BigBendFishing.Net

Loansouth just got his new ride and asked a good question:
Besides whats required by law- what safety/boating equipment do you carry with you.

Here was my quick list.
Fuses, a little extra wire and crimps
Bait Knife- lots of uses!
Small took kit- (Pliers, multi head screwdriver, crescent wrench)
marine radio
whistle
oil- whatever kind your boat needs
A couple of 6' bow lines
buy a longer anchor line that you think you need
Couple of bottled waters
GPS
extra batteries for my handheld GPS
$10 cash

I know I'm forgetting things.
What else do you guys carry?

a map to jt's holes.priceless!!

Flashlight, canned food,cell phone

Cutting board. Top of 5 gal. plastic bucket works fine. Don't want to get blood on new boat.

I always pack the heat just encase someone is on your hole they wont be there long!!

TRAILER BEARINGS, EXTRA 4 GAL. MIXED FUEL, SEVERAL HUNDRED NEW EXTRA PLUGS AND SPOONS, SUNTAN LOTION, VIENNA SAUSAGE 12 CANS, EXTRA ICE, FLARES AND ALL REQUIRED SAFETY EQUIPMENT PLUS 2 PADDLES, THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED. 300 FT OF ANCHOR RODE FIRST AID KIT, PEROXIDE, STICHING KIT FOR ANY KIND OF SKIN,CELL PHONE, MARINE PHONE AND RADIO. 5 GAL BUCKET OF ALL KINDS OF FISHING EQUIPMENT, PORTA POTTY, AND ME.
PA THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA SEMPER FI

Depends if going offshore or inshore. Inshore not much other than the required safety stuff....handheld VHF, lunch, enough oil to mix with a full tank of gas and beer. Off shore, now thats a different situation all together. Lets just say it seems to be an excessive amount of gear until you need it.

I carry a basic tool kit. Pliers, socket set(metric and standard), wrenches, electric connectors and wire, variety of nuts and bolts, A block of wood and a spare prop. With all the rocks in our area a spare prop is not a bad idea.
A flare kit, flash light, paddle, anchor, VHF, GPS, Mobile phone, peanut butter crackers and Vienna sausages, a basic first aid kit, a $50 bill(sometimes you run into a place that does not take plastic) Chart of the area I will be in.
A lot of that stuff can be packed in a small space and will not get in the way on most boats. I have a 14' Center console Carolina Skiff and I don't feel overcrowded with all that and my fishing buddy and our tackle.
Probably the thing I bring that gives me the most peace of mind is a properly maintained boat, motor and trailer.
FF

All of the above.....

I always carry a can of WD-40 also. That has several good uses............just in case! Also I carry an extra pair of sunglasses.

Don't forget the prop nut wrench. I bought the plastic type so that I would not have to worry about rust.
Compass, it works without electricity.
Suntan lotion, including lip balm.
I also carry a set of jumper cables in my larger boat.

If going offshore, a dehooker and vent tool would also be a good idea

Do not wanna get the FWC boys on your bad side.

Dubble

Only a handheld VHF, wirecutters, needle nose pliers and a 30ft rope on my boat...where I go you can walk back if you need too

Never forget the large Gators plastic cup, it works great if you have to take a wizz!!

Buckets are great for bailing water in an emergency, but they also make those manual operated bilge pumps (looks sort of like a bicycle pump). If you have a floor in your boat or tight spaces in the bottom of your boat where water collects, but you can't quite reach with a bucket, this might help keep you afloat. If your boat's like mine, it already has a lot of water in it before it's deep enough to scoop with a bucket, but the hose from the manual bilge can fit almost anywhere.