we cut a hook up and shorted the fuse slot and fished for a while, but we did use the troling motor very sparingly:cool:

john

Plastic coffee can in case you gotta bail water.
Can store your toilet paper (that you forgot) in it too.
Eyedrops

sounds like you just about got it covered. a few more items I keep are can of bug spray, extra complete fuel line and plastic zip ties different sizes.

Boat hook to retreive things from the water, Lures,bobbers,people & pets etc. Good push pole also. Jumper cables. They make a small set in a bag that work if you have to jump your big motor from your trolling batteries or jump start another boat. Cut the bottom out of a 2 quart milk jug for personal use or as a bailer.

I forgot sunscreen. i always have it in my boat.

This post will be fun.

Some of the items you mentioned were pretty broad; like the medicines. You will want some Zantac after you eat those sardines in mustard for lunch. Probably will need some sting swabs too. The toilet paper has been mentioned, but I keep mine in a zip lock baggie. How about rain gear?? I also keep some ski goggels for when it rains or the wind is blowing in my face on the run back to the landing. It keeps my contacts on my eyeballs.
DP

You guys pretty much have it covered. I've got a few electrical connections and couple of air horns also.

Small can of WD40.

Light bulbs for running lights also.

One thing I keep that wasn't mentioned was electrical tape and a couple extra spark plugs, and an oar, fire extinguisher, and whistle.(illegal not to have in Illinois)

I keep a couple of paintaball helmets in my boat when the spray is bad or it's raining or cold out. A lot better than getting your face beat off by rain at 50 mph. Helmets are only 10-15 bucks.

food!! :D

I make my boat hooks from golf clubs, cut head off driver screw in bicycle hook,good for grabbing limbs boat docks retriving my favorite fishing hat.Ikeep one in back and one in front.

I carry a change of cloths in a super size zip lock after learning the hard way. I fell in the water in December a couple years ago and had to run five miles to the boat ramp. Water was 49 degrees. My saviour was having on my life jacket.

cell phone

I think I need a bigger boat....

Cool this is going to be fun..................

OK........ Not listed but I do have:

Paddle
FOOD!!!! Being one of the lucky many I'm diabetic so I got food.
Electrical tape...........
Zip ties.........and an extra bungy cord to lash the motor to the motor support
(yeah the first one broke and I didn't have a extra)
Insect Rellent..... Got one of those Fancy Smancy Mosquito Deleto thingies (Therma Cell)........yeah it works! I also keep extra pads and butane for it too!
Fire Extengusher
WD-40 and reel oil and reel grease
Frogg Toggs........... both tops and bottoms........... oh and Bubba keeps his extra pair in the boat too! We also have gloves, me a head tobogan thing. Towels........I also keep handwarmers......... get Hot Hands..........those other just don't work as good.
Ummmmmmmm my paper towels double as TP........old boy scout in me...... never ever go away from home without having good TP!
I have a full First Aid kit........ with way more than enough stuff......sting ease, iodine swabs.......... really lots of hopefully un-need stuff.......and a First Aid Book.
I also have several pairs of clear, yellow and dark tinted over my glasses, glasses. Cuts the wind from the eyes when cold..........sun glare......you know.


But I don't have (and will look and get the right ones in the boat)

BULBS.........for the running lights.......... GOOD ANSWER! GOOD
ANSWER!:D
Spark plugs........duh on my part (but in my defense the motor is only two years old)
Boat Hook........... nope didn't think of that one........... but again with Bubba in the back, he is real handy with the net. We got more corks and floats that we wil need and won't ever have to buy any for a long while........I did say he was real good with the net.

Cell Phone........... Dang man that's why I fish to get away from those blasted things............... but I know........ I know....... it comes in handy when you are broke down and such................ Bubba never leave home with out his. SO mine ain't with me:D


One other thing that I have started keeping in the boat is one of those cheapo........ 20 buck digital cameras for Wally World............. comes in handy when you think about it, You just gotta remember to carry spare batteries.............yeah I forgot those.......... but not anymore!

Thanks guys.............keep em coming............ so far I picked up three more items to stash in the boat to stave off those............."dang it..... why didn't I have one of those............" moments.

john

I liked the paint ball helmet idea too.....................gotta check those out at Academy...............:D

Yeah............. maybe we can use this thread to justify why we need a bigger boat!

Oh,........... I forgot. I do have a set of those small cheap Wally World jumper cables in the plastic bag in the boat. Learned that from Bubba and his boat:rolleyes:

How about a fire starting kit just incase you get stranded for a while and need heat?

Bottled water
flare gun (stranded while night fishin)
2 gallons of gas for you or another boater who forgot to fill up.
spotlight and extra bulb
extra cooler for when the live well gets full
ear plugs (for when your buddy's wife is fussin for him not bein home yet)
weather alert radio
compass (just in case you get lost in the dark)
list of excuses why you can't leave just yet (for the wife back home)
Photo copy of fihin liscense and boat registration in case you forgot em.

i also have one of those plastic urinal bottles, signed , shorty

Not needed yet.....but I keep a thermacell in my boat at all times. Another is a tool box and some extra boat motor plugs.

Hmm fishing poles and tackle. Basket in summer to get the fish in cooler water. Extra batteries for a handheld Weather/GPS unit. Warm clothes in case your stranded late in the evening and nobody answers the cell phone. Fillet knife. Some of those water tablets to purify water.

Pretty much covers all thats needed in those emergencies. I was goin to mention rain gear but thats been covered. I also carry an extra change of clothes and towel in case you fall in and if you have room to store them in the boat. I do carry and extra altenator just in case. Bob/Broken String

Got it all!

Now my boat is sinking, my toilet paper is wet, my helmets are floating away, my bulbs won't work and my band aids won't stick.

On the bright side, my disaster has left an debris circle viewable from 30,000 feet!

I hope whoever picks me up hasn't read this thread or there won't be room for me!!!

LOL. Great thread guys!!

Titleman

spare starter rope also i rig the trolling motor with a spare trot line string in case the pull rope brake just tie it to the on trip lever run it out and wrap it around the bottom of the head good for trolling motors where you can't git to the trip pin or take the motor off the mount

Legally required fire extinguisher, CGapprovedPFD for each passenger, plus throwable CG approved PFD.
air horn(mini-size), extra rod and reel,
extra fishing line, Leatherman tool.
Bleach bottle with neck end cut out around an oval 6" circle opposite the handle. Serves as emergency bailer and personal relief recepticle.
Oars. Ductape. Tiewraps. Batteries for everything.
Fishfinder.
Crappie nibbles and a variety of jigheads and jigbodys in the 100's...
Personal Carry Handgun with Permit and extra ammo.
Cell Phone and FMR, GMRS radios. GPS unit.
Nightcrawlers. Sunscreen. TP and towels.
Digital camera.
Aqua-Vu underwater video camera.
Couple hundred feet of anchor rope, anchor(s)
I'd carry a scanner to alert me of possible Game Warden intrusions, but I like surprises, and it keeps me honest...
To be really honest, we have WAY more stuff than we really need to go catch all the fish we want. After all the legal requirements and the no brainers, we could probably pack way less tackle and do without the motor and fishfinder, but what the hey... It's part of the fun.

I try to keep it simple. Take my Cell phone and jumper cables and thats about it for breakdowns because it is usually something that I could not have prepared for that breaks down. Just my luck I guess. Keep tackle to a minnimal. Know what I need and that is what I carry. Only clutter is all the rods for spider rigging. CF

some extra amber....

This is an excellent thread! Besides what has already been mentioned I keep a small tent in the storage just in case I get stranded and it's rainin. Also like Rango said xtra amber can get you through those tuff situations when nobody is answering their phones and it looks like your gonna be there for awhile.;)

and a first aid kit.

Thought of something to maybe keep in the truck............ for those of us that are blessed with having to have corrective devices for our vision...... perscription glasses, it might not be a bad idea to keep an old pair in the truck for when the un-thinkable happens and you loose yours over-board.

If you are like me.......... the ride home would be tough with out them:o

john

One thing I didn't see or just missed. I keep one of those portable batteries with the jumper cables attached for starting cars and trucks in my boat.

Lake Maps
GPS
Pistol - For coming back to the docks late at night.
Bag o Tools put together the night before - includes electrical tools, wire, meter, tape, etc...

We have used motorcycle helmets during the winter time.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rango

some extra amber....

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You always think of the important stuff! :D ;)

Been a while........ but thought of this today.

How many of you keep an spare prop for your main motor in the boat? Show of hands...........

Quite a few........... ok

Spare prop for your trolling motor?

Still a bunch but not as many as the main motor............ ok

How many keep a spare trolling motor prop shear pin in your boat.........

Yeah. that's what I thought.............. well here's a tip for ya.........

You know all those irritating political ad everywhere......... those plastic cardboard looking ones that say "Vote for Me", well guess what? They are stuck on a metal frame that is made of mild steel that fits perfectly in the hole in your Motor Guide shaft........... probably in a Minn Kotas too, but I got Motor Guide.

Cut them to length, about an inch, make a bunch (4 or 5) and put them in your boat for when you hit that big rock or stump and shear the pin off........ remember they are made of steel so keep 'em lubricated cause they WILL rust, but they will save a fishing day. If you cut up the entire sign holder you'll have enough to last a lift time and they are FREE.

Ain't tried them for a permanent replacement, but I'm sure they will work. Just remember to check them often for rust and maybe replace them and the end of a year.

I used a grinder with a cut off wheel and then took my dremel and chamfered the ends to remove any sharp edges.......... Oh and put them in a place where you won't forget them when you need them. I put them in my spare fuse box I keep on the boat........... Yeah that reminds me..........

Show of hands.......... How many have a spare fuse box with at least three of all of your fuses in your boat.....

Yeah........... That's what I thought.

Maybe mentioned before but, as a Crappie fisherman thats out on the water almost year round, I always have a dry bag with a wool army blanket and towel, just in case someone goes in, hypothermia can be deadly, also I fish alone quiet a bit and have been thinking about carrying my cc 2magm just for peace of mind

I always carry a spare change of clothes in a bag in the boat. Saved my hide one chilly March morning!

bearings, grease , x-tra boat key .

Just what TWRA makes me have plus oil , stabil, electric tape, pliers and screw driver.