What are you most happy about that you added to your boat?

[Simp]

I recently got a boat and I'm looking at things to add. I thought it would be agreat idea to make a thread to discuss things we've added to our boats that we like having the most. Right now I'm looking at adding a couple anchors and wenches for them. I'm also planing to add a on board charger. So what thing or mod have you done that you appreciate the most?

[Jim Grouch]

I would have to say the Terrova trolling motor. The auto pilot feature has completely changed the way I fish. It was tough to stomach spending that much money on a trolling motor... but now after having it I wouldn't think twice on buying it.

[cart7t]

If you decide to add those wenches just remember....

what happens on these boards stays on these boards.... 

[Fishing Rhino]

The 99 dollar portable Eagle Cuda sounder.

It has found me more productive bottom in my favorite pond than I knew existed.  Bottom I would only have found by dumb luck.

Not only did it show me this bottom, but it enabled me to find the perimeters of these patches of bottom.

I'm looking forward to a larger boat with side imaging and maps which show the virtual contours of the bottom rather than just depth lines.

But for me, electronics are the number one priority.  Money spent on them is never wasted, unless you buy them and do not learn how to use them to the max.

[Jig Man]

Networked, etherneted Lowrance gps/sonar units.

[Wayne P.]

Me

[donmac]

Let's see, having had too many boats over the years with too much crap, this should be fun but since you mention anchor winches, let me respond with a yea/nay

Anchor Winches I put them on a tin boat way back when, and they were a waste of time and space for me. I seldom anchor and when I do I can do it much faster myself and my 21 or 17 year old sons can now haul them even faster than I can

Anchor Reins on the other hand Love them ordered them on the Ranger I ordered new and will install them on the project bargain bay boat' Ranger I'm working on now anchor reins are actually most often used for docking but can also be used for light anchoring as well and of course an anchor should be onboard (with adequate line)

low profile black light fishing light' that I bought a hundred years ago and have been transferring from boat to boat and have probably used it 3 times would not do that again.

A handheld spotlight on the other hand should be in every boat

Electronics Sonar is a given but I'm not yet convinced I need to spend $2K on sonar.on this project boat I'm working on I spent about $500 for an Eagle Fish Elite GPS/Sonar/temp color combo for the console and a Eagle Fishmark for the bow GPS can save hours on big water if you have maps with buoys indicated wouldn't have a boat without GPS these days . I recall trying to find a reef on Champlain back in the 80's when my compass got stuck, not fun..... working nav lights of course

Onboard chargers are a given for me as well a bank for each battery, including the cranking battery

the knowledge on how to remove a hook that is impaled past the barb'. It happens

Here's a no' blast from the past from the past for you old timers, a colo-r-selctor. think I tossed that years ago.

Basic tools with needle nose pliers of course topping the list

If you have an aluminum prop, a spare prop is a must, especially if you are on a trip far from home.

I could go on.

[gatorblazer]

Two paddles, not just one. I had an issue on my last boat where all the batteries died and I was in the middle of the lake. My partner took the one paddle I had, I had to wrap my rain jacket around the net to make an extra paddle.

[soccplayer07]

Beer!

[Catt]

Toledo Bend 

[stratos 375]

An additional fire extinguisher besides the little cheap ones that are about the size of a wine bottle. Imagine my surprise as I pulled up to the ramp one evening, as I was taking off my rear tiedowns, I saw smoke coming out of the rear compartment, after I opened the compartment and let in a much needed blast of oxygen for the fire, I was looking at some major flamage. Right next to my gas tank. I grabbed the closest fire extinguisher, the one made for a midget, and

let 'er rip. Don't count on these things to put out a fire of any size! Thank god I had a real fire extinguisher under the console! When it was all over, I saw where a wire had been very hot from the fire and almost melted thru my fuel tank.

If I had driven another 5 miles or so, I would have had a rolling bomb. So the thing I'm most happy I added was a real  fire extinguisher.

Other  essential things I carry are a small chainsaw, a Smith & Wesson MP15-22, a boom box, a coleman camp stove, a sleeping bag, couple sets of raingear, a fully equipped toolbox, paddles, a pole, enough line to be able to tow another boat, camera, tape recorder, binoculars, flares and a flare gun, smoke signals, a major size first aid kit, hand held spotlight & a manual bilge pump, some MRE's, 2 15# anchors & plenty of line. Thank god I always fish alone, and much to my happiness, there's no room for anyone else & their gear. And yes, this boat is a thief's dream come true.

And then there are the less essential items , like all my fishing gear and electronics

[Fishing Rhino]

Me

That's got to be the best answer.

[TopDog]

An Onboard Charger!

[bowfish12]

A 788ci and new trolling motor. The electronics that were on it were from the late 90's basic model humminbirds.  The trolling motor was a 36 lb that could not move or hold in the wind.

[Simp]

If you decide to add those wenches just remember....

what happens on these boards stays on these boards....

I agree a couple of these galls would be perfect!

Now on the subject of winches. I've seen the auto winches and thought that's over kill but a anchor winch would be nice. I want to anchor on spots allot more rather then relying on the TM to always keep me in position.  Plus if it's a little windy the anchors should help a ton. Right now I don't do it that much because it's a hassle to dig out the anchor set it up and pull it back in when it's time to go. I want to make it a easy process so I'm not avoiding doing it because it's easier but not as effective to just use the TM.

[Fishes in trees]

Get the biggest trolling motor you can afford.  An on-board charger is nice.  Swapping out the front seat for a butt seat.  I carry most of the safety stuff guys mentioned earlier.

I added a step set up and a wider board on my trailer tongue and now it is much easier to climb in and out of the boat when I'm launching.

[32251]

Some of these....

[MtCarmelTriton20x]

Some of these....

Just a warning: I have one of these and it has cost me alot more than my boat ever thought of costing. By the way apparently these depreciate alot too because if you try to trade one in you may have to pay on it for years even though you no longer have it in your possesion. ;D

[K_Mac]

Good electronics and an on-board charger are two items I dearly love, but the thing that makes me the happiest every time I fish is my trolling motor. I spent an obscene amount of money on a MK 80# Fortrex with the transducer built in. Having used under-powered, inferior units, I really appreciate the difference. 8-)

[32251]

Some of these....

Just a warning: I have one of these and it has cost me alot more than my boat ever thought of costing. By the way apparently these depreciate alot too because if you try to trade one in you may have to pay on it for years even though you no longer have it in your possesion. ;D

Catch and release, Catch and release, Catch and release.......

[bass or bass ?]

1.Bimini top. Daytime temps here from May to September are over 110 degrees, shade is heaven.

2. Motorcycle headlights for shallow river navigation at night.

[BassThumb]

Baby wipes!

The Maxxum Pro trolling motor didn't hurt either.

[DINK WHISPERER]

GPS

[done]

I am with ya. Every boat needs a good set of wenches. LOL.

I want side imaging next for my setup. I love what I got besides that.

So side imaging and wenches...then ya got a perfect boat.

[Chaz Hickcox]

If you notice all the new bassboats have high gloss paint on all of the flat serfaces on the gunwhales.  Personally I fish the whole boat, if I am in a tight spot and I see some activity, I won't turn the boat around I will walk around to the stern.  Because of that, the high gloss is super slippery when wet.  So I got some paint on bedliner stuff and put that serface on all of the flat serfaces around the top of the gunwhales.  Now I don't have any issues with slippage that I used to.