| rts can be divided into the following categories: | | | | companies that specialize in boating clothing that is |
| * Anchor and Docking | | | | worth the expense. |
| * Boat Covers and Bimini Tops | | | | Navigation aids for boats are a part of safety and |
| * Cabin, Galley and Interior | | | | assistance in knowing direction and location of |
| * Clothing and Outwear | | | | where you are or where you want to go. It is |
| * Deck and Cockpit/Cabinet | | | | very easy to get out onto a body of water and |
| * Electrical | | | | get a bit disoriented or confused on where you |
| * Electronics | | | | are. Navigation aids are tremendously important in |
| * Engine Parts | | | | assisting you for location and direction. |
| * Paint and Maintenance | | | | Paint and maintenance are most important if you |
| * Navigation | | | | moor your boat in saltwater. The bottom of the |
| * Hardware | | | | boat must be painted to help prevent corrosion |
| * Plumbing | | | | and fouling organisms found in the water. It is |
| * Propellers, Thrusters and Drive Parts | | | | best for the environment to have the paint be a |
| * Steering Systems | | | | non-toxic (no copper) paint. Also, monthly bottom |
| * Safety | | | | hull cleaning of the boat (the part of the boat that |
| * Fasteners | | | | is in the water) is essential to keep the boat |
| In considering each category, boaters can always | | | | running to its top level. There are many bottom |
| choose whether to purchase their parts new or | | | | boat cleaning diving companies that offer this |
| used. Also each category has many different | | | | monthly service. |
| options to choose from. For example, depending | | | | Electronic boat parts include music radios, |
| on where you are boating, determines what type | | | | ship-to-shore radio's, depth finders, GPS's, radars |
| of anchor is best to purchase. | | | | and TV's. On bigger or live aboard boats, |
| Mushroom anchors are best where there are lots | | | | electronics also includes your stove, microwave |
| of rocks and ledges where you desire to anchor | | | | and A/C systems. |
| as opposed to hooker or flute anchors that can | | | | Electrical boat parts includes ship-to-shore power |
| get caught on the rocks while trying to pull up the | | | | lines, wiring, exterior and interior navigational |
| anchor. | | | | lighting, batteries, switches and fuses, chargers, |
| In addition, boat parts can be purchased through | | | | inverters and meters. |
| numerous websites or at marine parts store | | | | The most important boat part in regard to |
| locations. The best teacher for knowing about all | | | | plumbing we believe to be the bilge system. What |
| parts, in our opinion is experience and talking with | | | | this does is if water enters the boat, the bilge |
| other experienced boaters. | | | | pump will automatically turn on and remove the |
| The most important boat parts are considered | | | | water from the boat. |
| your steering system, electrical system and | | | | Clearly safety equipment is not technically a boat |
| batteries, however without a prop to propel the | | | | part but is considered essential and required in |
| boat, everything else may be working but your | | | | some cases to be always on your boat. Safety |
| boat is going nowhere. | | | | equipment includes first aid and medical kits, fire |
| It truly is best to carry any extra prop and to | | | | extinguishers, flares and signaling devices, EPIRBs, |
| have dual batteries if you plan on going a great | | | | life rafts, & survival gear. |
| distance out, or you boat out in the cold, or if you | | | | When it comes to boat parts, the word to keep |
| own a boat longer than 20 feet. | | | | in mind is prevention. Have the correct equipment |
| Clothing is also vitally important. Getting wet in the | | | | on board and maintain the validity and integrity of |
| wrong type of clothing is no fun. There are | | | | all boat parts. |