Handy Accessories for your new Boat.

I often get asked what accessories I would recommend.  I wrote an article about boater safety (HERE) in which I included a section on this but I thought it was worth making a separate post.  If you can recommend any more please feel free to share in the comments section below.  And if you enjoy these posts don't forget to subscribe to our RSS feed and Facebook Page (HERE) so you know as soon as we pos any thing new.

Here we go:

• Handy Spare Parts and Accessories:
  • Wind Flag or other indicators.  I like to tie yarn or magnetic tape to my shrouds, length and weight makes a big difference, too heavy, too short or too long and it will not fly true in light wind.  Some boats like Tiwal's or Lasers do not use shrouds and have slip on sail - for these you can buy a wind indicator that straps on to the base of the mast and is really handy.  Some boats such as MiniCat's and X-Cat's can have top of the mast wind flags.  Wind here tends to be cleaner but it is sometimes harder to see especially with the sun.
  • Tell-Tales.  If your sail does not come with tell-tales you can easily buy a kit and put some on yourself.  Tell tales will help you get that try just right and optimize laminar air flow.
  • Electric Inflation Pump - A manual pump gives a good workout but I like to preserve my energy for sailing, kiting and Paddling.  Plus it saves time and can be more compact to carry than a manual pump and has a pressure gauge so you get it just right every time.  The best are portable rechargeable with backup connectors for car lighter sockets and home plugs.  Be careful though because you want to make sure the pump is two stage and does high volume/low pressure and High Pressure/Low Volume.  Also read the instructions because pumps tend to have continuous operating time restrictions and overheat easily.
  • A beach dolley makes bringing your Sailboat, Kayak or SUP to an from the water easy for solo adventuring and helps extend the life of your product by minimizing dragging.  Buy one specifically designed for your gear as they do not really work otherwise.
  • Boat Cover.  If you have a cottage or are camping and can keep your boat and gear rigged then why not, that way you can just use it right away.  Our products are UV Resistant but a cover will help extend their life and keep the surface cleaner and free of tree sap and other debris.
  • A front trampoline.  If you own a catamaran, a front trampoline is a great accessory to give you additional space to store more gear and make your sailing area cleaner.
  • Backup Engine. Some sailboats, kayaks and even SUPs have options to attach a gas or electric motor.  This can be handy if the wind dies down or if you want to use your craft in another manner.
  • Rope and Shock Cord!
  • Carabiners and Speed Clips and a couple of pins or cleats that may be common to your boat.
  • A maintenance kit with Towel and Windex to clean and dry your waterspouts [roduct at the end of a session.
  • A D-Ring and Glue Kit - I like to add extra D-Rings to an inflatable boat to give me more tie down points to attach things like rope, bags, water bottles.
  • Waterproof radio.  I personally like the sound of wind and waves and take a break from music and media.  But if you like your session to have a soundtrack then there are lots of great waterproof speakers out there.  Get one that is fully waterproof and has rope attachment points.
  • Cameras, Go-Pros.  These are awesome for making some memorable videos you can watch during the off season or share with your social network.  For best results move them to different spots regularly and pull out a long selfie stick or attach to the end of a paddle for the occasional shot.  I always forget my camera which is a shame because Ive missed capturing some amazing moments.  Also, now they have drones and cameras that can be rigged on land that follow you!  Just make sure your drone is waterproof!
  • Smaller or Bigger Sail.  Some boats can accommodate different sizes of sails.  Having a quiver of sails will expand the useable wind range of your sailboat so you can go out on days you normally would not have.
  • Wind meters can be helpful to know what size sail or kite to rig.  There's even apps that can measure wind based on microphone sound but having never used one myself I don't know how well they work.
  • Roof racks and cargo boxes can be a handy way to transport your gear without taking up in car space.
  • Hyrdo-phobic coatings.  Some people coat their hulls with environmentally safe super water repelling coatings to squeeze every last drop of speed out of their boats.
  • Mast Floats - Help prevent turtling and make righting easier.  There is a technique to righting a turtled catamaran that is very unique but can take time.  One sailing spots have a lot of hazards.  To reduce righting time and prevent turtling mast floats are essential in these environments.
  • Down wind sails.  No boat travels well down wind without a special sail like a Genoa or Spinnaker.
  • Kites.  Some people launch their kite form their Kayak for a unique sailing experience.
  • Backup Floats.  Training wheels for SUPs that provide additional stability.  Some kayak's have these as well and they are really handy for tippy conditions or larger riders.
  • Bumpers.  Rigid boats damage easily so padding and bumpers can help protect your investment even if they do look like a boat diaper.
  • Hyrdo Foils - whether for boats, SUPs, engines, kite boards or surf boards, will add another level to your on water experience.  But these are relatively new and still on the expensive side.
  • Beach Chair, umbrella, beach tent and portable hammock.  Not all your time is on the water, so be prepared when you get to shore.  You  will need some shade and nothing beats a nap in a portable hammock that you can tie around some trees!
  • Harness and Trapeze Wires for boats that have this option there is nothing quite like hanging out over the edge.
  • Harness and Trapeze Wires for boats that have this option there is nothing quite like hanging out over the edge.