Capn Denny Lee's Top 10 Favorite Boating Products

You should have at least 4 fenders to protect your boat when visiting a dock. Each fender should have a sufficient length of rope to secure the fender to the boat. If you want to be cool, buy all matching fenders and and match to the color of your boat. A 20 to 25 boat would need a 6 inch fenders while a 25 to 30 foot boat would need 8 inch fenders. 

Every boat should have at least 4 dock lines. Each line should be about 2/3 the length of your boat and I like the lines to match the color of my  boat. If your boat is less than 20 foot, 3/8 inch are fine, if your boat is 20 to 30 foot, 1/2 inch should be good.

Anchoring is tough on Table Rock Lake due to all the stuff on the bottom of the lake and the depth of the lake. If you want to anchor in a cove I recommend a mushroom anchor. A 20 pound anchor with 100 feet of 3/8 inch braided anchor line should be good for boats up to 24 feet.

A must for every boat. You can either build your own or purchase one already assembled. Make sure it is either in a water proof case or where it won't get wet.

I recommend both even if you don’t boat at night. You never know when you could get stranded. There are some great spotlights that are USB chargeable. Keep the flashlight close to the helm and the spotlight stored away. Make sure both are waterproof and extra batteries are not a bad idea. 

Boat horns are known for failing when they are needed so I recommend either a whistle or an air horn. I carry both, the air horn in a storage compartment and a whistle on my boat key chain with my floaty. 

Your boat probable came with one, but it is worth noting and checking. Check the expiration date and it is a good idea to ensure it is easy to get to in the event of an emergency. There are specific requirements for different length boats. 

It is important to have some basic tools incase of boat failure. Sometimes the smallest item can break and ruin your day on the water unless you have the correct tools to fix. Not sure what you need, West Marine or Amazon sell small marine kits. 

Nothing like keeping your boat in ship shape and looking good. Here are three items I have had great success with and recommend.

     Wax - Only the best for my boat. I recommend Mequire. 

     Vinyl Cleaner - For those spill that happen while on the lake. I like Star Brite spray.

     303 Marine Protectant. - Help ensure your boat continues to look great. I treat three times a year, Spring, Summer and Fall. 

Even if your boat has a GPS, a lake map is a great back up and makes trip planning easier. I like the Fish Spot maps because they show depths, distances and point markers and are somewhat water resistent. 

I have know many whose day has been ruined because they dropped their boat keys in the water. My boat key is on a separate key chain with a floaty. On my boat key chain is a whistle, my gas cap key, my Boat US card and a floaty. Might be a good idea to check the floating in the sink to ensure it keeps everything afloat and a spare key hidden somewhere in the boat. Also make sure you store your car key and cell phone somewhere safe and dry.