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5 Boat Upgrades to Consider Installing

August 21, 2024 By Gauge Magazine

boatIf you own a boat, perhaps you spend a lot of time on it. It could be your pride and joy. If so, it makes sense you’d be willing to spend the money to upgrade it.

There are many ways to do that. Some of them are as simple as checking out some marine wiring options from an online entity or a brick-and-mortar store location and modifying your boat’s electrical system. Once you’ve done that, you can plug in the latest add-on to your boat and start showing it off.

Let’s talk about some of the boat upgrades that are worth considering.

A Better Sound System

You might decide that you need an upgraded sound system for your boat. If so, then getting a portable stereo with some speakers might be in order. You can get an old-fashioned one that plays CDs, or you might go with one that you can tune in to a streaming music service like Spotify.

A More Sophisticated Lighting Rig

Your boat presumably comes with lights, but you might want a fancier and more elaborate system if you are going to have some people visiting. You may get a lighting rig that illuminates the boat and pulses with the beat if you have music playing. You can even get one that changes colors while the song plays if you want your boat to seem like a floating nightclub.

A Dash Panel Replacement

Replacing and upgrading your boat’s dash panel is also well worth the money. The dash panel is like the central hub or nerve center of your boat. However, some of the original ones you might get can quickly seem outdated. Buying one that’s more intuitive and has more features can improve your boat and the act of piloting it immensely.

A High Water Bilge Alarm

While some of your upgrades might be to enhance your boat’s reputation as a party spot, others should be about improving safety. Getting a high water bilge alarm is one of the most obvious examples since many boats do not come with one.

This is an alarm that connects to a float switch. If there is any water in the bilge, an alarm sounds that is impossible to miss. That will immediately let you know if the boat is taking on water. This feature can save your life or save your boat from sinking if unforeseen circumstances arise.

Moving Your Batteries Forward

Usually, your boat’s batteries will be in a box near the transom. That is not the only place you can keep them, though, and it’s seldom the best.

Instead, you can move them forward. If you do, putting them inside a console near your switch panel is probably what makes the most sense. That should improve your boat’s stability and handling. With batteries located in the boat’s stern, you can have that tail-heavy feeling that so many captains dread.

With these upgrades, you will have an incredible boat that’s both safe and a can’t-miss aquatic destination.

Filed Under: News

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