| | | | | Boat outfitting is a lot of fun, but it is the second |
| Outfitting your boat with boat gear is almost as | | | | most expensive proposition after buying the boat |
| exciting as choosing the boat itself. Indeed the | | | | itself. When deciding on the kind of boat gear |
| most important boat outfitting you need is the | | | | you require, start with the safety-essential items , |
| safety equipment. In addition to obvious safety | | | | and then see what extras your budget allows. |
| devices (such as life jackets], the first electronic | | | | Equipping your boat with boat gear is almost as |
| safety item you should get is a VHF marine radio. | | | | fun as choosing the boat itself. Of course the first |
| | | | | boat outfitting you need to do is with safety |
| Fixed mount VHF marine radios have access to all | | | | equipment. In addition to obvious safety devices |
| U.S. and also international VHF channels (marine | | | | (such as life jackets], the first electronic safety |
| only). Channel 16 should be monitored whenever | | | | item you should install is a VHF marine radio. Fixed |
| the radio isn't being used for communications. | | | | mount VHF marine radios have access to all U.S. |
| Some boaters add a handheld VHF radio as a | | | | and international marine VHF channels. Channel |
| backup. They're great in the event of accidental | | | | number 16 should be always monitored whenever |
| sinking because they are waterproof and can be | | | | the radio is not used for communications. Some |
| operated with one hand only. Your primary VHF | | | | boaters add a handheld VHF radio as a backup. |
| radio should be considered essential boat gear | | | | They're very useful in the event of accidental |
| | | | | sinking because they are waterproof and can be |
| | | | | operated with one hand . Your primary VHF radio |
| You probably know how hand GPS systems are | | | | should be considered essential boat gear You |
| for your car, and they are just as useful on the | | | | probably know how hand GPS systems are for |
| water. You may well come to think of your | | | | your car, and they are just as useful on the |
| marine GPS system as essential boat gear. Some | | | | water. You may well come to think of your |
| of the systems record waypoints to get you | | | | marine GPS system as essential boat gear. Many |
| back to where you started as easily as possible. | | | | systems record waypoints to get you back to |
| several GPS devices are sold with built in fish | | | | where you started as easily as possible. several |
| locatros, making them even more useful on-board. | | | | GPS devices are sold with built in fish locatros, |
| A particularly nifty item you might want, or that | | | | making them doubly useful on-board. A particularly |
| you might buy as a gift for a fishing enthusiast is | | | | nifty item you might want, or that you might buy |
| a combination wristwatch / fish finder. They are | | | | as a gift for a fishing enthusiast is a combination |
| as low as $100 and automatically turn off the | | | | wristwatch / fish finder. They cost less than $100 |
| sonar sensor once you are out of the water. | | | | and automatically shut down the sonar sensor |
| And yes, they are water resistant! | | | | when you're not on the water. And yes, they are |
| | | | | water resistant! To make fishing all the more |
| To make fishing all the more efficient, outriggers | | | | efficient, outriggers and rod holders are great |
| and rod holders are excellent ideas for boat | | | | ideas for boat outfitting, whether clamp-on or |
| outfitting, whether clamp-on or flush mounted. For | | | | flush mounted. For trolling, downriggers are |
| trolling, downriggers are available either by | | | | available either by themselves or combined with |
| themselves or combined with fish finders. They | | | | fish finders. They come in a wide price range with |
| come in a wide price range with many different | | | | many different capabilities built in. This is the kind |
| capabilities built in. This is the kind of equipment | | | | of equipment that makes fishing even more |
| that makes fishing even more fun. | | | | pleasurable. And of course, if you intend to be |
| | | | | trolling, you need a trolling motor, and choosing |
| And of course, if you intend to be trolling, trolling | | | | the right one is very important. It will depend on |
| motor is required, and choosing the right one is | | | | whether you are fishing in saltwater, or fresh |
| very important. It will depend on whether you are | | | | water, or both. Even if you are going to fish in |
| fishing in saltwater, or fresh water, or both. Even | | | | saltwater for sevral hours, you should have a |
| if you're only going to be fishing in saltwater part | | | | saltwater-friendly trolling motor. The type of boat |
| of the time, you need a saltwater-friendly trolling | | | | you have will also help to determine the best |
| motor. The borad type will also help in | | | | trolling motor, whether it's a pontoon boat, canoe, |
| determining the most suitable trolling motor, | | | | or Jon Boat, as will your typical fishing conditions, |
| whether it's a pontoon boat, canoe, or Jon Boat, | | | | for example: fishing in windy conditions or trolling |
| as will your typical fishing conditions, for example: | | | | against a current. There is a variety of |
| fishing in windy conditions or trolling against a | | | | entertainment devices that may not be essential |
| current. | | | | boat gear, but should make theboating even more |
| | | | | pleasurable. There are marine MP3 hookups so |
| There are also many entertainment devices that | | | | you can take your favorite tunes with you, and |
| may not be essential boat gear, but can make | | | | there are satellite receivers for watching |
| boating even more enjoyable. There are marine | | | | television, and combined audio / video systems. |
| MP3 hookups so you can take your favorite | | | | And while electrical equipment may not be as |
| tunes with you, and there are satellite receivers | | | | exciting as a marine DVD player, it is the boat |
| for watching television, and combined audio / | | | | gear that makes your boating experience much |
| video systems. | | | | more enjoyable. Circuit breakers, electrical |
| | | | | connectors, and electrical panels designed for the |
| And while electrical equipment may not be as | | | | marine environment are part of equipping your |
| exciting as a marine player, it is exactly the kind | | | | boat with the electronics you need to keep safe, |
| of boat gear that makes your fishing experience | | | | catch fish, and have lots of fun. Boat outfitting is |
| much more fun. Circuit breakers, electrical | | | | definitely a lot of fun, but it is also the second |
| connectors, electrical panels and other gadgets | | | | most expensive proposition after purchasing the |
| designed for the marine environment are part | | | | boat itself. When figuring out the kind of boat |
| of equipping procedure, keeping the boating more | | | | gear you need, start with the items that are |
| safe and pleasurable. | | | | essential to safety, and then see what extras |
| | | | | your budget allows. |
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