WHAT TO PACK FOR A DAY ON THE BOAT

Hey y’all! Sometimes all you need is the sun in your face and the sound of water. For me it gets even better when have a full cup, snacks, and I hear my boys getting to have fun on the water. We have an older boat, nothing fancy, but it gets us out on the water.

We have been around lakes all our life, and we get to enjoy one of the most beautiful lakes in the nation all summer long. We have so much shoreline to explore and islands to enjoy.

Everyone has their own style, but thesis how we boat. I’m hoping this list can help ones who are new to boating or get invited to go out on a boat know what to pack to have an awesome day.

I BOUGHT A BOAT, NOW WHAT?

Let’s start with the new boat owner. You obviously want to make your boat legal so you can thoroughly enjoy your day and not worry about having it ruined with fines and tickets.

After the obvious registration of your trailer and your boat, then adding your decals to your boat, and making sure she is insured what else do you need to be legal?

This will vary from state to state, but we live in Garland County, Arkansas near Lake Ouachita and these are the legal requirements here. It’s a good place to start, just check your local requirements and remember if you travel with your boat, make sure and check the local requirements where you are going. Here is a link to the current boating laws in Arkansas as of June 2025.

• 1 PFD (personal flotation device) per person on board, for the appropriate size of the person. Make sure everyone on board the boat 12 years or older is WEARING their PFD. They will ticket you even out of the water on the boat ramp if you have a 12 year old on the boat without their life jacket on. My recommendation is to put their PFD on before letting them get on your vessel.

• Navigation Lights (Not all boats have them in the right place, and some are not in working condition. Make sure you are good out past dark.)

• Fire Extinguisher. Make sure it is in good cons=dtion and easy to get to. Any bottle over than 12 years old should be replaced.

• Air horn, whistle, or another approved sound producing device.

  These are the main things you need to be legal in Arkansas. This is not an all inclusive list, but it will get you going in the right direction.

  NOTE: For our registration and insurance, I bought a waterproof tube that attached to the boat. Most people put their docs in a water box in the glovebox, but I find that that is where friends will usually put their wallets and phones.

WHAT TO PACK FOR A DAY ON THE WATER

• Cooler

• Large Cooler Ice Packs

• Dry Bag

• Towels

• Reef Safe Sunscreen (always good to just get in the habit of it even in fresh water)

• Mesh Trash Bag (can buy these online but also get them free at many beaches when you travel so keep your eyes peeled)

• Water Box

• Sanitizing Wipes

• Hand Sanitizer

  This isn’t an all encompassing list, just a place to start. I hope this helps!

  NOTE: I bring in my cooler to prime it so it stays cold longer. I also have Large Kodi cooler ice packs (like large yeti ice packs) that we use. It’s great for day trips, but I have also had my cooler stay cold for a 10 day Colorado trip using this method.

  Y’all come back now, ya hear?