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Outfitting your boat with boat gear is almost as exciting as deciding on the boat itself. Of course the most important boat outfitting you need is the safety equipment. In addition to obvious safety devices (such as life jackets], the first electronic safety item you should get is a VHF marine radio.

Fixed mount VHF marine radios have access to all U.S. and international marine VHF channels. Channel number 16 should be monitored whenever the radio is not used for communications. Some boaters add a portable VHF radio for backup. They’re great in the event of accidental sinking because most are water resistant and can be operated with one hand only. Your primary VHF radio should be considered essential boat gear

You probably know how hand GPS systems are for your car, and they are just as useful on the water. You may well come to think of your marine GPS system as essential boat gear. Many systems record waypoints to get you back to where you started as easily as possible. Some GPS devices come with built in fish finders, making them doubly useful on-board. A particularly nifty item you might want, or that you might buy as a gift for a fishing enthusiast is a combination wristwatch / fish finder. They are as low as 100 USD and can automatically turn off the sonar sensor when you are out of the water. And yes, they are water resistant!

To make fishing even more efficient, outriggers and rod holders are excellent ideas for boat outfitting, whether clamp-on or flush mounted. For trolling, downriggers are available either by themselves or combined with fish finders. They come in a wide price range with many different capabilities built in. This is the kind of equipment that makes boating even more pleasurable.

And of course, if you’re going to be trolling, you need a trolling motor, and choosing the right trolling motor is essential. It should depend on whether you are fishing in saltwater or fresh water. Even if you intend to fish in saltwater for sevral hours, you should have a saltwater-friendly trolling motor. The type of boat you have will also help determine the best trolling motor, whether it’s a pontoon boat, canoe, or Jon Boat, as will your typical fishing conditions, such as fishing in windy conditions or trolling against a current.

There are also many entertainment devices that may not be essential boat gear, but can make boating even more enjoyable. There are marine MP3 hookups so you can take your favorite tunes with you, and there are satellite receivers for watching television, and combined audio / video systems.

And while electrical equipment may not be as exciting as a marine DVD player, it is the boat gear that makes your boating experience much more enjoyable. Circuit breakers, electrical connectors, and electrical panels designed for the marine environment are part of equipping your boat with the electronics you need to keep safe, catch fish, and have lots of fun.

Boat outfitting is a lot of fun, but it is the second most expensive proposition after buying the boat itself. When figuring out the kind of boat gear you need, start with the items that are essential to safety, and then see what extras your budget allows.