I was reading an article about what people keep in thier boats in case of emergency, tools, back up stuff etc. So I thought I would ask what do you guys keep in your boat? I keep some wire connectors, couple basic tools, rope. But no extra props or such. I have a 20ft triton and I can’t figure out where people put all this extra stuff?
I have a 620 and I have a tote with a good variety of adjustable tools, I also have a whistle and a flaregun.
I should carry a spare prop but with the kicker, trolling motor, marine radio and cell phone I don’t.
JB
I keep the basics such as rope and a first aid kit but I also keep a set of jumper cables. There have been days when my starting battery gets drained due to running the live well, bilge, radio, locators, etc… and just doesn’t have enough left to start the motor when it is time to go. I keep the jumper cables so I can jump the starting battery off of one of my trolling motor batteries. I’ve also used them to start a couple other boats with dead batteries. I don’t need to jump my starting battery very often. Usually only when I haven’t charged it for the past several times out on the water.
Eyehunter
Basic tools.
Spark Plugs.
Fire Extinguisher
Flare Gun
Extra Bulbs for the Nav Lights.
And a set of these 20 foot jumper cables. These have been handy several times. Fishing at night with the kicker and running lights, radio, electronics, ect I have run down the starting batter and was able to jump off my t-motor batteries rather and doing the un-hook re-hook move the battery deal. Also jumped another boat once. A must have item if you ask me.
-J.
Fire extinguisher, flares, air horn, whistle, VHF radio, spotlight, spare prop, anchor, drift sock, 1st aid kit, rope, bottle of advil, a plastic pint bottle of brandy, and a plastic 750ml bottle of butterscotch schnapps.
I have an 18.5 foot full-console fish-n-ski… in addition to a set of skis, an inner-tube, tow ropes, tow-bar, two dock bumpers, two anchors, 8-10 fishing poles, three fish nets, a bait net, 10 PFDs of various sizes, tackle box, minnow bucket, trash bucket, rain suits, canvas covers, trolling motor and two batteries, starter battery, and a fire extinguisher, I still have room for one of those screwdrivers with multiple bits, several different types of pliers, an adjustable wrench, wire-cutters, two flashlights, flares, a medical kit, an airhorn, a whistle, an extra prop, several lengths of rope, a camera, and partridge in a pear tree! After this weekend, I’m adding a set of jumper cables that will reach from my trolling motor batteries in the bow to the starter battery in the stern.
The only items I can’t fit into storage compartments are my tackle box (It’s pretty big otherwise it would fit under one of the consoles), the trash bucker (5 gal pail) and a cooler. These sit neatly out of the way behind the back row of seats (I have four swivel seats and a rear fold-up bench). With all the gear, I can still fit four people comfortably and can carry up to a total of 7 people in the boat if we’re ‘pleasure cruising’.
I bought a little-known brand of boat (Monark Marine’s King185) because of this layout and the multiple uses that I knew the boat would see… I really like the boat but the ride could be a bit better (hull design is a little basic…). I do wish, however, I would have moved up one step and gotten the 195. That extra foot of length between the back row of swivel seats and the fold-down bench would be really nice…
I don,t think many items were missed but I would add fuses and electrician tape,spare hat, sun screen and rain gear 
What everyone else said and a bottle of Newskin. This is great stuff. I once saved a buddy a day of fishing when he should have been getting stitches. This stuff is like a liquid bandaid works almost as good as a tourniqet to stop a good bleed.
Toilet paper! 
I put a small tool box together complete with a milti-bit screwdriver, electrical tape, duct tape, crecent wrench, vice grips, fuses, side cutters, cable ties, a wire brush, and a file….don’t forget the jumper cables!!! 9 times out of 10 if you are going to have problems on the water that you are able to fix, its going to be electrical so thats what I’m geared towards.
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I don,t think many items were missed but I would add fuses and electrician tape,spare hat, sun screen and rain gear
Great ideas… I need to throw in a roll of electrical tape and some duct-tape. I always keep these in my truck for the same reasons but I should have them handy in boat as well. I’m also going to look at the fuses I have on the boat and throw some spares in the glove box.
Great Thread! 
Spare prop is a must in my boat along with many of the other items mentioned.
Other then the above stuff, I carry a 1 gallon gas can, hidden away for those emergencys. Just don’t put it somewhere where it can’t breath, and fumes can build up.
I notice jumper cables are common. Would one of those car starters be safe to use on the starter battery without any damage to electronics or anything? If not I think im going to throw mine in the boat next season. Thanks
Alot of the above – I also carry a couple extra quarts of 2 stroke oil
for those of you who have props, what about the prop wrench? I also carry a wrench to losen the nut under the ball of the hitch. Never know when a buddy with a nicer truck is going to do the boat haul’n! I was told that jumping your starter battery with a deep cycle trolling battery can cause some damage to the deep cycle. Is this just a rumor? If so I have just the cables.
Chomps, I just use my teeth to take the cotter pin and prop nut off. My dentist gives me heck for it but, it saves the extra weight of a prop wrench and needle nose.
Yes, I actually have the 1 1/16″ wrench in the boat.
Some of the above plus… a slingshot with taconite pellots, a super Soaker and occasionally an acoustic guitar 
I just have 2 oars to get me back…
My moater’s a hard starter but I haven’t had a time yet where I couldn’t get it back up and running. I do have a trolling high powered trolling motor (for the size of my boat) that can get me a pretty long way quickly if I need to. otherwise, I have plenty of friends to call with boats and my cellphone is always with me
I would add a spare trolling motor and in the spring and fall a set of dry clothes.
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Toilet paper!
Probably the most important along with some hand sanitizer for afterwards. And if anyone wants the secret to trimming the motor just right to #2 out the back I can sell my secret 
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Probably the most important along with some hand sanitizer for afterwards. And if anyone wants the secret to trimming the motor just right to #2 out the back I can sell my secret
You may want to consider a how to DVD on this task. 
I could add a clip on how to get out of the ice when falling threw.
My old man always told me the only tool I need is a cell phone, but even a mechanically disinclined individual like myself could find some use for some of the items on the list. (ie: toilet paper)
Spare Fuses are essential as well as jumper cables and a spare prop and wrench.
…a culling system and hopefully 5 fish!
Great point D-Nort!! I was fishing a tournament out of my partners boat last summer, and by 9 we were culling, but I went to grab his culling system, and his response was I left it at home 
. We ended up having a great tournament with 6 smallies weighing just under 19 pounds, but when you are holding up three fish and do not know which one to cull, then there is a problem. We ended up getting 2nd by a few ounces. A culling system could have made the difference. Expensive mistake that will never happen again 
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Some of us dont have room for a spare trolling motor so, I at least have a spare trolling motor prop.
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Hey, how did I end up in the 
