great list!! how about a few small tools, xtra plugs and fuses and like i tell my grandson, always always carry an xtra boat plug never know when something made by man will break??

spare kill switch clip is often forgotten as a backup if your breaks.

try a boat jumper cable, seams like batteries always die in cold weather and very very few people think to carry a decent set of jumper cables for the boat. car cables wont reach and hooking two together is a recipe for shorting out electrical systems. remember, that guy in the flatboat cant really pull your 22 ft bayboat all the way to the launch without canceling his whole day of fishing so its not always easy to get towed in.

to make your own set like i do, pick you up 25-30ft of #8/2 romex wire from home depot and buy a set of good clamps. havent ever seen a decent quality set of jumper cables actually made for boats which need ''long'' cables to reach from boat to boat.

anybody refuses to tow someone in is a useless piece of ???? should be beat like a dog unless they absolutely cant because their motors to small to do it!!

Sharp fillet knife , long needle nose pliers , good sharp cane knife always stay in lil holders in front of the steering wheel in my boat . Don't leave the launch without lots of cans of smoked oysters and sardines and PLENTY water . Most times I carry a gun . Always have extra rope , never know when you may need that and can use it for many purposes (pull start rope). Few basic tools (channel locks , screwdrivers , crescent wrench , electrical tape).

If we're hunting and it's really cold sometimes I'll carry a burner in the boat , making a 30 minute boat ride home soaking wet can be miserable ! Another thing , we always wear tennis shoes crossing the lake and put our boots on when we get ready to hunt and same for the ride home .

Of course rain gear and always PFDs and if the weather is iffy we'll pack extra clothes . I think the most important items besides PFDs is food and water . There are not many places I go without a lil ice chest with cold water in it , I think it could be a phobia that I have .. Lol

Float plan before ya go!.
Clothing that will keep ya warm.
Some way to start a fire. (expired flares )
food & water . Frozen water bottles . MRE's
first aid kit ,along w/ the knowledge on how to use it. insect repellant.
'space blanket' ,aluminum will reflect light ,will hold heat,is light weight and can be used as shelter if needed.

Not really a winter thing but very helpful. i used to keep a small strand of weed eater string in my tackle box. Works wonders when the tattle tail gets stopped up.

Get seattow solves all boat and motor issues will even drag u out of the flats that and an extra set of dry clothes

How does seatow work ? Is it an annual fee , or do you just call them when you break down and then you pay ?

I had a houseboat near lake Maurepas on tickfaw . Every weekend evening I towed somebody , sometimes two or three .

One guy bought a new party barge the day before from bass pro and he had ran out of gas . He thought that bass pro filled up his tanks since he bought the boat from them and since the gas gauge was on E he figured the gauge was broken .

i bought boats cars truck 4wheelers dirtbikes etc, and never never has anybody ever filled up the tank unheard of!! first thing i always had to do was go fill up the tank!! must of been a real young guy that bought that houseboat??

No actually he was an older guy and had his wife with him . I noticed them when they first went by because it was a big nice party barge , maybe 25 ' . The next time I saw them they were going back the other way and had the trolling motor on high and was flagging me down .

He said they were making a list of all the things that could be wrong and the gas gauge was first thing he noticed was broken because he was sure that bass pro had filled it up . I've heard a lot of reasons for breaking down but that one takes the cake . Lol

for the price u pay for whatever, they sure should at least fill up the tank my opinion?? but that takes away from the profit!!

I keep a couple cans of vienna sausage, water, lighter in dry box, first aid kit, rain gear, tools, extra plugs(last ones from change), required equipment such as flares etc, and most importantly a Sea Tow membership. For less than $200 a year I will not have to worry about being stuck in the mud, out of gas, broke down etc. Just have to call them. Never fish the west side so I have never met the captains over there, but on the east side Captains Christian and HotRod are professional and courteous.

I am a Sea Tow member. I pay $169 a year for membership. I can call them anytime I run out of gas, get stuck, break down, need a jump etc for no extra cost. If you need to be towed without a membership it is very expensive. I also was given two extra months this last time giving me 14 months. I also added trailer care for $10 in case my trailer breaks. Really can't beat it. Just my 2 cents.
CF

This week with the cold front the tide was done 2ft from last week. I already go a plastic bag and crab trap on my prop. So a good knief and cutting tool is a must. Also you need a long handle brush to remove any trash that blocks the water in take if you run in low area.

You are so right CaptJS on a good pair of side cutter pliers (diagionals) for crab traps , cutting a trap off with bad pliers is tough -------- vise grips is another tool that will save the day ------ I always carry a spare prop , thrust washer , nut and cotter pin / locking ring and I have had to change a prop out on the water a few times , never know when your going to spin a bushing or hit something hard and bend a prop up --- talking about cleaning out water pickup tubes , I have had a couple of boats with fresh water cooling and heat exchangers , you need to have a rod that will fit the tubes of the heat exchanger , it is an easy fix to remove the cover and clean out the tubes if you have a rod to do it with -------------you ever put bread bags on your cold wet feet