There are many great things about a well-stocked boat bag. It keeps you organized and prepared while you’re on the water. It also makes you happy to look at and think about when you’re planning your next boat day. That said, not all boat bags are created equal. What follows is our take on making sure that yours is dialed in and awesome.
Must-Haves: The Boat Bag Essentials Medical Prep and Sun Protection
1.First Aid Kit- Depending on where you are boating, most can get by with a standard, off-the-shelf first aid kit. Make sure it has gauze, ointment, bandages, and disinfectant. If you spend lots of time way offshore or take your boat to remote areas—where access to medical services is more limited—your kit might be more involved.
2.Sunscreen- We recommend bringing enough sunscreen for you and all your guests. An optimal boat bag assortment includes three types—the oil-free face lotion, SPF ChapStick (make sure to get ChapStick that has sun protection!), and a spray sunscreen. Word of warning: Spray sunscreen makes application to kids’ legs bodies a snap, but you’ll want to apply it before they get on the boat. Many spray sunscreens can stain upholstery, towels, clothing, and pillows.
3.Polarized Sunglasses- I don’t go on the water without my Costas. You won't find many professional watermen without them either. They help you see what's underneath the water while protecting your eyes from glare and UV rays.
4.Sun shirts (long-sleeve and hooded)- What’s easier than rounding up the kids every two hours to reapply sunscreen? Having them wear long-sleeved sun shirts. If your boating friends are like mine, someone always forgets the long sleeves. Having a spare sun shirt or two in the boat bag can save on the sun burns.
5.Bug Spray or Thermacell- Few things can ruin a peaceful evening anchored in the cove like a swarm of no-see-ums. Packing some bug spray or Thermacell can be a livesaver. Thermacells are great - they make a variety of airborne bug devices that are portable, on-demand (you can turn them off and on as needed), and they work really well.
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Basic Preparedness
1.Navigation Equipment- Sure, your boa likely has chart plotters and GPS. But you can't go wrong with a map or chart of the water body and a handheld GPS or compass. These are great to use when teaching the kids how to navigate, too.
2.Towels- bring plenty of towels… toss in a couple more than you think you’ll need. They can double for pillows on the ride in.
3.Fillet knife and box of gallon-size resealable bags- You never know when a boat day will turn into a stringer full of catfish or crappie. The zip top bags make sharing the catch easy and keep your drink cooler clean.
4.Tools-Even if you keep spare parts and a tool kit on the boat (we highly recommend doing so), there are a couple things that you might consider adding to the boat bag.
1.Waterproof Bluetooth® Speaker- Waterproof Bluetooth® speakers are great for the boat bag. There are plenty of options these days.
2.Floating Water Mat- Floating water mats are really fun and really versatile. They rill up for easy storage and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They are perfect for relaxing and swimming around when you're anchored up.
3.Boat Bean Bags- If you have the space for them, boat bean bags are great. They are the perfect spot for a nap or for passengers to relax on the way back to the dock.
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The Boat Bag Itself
When it comes to the boat bag, there are a couple of options. If your console is limited in storage and you bring a number of items on and off each time you go out, you might bring two bags. One will contain the things you always bring but seldom use (basic preparedness items and medical kit), the other, the stuff you use all the time— the sunglasses, shirts, sunscreen and bug spray.
Dry bags make great boat bags. Grundens’® Shackelton 105 Liter Duffle Bag is a great all-around option.
The soft-sided Yeti® Hopper 18 is also a great choice. You can either use it to bring your supplies or fill with ice and a 12-pack of your favorite beverages.
The soft-sided Yeti® Hopper 18 is also a great choice. You can either use it to bringyour supplies or fill with ice and a 12-pack of your favorite beverages.
Back to Blue Life
Must-Haves: The Boat Bag Essentials Medical Prep and Sun Protection
1.First Aid Kit- Depending on where you are boating, most can get by with a standard, off-the-shelf first aid kit. Make sure it has gauze, ointment, bandages, and disinfectant. If you spend lots of time way offshore or take your boat to remote areas—where access to medical services is more limited—your kit might be more involved.
2.Sunscreen- We recommend bringing enough sunscreen for you and all your guests. An optimal boat bag assortment includes three types—the oil-free face lotion, SPF ChapStick (make sure to get ChapStick that has sun protection!), and a spray sunscreen. Word of warning: Spray sunscreen makes application to kids’ legs bodies a snap, but you’ll want to apply it before they get on the boat. Many spray sunscreens can stain upholstery, towels, clothing, and pillows.
3.Polarized Sunglasses- I don’t go on the water without my Costas. You won't find many professional watermen without them either. They help you see what's underneath the water while protecting your eyes from glare and UV rays.
4.Sun shirts (long-sleeve and hooded)- What’s easier than rounding up the kids every two hours to reapply sunscreen? Having them wear long-sleeved sun shirts. If your boating friends are like mine, someone always forgets the long sleeves. Having a spare sun shirt or two in the boat bag can save on the sun burns.
5.Bug Spray or Thermacell- Few things can ruin a peaceful evening anchored in the cove like a swarm of no-see-ums. Packing some bug spray or Thermacell can be a livesaver. Thermacells are great - they make a variety of airborne bug devices that are portable, on-demand (you can turn them off and on as needed), and they work really well.
Basic Preparedness
1.Navigation Equipment- Sure, your boa likely has chart plotters and GPS. But you can't go wrong with a map or chart of the water body and a handheld GPS or compass. These are great to use when teaching the kids how to navigate, too.
2.Towels- bring plenty of towels… toss in a couple more than you think you’ll need. They can double for pillows on the ride in.
3.Fillet knife and box of gallon-size resealable bags- You never know when a boat day will turn into a stringer full of catfish or crappie. The zip top bags make sharing the catch easy and keep your drink cooler clean.
4.Tools-Even if you keep spare parts and a tool kit on the boat (we highly recommend doing so), there are a couple things that you might consider adding to the boat bag.
- Multitool-a combination plyers, knife and screwdriver can be helpful in a variety of ways. Cutting fishing line, unhooking fish, or tightening screws on the boat.
- Extra Dock line and Spare Rope- you might consider picking up a section of paracord and some extra dock line. From rafting up at the sand bar to tying down rafts or tubes for the ride in, you never know when you’ll need it.
1.Waterproof Bluetooth® Speaker- Waterproof Bluetooth® speakers are great for the boat bag. There are plenty of options these days.
2.Floating Water Mat- Floating water mats are really fun and really versatile. They rill up for easy storage and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They are perfect for relaxing and swimming around when you're anchored up.
3.Boat Bean Bags- If you have the space for them, boat bean bags are great. They are the perfect spot for a nap or for passengers to relax on the way back to the dock.
The Boat Bag Itself
When it comes to the boat bag, there are a couple of options. If your console is limited in storage and you bring a number of items on and off each time you go out, you might bring two bags. One will contain the things you always bring but seldom use (basic preparedness items and medical kit), the other, the stuff you use all the time— the sunglasses, shirts, sunscreen and bug spray.
Dry bags make great boat bags. Grundens’® Shackelton 105 Liter Duffle Bag is a great all-around option.
The soft-sided Yeti® Hopper 18 is also a great choice. You can either use it to bring your supplies or fill with ice and a 12-pack of your favorite beverages.
The soft-sided Yeti® Hopper 18 is also a great choice. You can either use it to bringyour supplies or fill with ice and a 12-pack of your favorite beverages.
Back to Blue Life