I spend a lot of time testing boating products — everything from inflatable boats to satellite systems — and every so often I pull together the ones that earn their place without costing much. This roundup covers my favorite boating gear under $100, and I have a companion video with no budget where I go deeper into some premium options. These products are in no particular order.
Gill Dry Bag
I’d actually call this a boating necessity. It’s a simple dry bag by Gill — open one end, put whatever you need inside, roll it up and clip it shut. These come in 5-liter, 10-liter, and 25-liter sizes ranging from $25 to $40. What I like about the Gill bags in particular is that they use 50% less material than they used to, so they’re thinner and easier to work with instead of that stiff feel older dry bags had. They come in black if you’re stylish, blue if you want some color, and I think the yellow is perfect as an emergency bag. I have recommended dry bags before too — I just can’t get over how useful they are. If you’re gearing up for the season, these pair well with other smart boating upgrades to round out your setup.
Plano Organizer and Danco Pliers
These two make great gifts for any boater, not just fishermen. The Plano organizer box is only $16 and lets you organize everything from butt splices and electrical materials to stainless screws and light bulbs — anything you need in an emergency or when you want to catch that next fish. Pair it with Danco 8-inch tournament pliers at $44. They come with a quick-release holster and are built for fishing, but I think they’re a great general tool on any boat. They help you reach things you can’t grasp with your fingers, and at some point someone will come aboard and want to catch a fish. Plano has been around forever and is probably the most well-known tackle brand in the space.
Revolve Tec Rollable Boat Hook
This might be a hot take, but it’s one of my favorite products on the list. The Revolve Tec boat hook uses composite technology that lets you roll a full-size pole down to the size of a toilet paper roll. Think about how much space a standard 12-foot boat pole takes up on your vessel — this one fits in a large cup holder. It’s $74 for the hook, and for another $28 you can swap the attachment for a full-size deck brush. I’ve made an entire video on this thing and it’s especially useful for boaters limited on space. It’s perfect for your tender or as a spare pole.
Orca Navigation App
Orca is a marine navigation company that does both hardware and software. The app itself is completely free and does an incredible job helping you navigate — it calculates your route, figures out all your headings when you need to turn, and shows you hourly weather forecasts for every stage of your entire trip so you can plan accordingly. They offer two subscription tiers: about $50 a year for offline chart access, and about $150 a year which logs all your trips in a digital logbook with data from your vessel. I’ll be reviewing their full hardware system and installing it on my own boat in the companion video.
Handheld VHF Radios
I recommend a handheld VHF radio to every single person who owns a vessel. I carry both a Cobra MRHH150 Float and a Uniden Atlas 155 — one on me and one on the vessel at all times. They’re not just emergency tools. You might need to call a shore boat after you’ve already shut down, or talk to someone on your own vessel who’s helping with lines, or just communicate with friends on other boats. Handheld radios add a real touch of professionalism to your vessel operations, and they’re one of those things every boater should have whether they’re tackling winter maintenance projects or heading out for a weekend cruise.
Honorable Mention: Marine Diesel Basics
One more I wanted to mention — Dennis Berwick sent me his book Marine Diesel Basics. It’s a complete illustrated manual for maintaining your diesel engine or diesel boat, covering everything from belt tension to every system you might need to service. It’s a great one to keep on board or to give to the person in your life who can’t stop working on their vessel.
Those are my favorite boating products under $100. All the products in this video are linked in the description — some are affiliate links that help support the channel. A big thank you to Defender Marine for their ongoing support. If you want to see products with no budget, check out the companion video. And if you’ve got your own favorite budget boating gear, drop it in the comments.
If you want to see the no-budget version, check out my companion roundup where I go all out on premium gear.
