There is a massive market for third party marine products. Whether you’re wanting to polish off your brand new rig or breathe new life into a classic ride, adding the best after-market accessories for any boat can do just that. We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite products that we’ve tested over the years, as well as a sampling of others based on reader recommendations. These products are hand selected for their ability to make you more effective and efficient on the water. We covered everything from tool holders to wiring, lighting to securing features and convenience items to safety items. These wide array of options will enhance your boat and make time on the water easier and more worry free.
1. DD26 FISHING BILLET TOOL HOLDER
Most new boats have tool storage at the ready in every direction. However, if your boat is more than a few years old, it’s likely your pliers are bouncing around on the floor getting rusty right now. Well no more, thanks to the DD26 Tool Holders.
See our full review of the DD26 Fishing Billet Tool Holder here.
2. T-H MARINE G-FORCE TROLLING MOTOR HANDLES
Pull on an old rope trolling motor cord one too many times and you’ll find yourself sitting on your butt in the bottom of the boat, if you’re lucky. The unlucky ones end up in the water when these old-style cords break. Restringing a broken pull cord on the water is a pain all on its own. Switch over to a G-Force Trolling Motor Handle with a metal cable cord and you’ll be glad you did.
3. BASS PRO SHOPS SLIM LED UTILITY STRIP LIGHT
Fishing at night, last-minute rigging early in the morning or digging around in a dark livewell for that last keeper at weigh-in time; all of these things are easier done if you shine a little light on the issue. Adding LED lights to your rig is easy and affordable these days.
4. ASHMORE MARINE BUMP BOARD HOLDER
One of the simplest but most handy features on new boats is bump board storage. It’s a mess in the making when you’re fumbling around looking for your measuring board while simultaneously unhooking a fish and trying not to float up on a spot. Adding the Ashmore Marine Bump Board Holder to your boat keeps your measuring board safely stored while also within reach whenever you need it.
5. DD26 SPOOL STIX FISHING LINE WINDING TOOLS
Spooling fishing line can be a pain if you have to do it alone, especially in a boat. If you toss the spool on the floor and let it bounce around while you re-spool, you’ll be picking out a backlash on your first cast due to all the line twists. While there are a few tricks you can use to prevent this, the DD26 Spool Stix takes the guesswork out of re-spooling on the boat. It will hold the spool for you when you need it and stow neatly out of the way when you don’t.
6. T-H MARINE HOT FOOT ORIGINAL FOOT THROTTLE
If you’ve never driven a boat with a Hot Foot in it, you’re missing out. The hands free capability of varying the speed of your boat not only makes for a safer ride, but also a more intuitive one. It’s just like driving a car when you have a Hot Foot in your boat. It’s up to you whether you keep your hands at 10 and 2 or not, but at least you’ll have the option.
7. MDX BOAT PRODUCTS BOUNCE BUSTER
A similar product to the Troll-Tamer, the MDX Bounce Buster mounts to the deck of your boat and puts a stop to the beating your trolling motor bracket takes on the water. Unlike the Troll-Tamer, it doesn’t lock your trolling motor down. What the Bounce Buster does is offer vital support and takes the place of built-in trolling motor supports that usually come standard on some brackets, which runs the risk of breaking rods against the deck when stowing the motor.
8. POWER-POLE HEAVY-DUTY SPIKE
A Power-Pole Heavy Duty Spike is one of the more versatile and affordable ways to secure your boat in place when on the water. Whether you fish from a bass boat, jon boat, kayak or some combination of all these, you can take your Spike from one fishing platform to the next. Push it into the bottom of the lake bed and then tie it off to sit still, fish, re-tie or do whatever you’d like until you’re ready to go again.
9. TRANSDUCER SHIELDS AND SAVERS
The marine electronics market is booming, and the transducers used with these graphs aren’t cheap. Protect your investment from getting knocked off by stumps, rocks or worse with a Transducer Shield and Saver. There are several models of these designed to fit many popular transducers. Visit the company’s website to find the compatible model for your transducer.
10. T-H MARINE TROLL-TAMER TROLLING MOTOR LOCKING SYSTEM
The T-H Marine Troll-Tamer is a great product for any angler who frequently fishes rough water. Whether you’re bouncing around on the Great Lakes or just clearing a couple boat wakes at takeoff, worrying about your trolling motor taking a beating is the last thing you’ll want on your mind midair. The Troll-Tamer locks your trolling motor to the deck when stowed and then unlocks with the flick of a switch when you get where you’re going.
11. DD26 FISHING ROD TIE DOWN STRAPS
If your boat doesn’t have rod tie down straps, this is a must-have addition. Imagine hitting a rogue wave one time or forgetting an open and occupied rod lid, you could cost yourself hundreds in lost gear. Adding rod tie down straps to the deck of your boat is an easy and great way to safeguard your rod and reel combos.
12. PRECISION SONAR GRAPH MOUNTS
Marine electronics are a critical part of the bass fishing game right now. You can invest thousands into them very quickly. Taking care of your graphs is vital, so pair a mount with them that’s up to the task. Precision Sonar has a graph mount solution for almost any situation. Shop their site by boat brand and model.
See our full review of the Precision Sonar Graph Mount here.
13. SEA CLEAR POWER WIRING HARNESS WITH SWITCH
In line with the electronics theme, clarity is also critical. The ever advancing capabilities of graphs require ever advancing components to carry power to them. Most stock wiring configurations in boats aren’t up for the tasks. However, you can clear things up in a hurry with Sea Clear’s Power Wiring Harness, which ensures your graphs are running at max capacity.
See our full review of the Sea Clear Power Wiring Harness with Switch here.
14. TRANSDUCER SHIELD AND SAVER SHALLOW WATER WEDGE
If you like to fish shallow, you’re likely aware that your boat can get into some pretty skinny water, especially if you disengage your bracket and hold your trolling motor halfway out of the water. The only problem, this is a fatiguing task. With the new Wedge from Transducer Shield and Saver, you can prop your trolling motor up and lock it in position so that you can get your boat as shallow as it can possibly go with ease.
15. T-H MARINE DUAL USB BLUE LED OUTLETS
From phones to GoPros and everything in between, we’re in constant need of charging ports for our devices these days. These dual USB outlets offer a cheap and easy solution for your power pulling needs.
16. BALDWIN IRON WORKS RECESSED TROLLING MOTOR FOOT PEDAL PAN TRAY
If your foot-controlled trolling motor pedal is sitting on the top of a flat boat deck and you’ve never known anything else, get ready to have your life changed. The now standard recessed foot trays in bass boats mean no more jacked-up-knees and Captain Morgan stances. Thanks to aftermarket ingenuity, products like this foot pedal tray from Baldwin Iron Works are available for older boats and even newer ones that don’t have this feature as an option.
See our full review of the Baldwin Iron Works Recessed Trolling Motor Foot Pedal Pan Tray here.
17. TRICK STEP BOAT TRAILER STEPS
Get a little age on you and that jumping-out-of-the-boat bone will quickly disappear. Having a set of sturdy steps for entering the boat when it’s on the trailer is super handy…or maybe footy, I guess. Either way, Trick Steps make it easy to enter and exit the boat if it’s parked in the shop. Especially when loading and unloading the boat at the lake.
See our full review of the Trick Step Boat Trailer Steps here.
18. RETRACTABLE CLEATS
If you have old-school cleats on your boat, you’ve probably nearly killed yourself tripping on them and all but certainly lost a rod or two to their gravitational pull. Though these old cleats are great for tying off to a dock, they are a hazard otherwise. Installing retractable cleats to your ride will keep docking convenient while making your boat safer for man and rod alike.
19. NOCO BOOST ULTRASAFE LITHIUM JUMP STARTERS
Imagine your cranking battery dying once out on the water without a way to get it back going; you’ll never let it happen again. A common set of jumper cables can often get you out of a pinch, but if you’ve been on the water all day and your trolling motor batteries are drained too, it could be curtains for you even with jumper cables onboard. Keeping a quality jump starter box in your boat is one of the safest ways to ensure you won’t be stuck out there, dead in the water.
20. T-H MARINE TACKLE TITAN LURE HANGER KIT
Magnetic lure hangers offer great storage solutions for wet baits so you can let them dry out before placing them back in their boxes. They’re also perfect for storing oddly shaped tackle like spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. The hanger kit also allows you to keep a few of your favorites close at hand to tie on in a hurry. It’s a quick and easy install and a convenient way to store several different things.
21. DD26 FISHING MEAN STOPS GEN2 HYDRAULIC STEERING LOCKS
When the boat’s in tow, the motor needs to be locked securely in place to prevent damage to the transom as well as the steering system and supports. Plastic steering locks serve the purpose for a while, but often dry rot in time. This won’t be the case with DD26’s aircraft-grade aluminum Mean Stops. The motor itself will dissolve to dust before these things do.
See our review for the DD26 Fishing Mean Stops Gen2 Hydraulic Steering Locks here.
22. TOW BOAT US
Though this is a less tangible add-on compared to the other products on this list, it certainly comes with benefits you can feel. Tow Boat US offers a subscription service that brings with it a nationwide boat towing fleet with 24/7 assistance if you need jumping off, fuel delivery, ungrounding or towing. This is for any boat the subscriber owns, borrows or charters. Freshwater subscriptions are $109 per year. Services are available for saltwater anglers as well at the price of $175 per year. I personally used this subscription once to pull my boat in from Lake Kissimmee all the way back to Toho, without paying a dime more than my subscription price—this one tow would have cost thousands otherwise.
