Spending a day on the water can sound like a relaxing time spent with family and friends. Yet, you should always make sure that you have all the necessary items to make your boat trip a success.
What’s the best way to get prepared for an upcoming boating trip?
To make a checklist of all the crucial items that you can’t leave shore without, of course!
Whether you own your own boat or you’re planning to rent one, then we have the perfect guide for you.
Keep reading for our ultimate boating trip checklist for everything you’ll need on your next trip.
Table of Contents
The Important Stuff
When going for a day on the boat there are quite a few important documents and safety necessities that you’re going to need. Without bringing the important stuff you could get into some serious trouble and it could put a damper on your fun boat trip.
Identification or Other Documents
When you’re operating the boat you’re going to want to bring the current registration as well as your license. Be sure to check out everything that you need in your state if you’re the driver of the boat.
Safety Equipment
You’re also going to need certain safety equipment when you’re on the boat that the law requires. This type of equipment is horns, flares, and fire extinguishers. Be sure to look up what your state requires when you plan a boating trip.
Life Jackets for Everyone
When you’re on a boat every single person needs a life jacket regardless if they can swim or not. Make sure to never leave shore without a life jacket for each person on the boat.
First Aid Equipment
You never know what can happen on your boat trip so you always want to be prepared. Make sure that you have a first aid kit fully stocked with gauze, bandages, antiseptic cream, and anything else you might need.
Navigation Equipment
Before setting sail, you should make sure that you’re navigation and radio work in your boat. In case you were to get into some trouble you want to make sure that these signals are all good to go.
Fishing License
If your best boating trip day consists of going fishing, then you’re going to want to make sure that you have your fishing license on you. Each person that wants to cast a reel in the water will need a fishing license.
The Comfortable Stuff
You’re going to be spending the entire day on the water so should also be sure that you have things to make everyone comfortable on your boating trip checklist. There are quite a few things that you should bring to help your family and friends have the best boating trip ever!
Protection From the Sun
Being out in the middle of the water means you have nowhere to hide from those harmful UV rays. Wearing sunscreen and bringing extra to reapply later is important for a boat trip.
You should also bring chapstick, sunglasses, and a cute hat to help protect you from the sun for your day on the boat.
Wear a Bathing Suit and Bring a Jacket
Going on a boating trip means that you might have time to take a dip in the water so make sure that you wear your bathing suit. You should also bring some dry clothes for later on in the day when you’re done swimming.
Another important thing to bring on the boat is a jacket. Even if you go out on the boat in the middle of a hot summer day you don’t know how cold it could get, especially toward the evening. Driving at a fast pace in the middle of the water can get the wind blowing and you might want to bundle up.
Lunch Food and Snack Food
When you plan a boating trip you should also plan to bring lots of food. Spending time in the sun makes people very hungry so bring foods to snack on as well.
Some of the best boat foods are going to be quick and easy like pasta salads, sandwiches, frozen grapes, and veggies. Anything that you and your friends can grab and eat quickly will be the best foods to eat during your boat trip.
The Fun Stuff
The boating trip checklist should also have a list of all the fun stuff you need. Whether you like to play games, do water sports, blast music, or want to take some cool pictures there are some things that you can’t forget.
You Need the Music
Having speakers to play music on your boat is a necessity especially if you like to have fun. You can’t put regular speakers on your boat and call it a day.
Instead, you need speakers that can deal with the conditions that the boat will put them through. Read more now about finding the best speakers for your boat!
Water Sports and Toys
There are so many different things that you can do in the water. Whether you want to go tubing, fishing, water skiing, or snorkeling there is a list of accessories that you need to bring along with you.
Make sure that you pack all the fun stuff to have a fun-filled day out on the water doing your favorite activities.
Your Camera
Bringing a waterproof camera on your boat trip will make it ten times more fun plus you will get to bring home photos of all your memories. There are plenty of different waterproof cameras you can invest in or you can get a waterproof case for your phone.
The Ultimate Boating Trip Checklist
If you’re planning to set sail on a boating trip anytime soon, then make sure that you have all these items so that you’re prepared. Whether it is to stay safe, have fun, or even to satisfy your hunger these items are a necessity.
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