Spare Boat "Stuff"

Sooooooo last week I was fishing the Media Championship on Cedar Creek. Pull out bright and early and stop at Whataburger for a Breakfast Sandwich. While my partner was inside I decided to double check the fuel level in the boat. To check it I had to turn on the key. Uh Oh NO KEY!!!, Hmmmm Uh Oh NO Kill switch Cord!!!!! I always leave the kill switch cord connected and then I take the key and snap the attaching linksnap to the key and wrap it around the gear shift and snap it shut with a pulled tight loop. So I don't think It blew out. It appears some "Yahoo" decided to mess with me and took my key and cord that night at the Hotel. I guess they thought it would be funny since I have a wrap boat. LUCKILY I have a spare kill switch cord and extra key. Moral of the Story- Keep a spare kill switch cord and Key!!!! Academy has a multi kill switch connector cord for $9 and a spare key is cheap. Nothing worse than sitting on the boat ramp BLOCKING all the other folks while not being able to start the boat. OR worse yet, float launch it out and not be able to start it!
Some other things to consider to have as spares: Light Pole bulbs, or spare Light Poles, spare trolling motor prop & NUT & shaft pin, Jumper cables or Jump Box, electrical tape, pipe tape, super glue gel, tube silicone, auto tool kit, and I am sure there are other things that people can consider. Most are really small items that can make a good trip from a "BAD TRIP".

You are so correct in getting smart about "the little things" you take along on an outing. About 40 years ago, I started with a Rubbermaid "marine box" that is about the size of a shoe box. I still have it today, as it moves from one boat to the next I own. Each time I customize it for the new boat's needs. It is amazing how many "save a trip" items will fit into that box that is usually put away as an insurance policy. In mine, there's a spare kill switch lanyard as well. (They can break, so may be needed even without a prankster.)

Another item I added is a spare breaker for the TM. I watched for a good deal on eBay for a 30A Bussmann breaker so that having that spare wasn't very expensive. I probably haven't needed it because I have it, LOL.

Taking keys from competitors while asleep is a great idea.

I always removed my key from the boat. Think of THIS disaster: Some jerk/drunk/prankster walks by your well maintained boat in great mechanical shape....and decides to hit that starter a lick or two and run for the hills since the key is right there. Any outboard that starts dry like that will probably be fried before anyone could get to it to shut it down. What would THAT cost you? See why I never leave the key in it?

I have always carried a spare boat plug and a couple of fuses. It doesn't hurt to keep a spare "door" key for the truck hidden in the boat. I have used the spare key twice. I needed it three times.

^^^

I carry a spare kill switch along with a hidden key.

I just push the start button!!! And have extra kill switch cords

Hmmmmmm???? Where were you on the Night of Friday, October 27th???
Oh and a spare drain plug is needed too! Especially if you have the Triton Style that screws in!

What do you do when that "push button" fails , have an extra dash?

I've heard of this happening to someone... AT BASS PRO SHOP. Fried his motor. I personally have a battery cut off switch under my back lid. Shut it off every time I'm done fishing. No chance of yahoo walking by and starting boat if I leave key in. No messing with any electronics. Nothing stays on sucking battery life. No power pole let down, and I also have a cut off/breaker on my TM so no trolling motor coming on. Just the easiest way for ME to do it in my book. Battery cut of switch has so many positives.

I learned the trolling motor shaft pin the hard way a couple weeks ago

I usually keep a 9/16 socket for the tm prop. That's about it. The rest isn't needed. I am obsessive about PM and maintenance in general. If it's broke, it's immediately repaired. If it looks like it COULD fail, it's replaced.

Now in the truck? I'll keep more tools and a 30ft set of 2/0 cables for jump starting. But....I ain't overhauling a boat on the water.

very un-cool.

Did you have the cover on your boat?

same odds of loosing a key.

Electrical bag to include spool of 14 and 18 gauge wire, wire strippers, connectors and tape.
Multi meter
Prop wrench
2’ long 2x4 for changing prop and driving on to change trailer tire.
Break over bar with socket for changing tire
First aid kit
Tow rope
Jumper cables
Socket set
2 cans of sardines

My main power cut-off switch has two positives and two negatives!

I do just as you say for all systems. I use a dual circuit battery switch for enhanced protection. It makes a complete disconnect of the outboard and hull wiring harnesses. It helps to better protect against lightning surge damage while charging batteries. My weak spot is no negative disconnect for the TM, though I do have the breaker like you on the positive.

For Ranger, the push button start module is a pluggable option. There is a traditional keyed start module that can be connected to the wiring harness in place of that keyless start module. I have heard of them failing, and I've heard some guys carry a keyed start module as a spare to plug in out on the water if the keyless module fails.

Loosening the drag on all their reels is another.

All of my lockers were locked and also with a Lock'r Bar. The strange thing is that the boat beside mine left alllllll their external electronics on the boat and NOTHING was secured or locked!

Actually, NO. The odds of the solid-state start module failure are extremely low; it's the nature of the technology. Loss of a small item often carried in a human's pocket and/or moved around and handled is an entirely different matter. By accidental event, keys get dropped in the water, they fall out of pockets, they blow off the deck of the boat when left there by accident, they get left in the pocket of a jacket you wore on that last outing but don't have with you today. Human error and oversight will occur 100-fold if not 1000-fold more frequently than failure of an electronic module. In addition, as seen, key loss can be the object of theft or vandalism.

based on my experience,ignition key and the plug are two things you don't want to take out of your boat.....if you do, sooner or later you gonna forget one or both...two of my buddies tell me driving 100 miles to fish a tournament with your trolling motor because you for got the boat keys is not much fun.......as far as leaving the keys in the boat,it ain't gonna prevent boat theft and I suspect the odds are about the same for getting hit by a falling meteorite as having somebody crank your boat...I've had a bass boat since early 70's and neither has happened to me...
years ago I got distracted from my normal routine and forgot to put the plug in my boat for the last time....since then ,if I take my plug out of the boat,I stand there till all the water drains out then I replace the plug....my auto bilge pump takes care of rainwater when traveling to and from the lake.....remembering ain't my strong point so if I lived in one of those states that makes you remove the drain plug,I'd get one of those a drain plug kits that enables you to put the plug in or take it out from drivers seat......

So the ultimate prank would be to remove the solid state starter button module leaving a small hole in the dash. Maybe leave a riddle in its place.

Might need to make a litte trip over to Branden's house......

i am not sure my key could be pulled from the ignition switch, I don't think it has been pulled in the last 20 years, it may be corroded in place.

What is the location of your boat????

If you are forgetful, it isn't wise to have only ONE boat key or other critical key in the first place. I always had a spare boat key stowed in some of my "oh carp" box that was locked away. A spare compartment key was kept taped in a hidden spot with duct tape that I could always access.

The risk of a prank theft or dry-started motor depends on how often the boat is not secured, and where. I, for one, will not risk an outboard costing over $10k for some a-hole to trash because he thinks it would be funny to crank it.

n GREAT IDEA!

I keep one in my truck and another at home.

my bug out list
1 spare hub kit to include ctter pin, nut, gloves ect sealed in a 2 gallon plastic pail'
A cheap floor jack, lug wrench, and 4x4 wood blocks ( If I have to change a tire, I want to get it done QUICK!.
A cheap socket set
a p plastic prop wrench
A set of jumper cables that reach from my trolloing motor batteries to my main start battery.
A spare tire locked to my trailer.
spare 3 amp fuses for my sonar units
electrical tape
bailing wire
zip ties
first aid kit
a lighter
DRYBOX with rainsuit, socks, sweatpants.
spare trolling motor prop, nut and ,prop pin.
50 feet of rope.
a sharp knife.
and one more item which shall remain private.