Need to buy basic accessories for a new boat - help me spend my money

[mcipinkie]

Let me add my 74 years of experience.

 

You don't need bumpers for a bass boat.  No place to put them and hard to make them useful.

 

Get the mandatory stuff first.  Fire extinguisher, PFD's, First aid kit (not mandatory, but you should have one), tie up lines.  I like a paddle.  PITA to store, but I like having one.  You might not.

 

A lot of what has been suggested, you will want.  Some you will not.

 

Don't go buy a bunch of crap that will not be of use to YOU until you figure out what you want.  If you put everything suggested into an 18' or so boat, you'll not have any room for tackle. 

[lo n slo]

another vote for the toilet paper and johnny bottle

[Sir Shamsalot]

Not often thought of items

 

A decent lure retriever. I just got the Fragile Telescoping Lure Retriever.

 

A first aid kit.

 

Musky (large toothy fish) tools. I know, you're not fishing for Musky, but the Musky don't know that. So a jar spreader, wire cutters, bite proof glove, net maybe. So far the musky I've caught came off a Rapala DT6 and a 1/4oz Erie Dearie. Both where above 42" long.

 

2 Thermacells to keep mosquitoes away.

[tander]

 

Your lucky, I found out the hard way, on the Interstate!!! Crazy thing is I thought I had tried my tire wrench and thought it would fit. Had to call my wife to bring me my 4 way, which is kept in my truck all the time now.

[gim]

 

Ya that sucks.  I'm lucky it occurred in the confines of my own garage.  The tire didn't actually fail, it was the valve that needed replacing.

[Fishes in trees]

Once you get the boat, take some time in your drive way and make sure that you can tighten or loosen every single fastener in your boat - then keep the appropriate tools in a waterproof box.   I've had a few flat tire issues over the years.   I currently keep the trailer spare tire in the fishing truck.  Don't like any of the mount the tire to the trailer plans.   I keep a shop jack in my truck because it makes changing the tire much easier than using the much more flimsy jack that comes with the truck.  I had to get a separate tire iron for my boat because the one that fits my truck tires wasn't the same size.   I found a heavy duty collapsible one that takes up minimal room in the fishing truck and works great.   Find out where the fuses are located in your boat (and you truck for that matter) and  get replacements - keep them in the glove box.

 

Over the years I've had 2 fishing trips where I drove quite a ways and then managed to seriously tear up my prop.   Trip would have been ruined had I not listened to a pro the first year I bought the boat.  He told me I was extremely dumb not to have an extra prop & prop wrench that you KNEW fit.

I found a relatively cheap Yamaha prop ( aluminum, not stainless steel ) and it saved 2 trips after I'd driven  3 or 4 hours.

 

All these suggestions - most likely no way you'll be able to get all the stuff at once - use your best judgment and get what you think you'll need, being mindful that sooner or later you WILL need most of the stuff suggested here.

[A-Jay]

When it comes to truck and trailer wheel lug nut removal, and even prop nut when it initially comes from the factory, whether removing them at home or on the road, a breaker bar can be a life saver.

Mechanical advantage rules.

And a quality Torque wrench will take all the guess work out of as well. 

A-Jay 

[J Francho]

You should NEVER need a breaker bar for a prop nut.  That kind of torque would damage the hub.  That said, a breaker bar is one of my favorite tools, so get two.  1001 uses.

 

[A-Jay]

Agreed.

But I'm an old and mostly weak man so . . . . 

A-Jay

 

[J Francho]

I'd wager that there was some thread lock or something holding that nut.  That amount of torque would be way to much for attaching a prop.  Prop wrenches are plastic, for the uninitiated.

[Jig Man]

If your salesman is worth anything and doing his job, he will have a list for you to look at that will have required and recommended items which aren’t included on the boat.  The rest is personal preference.

[Junk Fisherman]

Yeap.  Great advice.  I always have an empty coffee container in my boat in order to pee in or do a #2.  

[J Francho]

Pretty sure this thread is all about those personal preference items.  I know I didn't have any clue at first, and talked to plenty of experienced boaters.