Spare Parts To Keep You Boating

With more than 45 years boating experience plus holding a USCG 100 Ton Master’s Certificate, Zimmerman Marine’s own Bob Arrington is an expert in all things boating. He is a frequent speaker at Trawlerfest and a writer for publications like Smart Boater.

If you’re MacGyver, all you need to keep your boat running is a Swiss Army Knife, some wire and duct tape, but lacking that resourcefulness, it is best to keep a good set of spare parts aboard the boat.  Like so many things in boating, how a boat will be used drives many of the decisions made.  The list of spares kept aboard could be very different for a day boating in confined water versus a boat intending to be days at sea in the open ocean.  But those differences notwithstanding, there are common items all boaters should have on board.  Of course a basic tool kit should be maintained, enabling you to change the defective parts with the spare.  Like spares, the contents of the tool kit will vary with the boat and type of cruising.  One of the most important items to consider in utilizing any spare part is the boat’s anchor.  It is much safer to perform a  repair while securely anchored than while drifting with the wind or current – and yes many boaters carry a spare anchor as well.  Even if you’re not very mechanically inclined, having the right spare part can still have the day.  Quite often a mechanic is easy to find, but without the spare part on hand to repair the problem, the mechanic is of no help.