If you’re a boat owner, there’s no doubt that your baby is your pride and joy. During the warmer months (or year-round if you’re one of those lucky folks), a day out on the water simply can’t be matched. Many boat owners tend to use the offseason to fix and upgrade their boat. If that sounds interesting to you, but you aren’t sure where to start, we’ve got 6 ideas that might be useful for you!
1. Brand-New Boat Flooring
Unfortunately, one of the things that can get ruined quickest in a boat is the flooring. Whether it’s an old, soggy and dirty carpet or just a plain old chipped deck, investing in some new boat flooring is an easy way to completely spruce up the look of your vessel. Whether you want to add a custom marine carpet or a basic snap-in variety, the variety of boat flooring options can be overwhelming. Our best advice is to go with what matches your boat’s aesthetic the best. If, down the line, you need to do some repairs or fix-ups on your newly installed boat flooring, boat carpet kits are readily available for that purpose.
2. Lighting
One thing that falls to the wayside in boat maintenance all too often is replacing light bulbs. As they grow dimmer, it can be harder to be spotted at night, and can make it harder to see while on the boat. Replacing lighting sources early and often is a good idea, but don’t forget about the ways lighting can be used for fun and decoration! Colorful lights can add a unique atmosphere to your boat, whether you want to add some blue near the floor, or hang some DIY lighting decorations from the top! Just make sure everything is secured properly!
3. Crank Some Tunes!
Most boats are equipped with a radio in some form, but adding some bigger speakers to your sound setup can make for a great time on your next excursion! Though this may not be as big of an appeal to the diehard fishermen and fisherwomen among you, many people do like to party on boats, and what kicks off a party better than some loud tunes? Please, however, always remember to be conscientious of nature and your fellow boaters at all times!
4. GPS and Radar
As time has gone on, technology that used to be prohibitively expensive is now well in the range of affordable. Outfitting your boat with a GPS or radar system has a variety of benefits, such as the ability to chart an accurate course, and avoiding ever getting lost! Another useful thing to keep in mind is the way additions such as this can increase the resale value of a boat, if you ever think about selling her.
5. Refrigerator!
Don’t you get tired of lugging around that giant cooler every time you and your family come out on the boat? It doesn’t have to be that way! Installing a mini-fridge or even a full-sized refrigerator into a boat isn’t as difficult as one might think. It can be on the expensive range of upgrades, but as long as your boat it big enough, why not go for it? The added convenience will make your summer trips all the more enjoyable. You’ll be able to store cold drinks and even bring out lunch without having to worry about coolers!
Boating is one of the best ways to spend your time in the summer, and if you’re lucky enough to own a boat, you should take advantage of it the best you can! Hopefully these ideas at least jump started your imagination for the offseason, and you’ll have a project on your hands in no time!
