Boating Essentials Checklists
- breder7
- Jul 28, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 1, 2025
Calling all salty folks! I created two very thorough lists of Boating Essentials to ensure your safety, comfort and fun on the water. If you are the visual type, scroll down to the bottom of this page for my visual checklist on my Pinterest board with other favorites I use on the water. Many boaters pay for an annual Seatow membership in case of trouble. What do you think the most essential item is? If the FWC checks your safety equipment, they have a long list and it sure puts a wet blanket on the fun if you left the dive flag in your garage. I spent half a century on the water and have refined a written checklist based on my experiences on the water. This list is made not only for required Coast Guard Approved essentials, but also for your recreation = so you can have more happy, happy fun time on the water. Please enjoy this free checklist. Print it out and keep it posted near your gear pile so you can be prepared for adventure on the water or save it to your device for easy access. If you are looking for a gift for a boater, many items below are linked to *best selling products and this list is a great starting point for any gift for boaters or fisherman. It is an expensive hobby, but the ocean rewards us in many ways so lets get out there on the water folks! Now here's that free checklist to download and print or save on your computer.
Here's a digital view of the checklist with direct links to boating essentials available on amazon.
o Test fired boat motor in the yard (all batteries including trolling motor are charged)
o Drain plug in? (Basic tool kit onboard w/ spare plug, spare prop, spare fuel bulb / fuel line, zip ties, duct tape, spark plugs, multi tool, rigging knife, paracord, electrical tape)
o Fueled up (oil for 2 strokes)?
o File Float plan with a family member who is not going on boat
o Trailer (lights plugged in, air in tires, spare tire aired up, bearings lubed)
o Aerial flares, flare gun, handheld signal flares, fire extinguisher (check expiration dates)
o Horn/whistle (keep whistle attached to every pfd and boat key chain & you will have lots
o Coast Guard approved PFDs for each person and at least 1 throwable Type 4 PFD
o Nautical charts of the area and compass (especially if you don’t have a GPS)
o Boat and Trailer registration, seatow card w/ phone number (800-4-SEATOW)
o Electronics
o Cell phone with charger cable
o VHF radio w/ battery (when you are out of cell phone range)
o Epirb or Satellite Phone
o Boat keys with floating keychain
o Fishing Tackle
o Rods and reels rigged and ready, sabiki rig
o Bait, Chum, gulp artificial baits (if bait shops are sold out of bait), sabiki rigs, cast net
o Dive flag and gear for each person (mask, de-fog, snorkel, fins, fin socks, dive bag, quick clip/stringer, lobster tickle stick/snare, spear guns, pole spears, or Hawaiian slings)
o Sun protection (Bimini top, hat, UV clothes, sunblock, polarized sunglasses, water shoes, towels, fishing shorts (these are amazing for so many reasons)
o Cooler
o Lunch, snacks, drinks
o Water for everyone on board (1 gallon per person)
o ICE (Re-freeze Gatorade or squarish shaped jugs and save $) or ice packs
o Bait, chum
*For your convenience, the underlined text is linked to online product info. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
You may also like my Beach Bum Essentials Board if you like to hit the beach. Check it out and follow me on Pinterest if you have similar interests. *As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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