The Five Best Tech Upgrades You Can Make to Your Boat

There’s nothing quite like being out on the open water in your boat. The fresh breeze, the waves rushing away from your boat, good friends and family spending time together. You spend a lot of money on your boat, and now you’re enjoying the fruits of your labor.

To make things even better, you may want to consider some tech upgrades for your boat. As time goes on the tech on your boat will become out of date, and you could miss out on same great features. And, if you need help installing any of the new tech upgrades, you can try using a site like Boat Planet. Through there you can connect with people in your area who perform work on boats, so you should have no trouble getting the help you need.

If you wan your boat up to date with the latest technology, here are five upgrades you should look into:

Cockpit or Cabin Lighting

One of the easiest things you can do is change the lighting in your cockpit or cabin. By installing some LED bulbs, not only can you make the area brighter, but you can even change the color of the lights. Now with the simple push of a button you can change the atmosphere of the area and get it more towards your liking. All you need to do is find some color-changing LED bulbs online, swap them in for your old ones, and you’re good to go.

A Marine GPS System

When you’re out on the water, it’s easy to get lost. All of the surrounding area starts to look the same, and before long you have no idea how to get back to your marina. To keep this from happening, you’ll want a solid marine GPS system. Some people simply prefer to use the GPS on their phones or tablets, but if you want something that is specifically made for boats, you have a lot of options to choose from. When deciding, consider which maps are included with the device, if the device is waterproof, and if you can mount the device. For more help picking out a marine GPS system, you can use this guide.

Fish Finders

Anyone who has been fishing knows it can get frustrating when you sit out on the water all day only to catch nothing. To avoid spending your day without a catch, consider getting yourself a fish finder. Fish finders use sonar to scan underwater and detect where the fish are. You can use this to find an area of the water that is teeming with fish, and park your boat in that area. While it won’t guarantee that you catch anything, it can hopefully make it a little more likely.

A Marine Stereo System

There’s nothing better than being out on the open water listening to some of your favorite music. But if you have to listen through the speaker on your cell phone, or a $5 speaker you got at a local thrift store, you likely won’t be able to hear much. Instead, invest in a good marine stereo system. These systems will be able to play your music loud enough for you to hear, and can survive getting a little wet. They’re perfect for the next time you have a party on your boat, or you just want to be able to hear your music over the sound of the engine and waves.

Radar Systems

Finally, you should get yourself a good radar system. Radar will help you avoid collisions, something all boat captains need to worry about. By detecting other boats and debris in the water, you can steer a safe course through the water. This is particularly helpful when you’re out on the water at night, or when an unexpected storm comes through, obscuring your vision. For help on choosing the right radar system, you can use this guide.

Final Things to Consider

No matter what type of tech upgrade you decide to make to your boat, there are a few things you’ll want to consider before you do. First, make sure the money you spend is worth it. Are you going to use this upgrade a lot? Will it help improve the value of the boat? Asking questions like this will help you to make a better financial decision, and ensure you’re happy with the purchase.

Lastly, remember that technology is always improving. You don’t want to over-upgrade your boat, as everything you buy could be out of date in a few years. Take it slow, find the best deals, and get the things you need when you need them.