This started as a holiday gift guide, but my appendix had other plans. I figured it would be a shame not to share all the cool products I've been putting to use on the water, so here we are. This roundup is untethered by budget, but I also have a companion piece with my five favorite items under $100 — check that one out for the boater in your life or anytime you're treating yourself. All the products are linked in the description, some through affiliate links from Defender Marine, who we appreciate for their support. These items are in no particular order.
Starlink Mini
If you’ve followed the channel, I did a video on the old Starlink installed on another vessel I work on. But the Starlink Mini has become quite affordable — it used to be $500, and at the time of this video it’s on sale for $230. I picked mine up for $299 just before the sale, so I’d say if it starts with a two, you’re probably safe to buy. What makes the Mini perfect for boaters is that it runs on DC power directly, so you skip that old conversion from DC to AC and back again that ate up electricity. It uses very little energy now, and they even have a $5-a-month standby service that uses even less power if your boat sits during the off-season. The footprint is the size of a book, which is a massive win when space is always at a premium on vessels. I used to work on boats before Starlink existed, and we would watch 40 DVDs in one trip. Now life on the water is pretty much the same as on shore. I have trouble thinking of anything that has changed a boater’s lifestyle more than these systems.
Xantrex Portable Flexible Solar Panels
Continuing the electronics trend, these are 100-watt portable flexible solar panels from Xantrex. They fold in three parts, velcro over into a nice briefcase shape, and come with their own solar charge controller. I’ve been using them for about a month and I think they’re perfect. You can lay them out on the bimini, the bow, the stern — wherever they’re not in the way. They provide solid power to charge either lead acid or lithium batteries, and they’re really the key to taking your boat off-grid. You can find them at Defender Marine for $220 each. Even if you’re not trying to power your entire boat, you could set one up to charge a small lithium battery or even your phone.
Orca Core 2
Orca is a hardware and software navigation company, and the Core 2 is their flagship unit. This small device pairs with your phone or iPad and is designed to replace all the navigation systems on your vessel — autopilot, GPS, sonar, everything you might need — all for just $600. It displays data on whatever device you prefer: an iPad, Apple Watch, or smartphone. I covered the Orca app in my other video, and I’ll be mounting the Core 2 on my own vessel very soon so you can see everything it does in real conditions.
Melin Hats
A little out of left field, but I’m a bit of a Melin stan. These hats are designed to be waterproof — you can wear them in the ocean, in the lake, anywhere you do your boating. I’ve even got a thermal version for winter here in SoCal. They run about $79, they’re extremely high quality, and you can throw them in the wash to clean them right up. I’ve got about a dozen of these things at this point. For anyone who spends serious time on the water and destroys hats in a season, Melin is worth looking into. These are the kind of smart upgrades that make a difference season after season.
Further Customs Laguna Catamaran Tender
I had another product lined up for the last spot, but after testing the Further Customs Laguna catamaran tender with the electric outboard, I completely changed my mind. This is an 11-foot catamaran-style landing craft tender with a bow you can walk on and off of, an inflatable floor that deflates and folds into a bag for travel, and a hard transom that can hold up to a 15-horsepower outboard. I run an electric outboard on mine — just charge it before a trip and it lasts the whole weekend. It comes with a bimini, cup holders, everything you need to get your family safely to shore or other vessels. Mine is currently hanging from the Raptor in my garage, completely out of the way. This thing is right up there with Starlink in terms of how much it’s changed my boating. Further Customs also makes inflatable captain’s chairs and paddle boards — a really awesome boating company here in Southern California.
Those are my current top picks. I've also been running a LiTime lithium battery that revolutionized how I power my vessel, along with Victron equipment and other gear I've covered — check the channel for all of that. I've got a lot of cool stuff planned, including the Orca install and more. A big thank you again to Defender Marine for providing so much of what keeps my boat and me going. Smooth sailing.
If you're shopping on a tighter budget, my under-$100 picks cover five essentials that won't break the bank.
