Top 5 Items You Need To Have on a Boat Before Setting Sail
Are you ready to set sail? Hang on a second! Before you embark on your journey, it’s important to make sure you have the right equipment on board. Without some essential items, you can find yourself in a dangerous or difficult situation while out on the open sea.
In this article, we’ll discuss the top five items you need to have on a boat before you can set sail. We’ll discuss the importance of each item, why it’s essential for boating, and how it can help keep you safe. With these items on board, you’ll be prepared for any situation you might find yourself in.
PFDs/Life Jackets
PFDs, or personal flotation devices, are also known as life jackets and are essential for any boating trip. They come in various sizes, from infant to adult, and should be properly sized for each individual on board. PFDs should be worn at all times when on the water for increased safety.
Why They’re Necessary
Wearing a PFD provides users with maximum protection in the event of an emergency, such as falling overboard. Additionally, a life jacket is designed to keep the user afloat in the event of unconsciousness or other incapacitation. Additionally, wearing a PFD is also required by law in certain circumstances. All recreational boats must carry enough approved life jackets for each person on board, including children and infants.
Sail Boat Rope
Sail boat rope is a special type of cordage designed to resist wear caused by chafing and exposure to salt water. Sail boat rope is usually made from synthetic fibers such as nylon, polyester, and polypropylene, or other high-performance ropes like Dyneema or Vectran.
Why It’s Necessary
Sail boat rope offers increased durability and longevity thanks to its abrasion-resistant properties. This protects gear from friction, which can be caused by rubbing against itself or other items on board. This can extend the lifespan of items that may frequently be exposed to strong elements while out at sea, such as wind and waves.
Using sail boat rope properly also prevents gear from being lost overboard due to sudden gusts of wind or rogue waves. Anchors are often connected with a length of sail boat rope that’s long enough to stretch out if needed, which prevents it from snapping due to tension from dragging or jerking motions in strong winds or currents.
Anchor
An anchor is a device used to hold a boat in place while sailing or mooring at a port or harbor. Most anchors are weighted and designed with flukes that dig into the seafloor when dropped from above, although other devices, such as mushroom anchors, are also available.
Why It’s Necessary
In addition to keeping your boat in one place, an anchor also helps protect your boat from strong winds, currents, and tidal surges that can otherwise sweep the vessel away from its position. Whether your voyage is short or long, having an anchor on board is essential for any trip by sea to ensure safe anchoring and mooring at every port of call.
Compass
A marine compass is an instrument developed specifically for navigation at sea. It offers sailors an accurate reading of where they’re heading without having to check a map every few minutes.
Why It’s Necessary
A compass eliminates the need to regularly consult paper maps when navigating open waters. Instead, the user can simply observe the needle pointing north to determine their general direction of travel without having to interrupt other tasks or try to read maps in low-light conditions (such as night or foggy weather sailing). Whether your boat is equipped with GPS navigation systems or not, a compass is always a helpful and reliable backup navigation tool.
Navigation Lights
Navigation lights are an essential part of all marine vessels. They include both running lights, which indicate the length of the vessel when viewed from behind and off to either side, and anchor lights, which provide visibility when anchoring or harboring after dark.
Why They’re Necessary
Running lights offer more than just visibility for other vessels; they also increase safety by improving visibility for those on board once darkness has set in. Anchor lights, on the other hand, can help prevent collisions with obstructions (such as rocks or sandbars) that may otherwise occur during night travel due to limited visibility. Navigation lights are required by law during nighttime hours. Failure to comply can result in legal repercussions on account of unsafe boating practices that threaten boater safety and put lives at risk, so always remember to switch on those navigation lights (or burning lamps) before setting sail!
Bonus: Basic Tool Kit
Surprise! As a bonus to our top five sailing essentials, we threw in one more thing that no captain should leave shore without. Every boat should have a basic tool kit onboard for emergency repairs or adjustments that may need to be performed en route or upon arrival back home. These kits contain various tools, including (but certainly not limited to) screwdrivers, wrenches, hammers/mallets, pry bars/crowbars, shovels, pliers/vice grips/cable cutters (for faulty wiring), sailboat rope, and more. For the most part, the items in your boat’s toolkit will depend upon what type of activity you’ll be using your vessel for (like racing, for instance).
Why It’s Necessary
Having these tools onboard not only helps you fix minor problems quickly but also prevents any further damage from occurring if something does break down, allowing you to finish your voyage safe and sound. While it might seem unlikely that something will go wrong while you’re out on the water, emergencies do happen. Having an adequate tool kit aboard can help you stay prepared and save time (and possibly money), so make sure to pick one up if your boat doesn’t already have one!
Conclusion
Going on a boat trip is a great way to explore the open water, but only if you’re prepared for any situation. To ensure you and your passengers have a safe, enjoyable voyage, it’s important to keep the five (scratch that, six) items discussed in this article on board. PFDs, sail boat rope, an anchor, a compass, navigation lights, and a basic tool kit are all essential for staying safe while at sea, and you should check to make sure each is on board before you set sail. With the right supplies and tools, you can rest assured that your time on the water will be filled with fun and adventure. So, grab the essentials and take to the seas — the world is yours to explore!