You can do without these, but they sure will make life better on a boat

There are certain things on a yacht that are essential, like life jackets and navigation equipment. However, there are other items that you can bring on board that will greatly improve the quality of life when you are out at sea. These aren’t toys and gadgets, no, but they are additional items we think you should have on the vessel that will make life easier. Here are 10 suggestions we have for just such items.

A robust watch

When going for regattas, there are many possibilities for accompanying wrist accessories. However, for daily life on board or adventurous excursions, something rugged and almost bomb-proof like a G-SHOCK is necessary. The new G-SHOCK GSW-H1000 has the ‘normal’ features of the brand, like a shock resistant case and 200m water resistance, but on top of that it also has an optical heart rate sensor, compass, altitude and air pressure sensor, accelerometer, gyrometer, and GPS. Furthermore, the watch runs on Google’s OS, so apps like Navionics can run on the device.

Clothspins

Stainless steel clothespins or clothes pegs are excellent to have on board. They secure clothes, cleaning rags, towels – anything that is wet really – to a line and help dry the items out quick, not to mention prevent them from accidentally becoming pollution. Damp cloths can get mildew overtime and stink up the cabin, so drying them out quickly in the sun is a good idea.

Battery-powered handheld vacuum

Sure, there are power plug points all around the cabin, but having one that is unencumbered by wires and easy to carry will come in handy (pun intended) to have on board. When the technology was first introduced these vacuums were expensive, but today they are quite affordable. Battery technology has moved along as well, and even the cheaper ones can run at normal mode for almost an hour, which should cover most, if not all, of the interior of the yacht.

Breeze booster

Most yachts have air conditioning these days, but for boaters who are more energy conscious or vessels that do not have A/C, there’s this wonderful invention known as a breeze booster. Simply open one, place it at the hatches, and these will catch the wind and redirect more of the breeze into the cabin to keep the interior cool.

Nesting pots

Cooking is an essential part of boat life, but most galleys have limited space and cabinets to store things. Thus, nesting cookware are highly recommended to keep things neat and tidy here, and having pots of different sizes will help with all the cooking that will inevitably be done here. Just like for homes, good cooking pots will last years, and will be useful for the entire life of the vessel.

Solar deck showers

Campers and hikers often use this nifty little device. When the boat is at maximum capacity and everyone wants a turn in the shower, having a solar shower in an open part of the deck is godsend. Simply fill the bag with water (rain water will work too) and leave it somewhere the sun can heat the bag up. Some bags also have a lever that can increase the pressure of the water coming out of the shower handle.

Solar oven

What can you do if there is simply not enough cooking space in the galley? A barbeque pit is an option, or boaters can opt for the simplicity of a solar oven. The only thing the contraption needs is the sun, so plan ahead. It’ll save gas as well, and is a much greener way to prepare your meals out in the ocean where there’s just so much sunshine.

Solar chargers

The abundance of sunlight at sea makes solar-powered devices highly viable. Charging devices from the grid on board means burning fuel, so having one or two solar charges for your devices with you will also help make the hobby that little bit more sustainable. Simply plug devices in need into the solar charger, and then go enjoy the water. The charging ports are sensitive to salt water corrosion, however, so be sure to keep the chargers as dry as possible.

Whistling kettle

This may seem simple, but a  whistling kettle should be all you need for your hot water needs on a vessel. For cooking, using a gas burner is the most energy efficient method, unless the yacht has a solar panel feeding the electric stoves. When the kettle boils, it will whistle and users can quickly turn off the stove to save energy and prevent potentially dangerous situations. What’s more, get one with an anti-slip and anti-heat handle, as well as a heavier body as it will help the kettle resist the movement of the boat.

Mobility solutions

This isn’t strictly something you use on board, but will be excellent equipment to have when you head back to shore. Electric scooters and electric bicycles are highly useful when exploring seaside locales, and will bring you to town posthaste if the shops are a little bit further inland. Additionally, electric scooters and bicycles are often foldable too, so they have a relatively small footprint on board and are easily stowed away.

Summary

Having said all that, the best way to know what you need on your own boat is to use her, use her well, and then slowly fill her up with equipment that will increase the pleasure of using her. If you need suggestions on sea toys, we also have an excellent article on it. Happy boating!