So what is the most helpful gadget that makes boating easier?
what is your best boat gadget
- Thread starter dvx216
- Start date
Bt Doctur
Well-Known Member
A Brain
An Operators Manual
A Service Manual
An Operators Manual
A Service Manual
bbwhitejr
Well-Known Member
I have 2-top snapping tool and freshwater gauge I installed a month ago.
Bennett
Bennett
FootballFan
Well-Known Member
The Ram mount for my ipad.
- Oct 6, 2006
- 12,153
- Boat Info
- 1996 450DA
- Engines
- 3116 Caterpillars
For me, by far, the Bennett ATR……automatic tab retractor.
It wires into your existing trim tab harness plus one ground, 1 constant 12vdc, and 1 controllable 12vdc circuit that you shut down whenever you want your tabs to retract……in my case the electronics master. Whenever I shut down my electronics, my tabs automatically retract. The system is a small sealed box that simply runs the tab pump in the up position for about 1 minute when it senses no voltage on the control wire. There is no telling how many tab actuators the ATR has saved me. If I leave them down for a week, then the actuator shaft is covered with barnacles that cut the seals out of the actuator ram.
The other place these ATR is very helpful is for dry stacked boats. People who leave their tabs down (their forklift driver can't see them from the seat on the lift truck) are usually faced with a repair bill to fix the crushed trim tab.
It wires into your existing trim tab harness plus one ground, 1 constant 12vdc, and 1 controllable 12vdc circuit that you shut down whenever you want your tabs to retract……in my case the electronics master. Whenever I shut down my electronics, my tabs automatically retract. The system is a small sealed box that simply runs the tab pump in the up position for about 1 minute when it senses no voltage on the control wire. There is no telling how many tab actuators the ATR has saved me. If I leave them down for a week, then the actuator shaft is covered with barnacles that cut the seals out of the actuator ram.
The other place these ATR is very helpful is for dry stacked boats. People who leave their tabs down (their forklift driver can't see them from the seat on the lift truck) are usually faced with a repair bill to fix the crushed trim tab.
Robski97
Well-Known Member
Arlo by Netgear battery operated wireless camera for monitoring the boat !
RollerCoastr
Well-Known Member
- Nov 15, 2007
- 3,884
- Boat Info
- 1997 400DA
340HP 7.4 Mercruiser Bluewaters
Garmin 741, 742, 8212, 24HD, Intellian I2
- Engines
- 1999 280BR
Twin 250HP Merc 350 Alpha Ones
Fuel meters, and a small battery powered vacuum for the cockpit. I haul out that pita central vac hose about 10% as much as I used to.
Bucit
New Member
- Mar 12, 2010
- 3,144
- Boat Info
- 2005 280 Sundancer
2004 SPD-104 Achilles w/ 8hp Yamaha
- Engines
- Twin 4.3 MPI's with Alpha drives.
A big cooler full of beer!
wish2fish
Active Member
Makes every trip more enjoyable! :grin:
rondds
Well-Known Member
- Oct 3, 2006
- 8,859
- Boat Info
- 2001 380DA
- Engines
- Merc 8.1s (2008)...Hurth ZF 63 V-drives...WB 7.0 BCGD (2013), Garmin 8208 & 740 MFDs, GMR 24xHD dome
IR laser temperature gun.
Mike Blake
Active Member
- Jan 27, 2012
- 2,413
- Boat Info
- 89 340 Sundance all Raymarine.
- Engines
- Gas hogs 454X2.
My ice machine..............
MonacoMike
Well-Known Member
- Sep 15, 2009
- 14,721
- Boat Info
- 2000 Cruisers 3870
8.2 Mercs
- Engines
- 85 Sea Ray Monaco 197
260hp Alpha 1
bahamabreisus
Well-Known Member
- Oct 25, 2007
- 2,555
- Boat Info
- 370 dancer, previous 500,420,390,300 dancers
- Engines
- 454 CI MPI
A robot to go to the cooler and get my beer would be nice.
magstang1
Active Member
Another boat.
We have a 10' RIB and it gets used a lot. More than I expected. From exploring unaccesable places in the big boat, to satisfying the kids desire for a "boat ride" it's been a fantastic addition. My wife who was originally opposed to it, loves it now.
We have a 10' RIB and it gets used a lot. More than I expected. From exploring unaccesable places in the big boat, to satisfying the kids desire for a "boat ride" it's been a fantastic addition. My wife who was originally opposed to it, loves it now.
moparlvr4406
Active Member
- Jun 29, 2011
- 4,462
- Boat Info
- 1985 340DA
1966 SRV180
(2)1960 Sea Ray 600
(2) 1963 808 Cruise-a-bouts
- Engines
- twin 350hp Crusaders 4.0 Onan /
Merc 950 SS
Merc 650
Merc 1100
twin Johnson 40
my anchor wench
JimG
Well-Known Member
- Nov 4, 2008
- 6,085
- Boat Info
- 2007 310 DA
Kohler 5ECD
- Engines
- Twin 350 Mags
Raw Water Cooled
V-Drives
My Triumph 150 Center Console
rondds
Well-Known Member
- Oct 3, 2006
- 8,859
- Boat Info
- 2001 380DA
- Engines
- Merc 8.1s (2008)...Hurth ZF 63 V-drives...WB 7.0 BCGD (2013), Garmin 8208 & 740 MFDs, GMR 24xHD dome
verification of engine temp, transmission temp and seawater temp (before you jump in) and check to see if the crappy marine fridge is working properly.
1990-270-da-lover
Member
- Oct 10, 2012
- 968
- Boat Info
- 1990 270 DA Sundancer / Saturn Dinghy 4hp Suzuki
Towed with 2004 Chevy 2500 HD Sliverado 4x4
- Engines
- 7.4L Merc Bravo 1
3 Blade Mirage Prop 14.5X17
+1 on the tender/dinghy! Great for getting to and from restaurants, exploring, and just plain fun.
Gofirstclass
Well-Known Member
+1 on the dinghy. We find we're on it a lot, just exploring places we can't go with the bigger boat.
Flashlights. We buy the oval shaped ones from Harbor Freight and have 'em all around the boat.
Flashlights. We buy the oval shaped ones from Harbor Freight and have 'em all around the boat.
blaster
Well-Known Member
- May 23, 2011
- 3,464
- Boat Info
- 2010 sea ray 205 sport
F-250 CCLB 6.2 4x4 3.73 rear.
- Engines
- Mercruiser 4.3 mpi alpha 1.62
A gadget like this requires a lot of maintenance but its my favorite on any boat.
