There’s nothing better than owning your own boat.
Getting out onto the water is fun for the family and food for the soul. You’re in nature, fishing, frolicking, and having a good time all-around. It’s no wonder boat sales were up 10% this year!
Better still, there are endless boat upgrades you can make that can transform the appearance and performance of your vessel. Have you just purchased a new boat and want to find out about possible alterations that could bring it up to spec?
Well, whether you’re looking for major or minor changes, you’re in the right place. Keep reading to discover 7 top boating upgrades you’re sure to love.
1. New Seat Upholstery
Even the most expensive, luxurious vessels start looking tired with time and continued use. It goes with the territory of enjoying your boat! Bumps, scuffs, and dirty marks are all to be expected.
Is your watercraft starting to look weathered and worn around the edges? A great way to give the aesthetic a new lease of life is to replace the seat upholstery. Similar to repainting the walls in your house, this step can make a world of difference to any boat.
It’s out with the old and in with the new! In one fell swoop, you’ll dispose of any stains, tears, and outdated styles and replace them with fresh fabric. Top tip: a hack that can achieve similar results for less money is to purchase protective seat covers instead.
2. A New Stereo System
Going out in your boat will always be a fun experience. But it gets even better when you can listen to your favorite tunes in high-quality at the same time! If you love music and your boat’s current setup isn’t up to standard, then a new stereo system will always come in handy.
Quality’s important here though. Remember, this stereo isn’t going to be sat safe and sound on a shelf at home! It’s going to be exposed to the elements, drenched in water, and bumped around.
Trust us, it’s worth paying more than you might wish to on a high-end piece of kit like these tower speakers with amplifier. It’ll last longer, withstand the rigors of its role, and deliver better sound quality too. You’ll be rocking out on your boat for years to come, saving money on repairs/replacements that cheaper models may have required.
3. A Brand New Motor
Upgrading the motor on your boat is by no means a small investment. Heck, in some cases it can cost more than the vessel itself.
Prices vary depending on the make, model, size, and power. But you can expect to pay tens of thousands to get hold of high-spec motors. Even options for smaller craft can set you back up many hundreds of dollars.
If you’ve got the money, though, buying a new and improved motor can transform your boating experience. Everything from speed to fuel efficiency will get better! It’ll also boost the resale value of the boat, helping you recoup a percentage of the motor’s cost whenever you sell it.
4. A Better Battery
Picture this: you’re out with your family on a long-awaited fishing trip. You’ve taken the boat miles off-shore and spent an amazing day on the water. Now, with a storm approaching, it’s time to head back in.
When you go to turn the key in the ignition, though, nothing happens. The boat battery’s flat…again. And now you’re stuck out at sea with rough weather coming in.
Needless to say, this kind of fate is best avoided. Yet it’s all-too-common in the boating world! Unless that is, you have a high-end marine battery supplying the power. The best batteries don’t come cheap, but this particular upgrade will pay for itself in the long run.
5. A New Anchor
If you love fishing, then having a high-quality anchor on board the boat is crucial. The last thing you want is to start drifting or spinning like a top when you’re about to reel in a prize fish!
Thankfully, shallow-water models come as standard on most fishing boats these days. But that doesn’t mean the one you’ve purchased is fit for purpose. If you’re struggling to stay in situ with your current anchor, then paying for an upgrade will be worth its weight in gold.
6. Swim Platform Pads
One of the joys of being on a boat is being able to jump off and go for a swim. Alas, that’s easier said than done when you’ve got limited space on-board and dangerous propellers in the vicinity!
Know the struggle?
Think about buying some swim platform pads to attach to your vessel. These clever contraptions provide a space for people to sit and dangle their legs into the water (while keeping them away from the propeller and jet intake). With a non-slip surface on top, these pads also prevent nasty slips and trips from ruining a lovely day on the lake or ocean.
7. LED Lighting Systems
Imagine sitting back on your boat as the sun goes down. You crack open a beer, zip up your jacket, and look out at the stunning scenery around you. Then, as the light starts to fade, you flick a switch and enjoy soft, ambient LED lighting to match the contented mood.
Sounds good, right? Well, you can experience it for real with ease by installing some simple LED lighting strips. Whether you drill them in place or attach them with an adhesive, you’ll love the effect these boat interior upgrades have on-board.
Remember These Boat Upgrades
More people than ever before are seeing the light and jumping on board the boat-ownership bandwagon. And for good reason! It’s one of the best purchases anybody can make.
However, sometimes you want to take your vessel up a notch in terms of aesthetics and performance. With any luck, the boat upgrades we’ve mentioned above have given you some ideas on how to do it!
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