BOATING, CAMPING AND FISHING: TOP TIPS FROM RIVERECON
Boating, camping and fishing are a great combination. Together, they make the perfect recipe for a fun, memorable weekend or holiday. It’s not something you can just go out and do last minute, though. It pays off to prepare and organise. Otherwise, you may end up heading back home earlier than planned.
We caught up with Deckee ambassador riveRecon, who kindly shared his top tips to arrange a fantastic adventure. But first, let’s look at how such a trip works.
HOW TO COMBINE BOATING, CAMPING AND FISHING
riveRecon wanted to go boat camping for years, but fear of the unknown stopped him from trying many times. He wondered how he could sleep comfortably on an open boat, how to set up his vessel for camping, and more. Now, he encourages anyone to try it out.
Camping on your boat is just like camping in a tent or caravan. Yet, it’s better: “you can camp anywhere on the water that’s safe; as close or as far from civilisation as you like”, comments riveRecon. No need to look for an approved wild camping spot or a campground - unless you want to stay on land for the night, which is also a lot of fun. If you don’t like your chosen spot or the weather changes, you can easily and quickly move, especially if you’re on a fast motorboat.
“You can always position your boat into the wind, even if not at anchor” - explains the YouTuber - “so there’s no need to move to get a decent airflow, which is not only important for comfort but also for keeping fuel vapour out of the boat for safety”. According to riveRecon, sleeping on a boat is like “having a moat around your camp”, so it’s safer than a tent.
The best part of this kind of trip is that you can keep costs down. “You don’t have to be a millionaire to enjoy the boat camping lifestyle”, says riveRecon. “I’m an explorer at heart. I love the sounds of nature. I work full-time, so this for me is a recharge. I love to feel alive by soaking in the energy of nature”, continues the boater.
Combining boating, camping and fishing isn’t terribly hard. Figure out how long you’ll be out for and where you want to fish. Check the marine weather forecast and send your float plan to a loved one. Then, pack your boat with fishing gear, food, water, and camping equipment. Nothing needs to be permanent - just pack everything in waterproof boxes or bags and place them somewhere safe on the boat. If you don’t have closed storage onboard, tie things down to secure them in choppy seas.
Without further ado, here are riveRecon’s top tips for having a great time on a boating, camping and fishing trip.
TAKE IT SLOW
You don’t need to go all out the first time. Choose a familiar spot near home, keep the trip short, and don’t get too ambitious with the cooking and fishing. You can go on as many test trips as you need to get confident and comfortable.
And more importantly, don’t expect your first adventure to be perfect. You’ll need to get used to sleeping on a rocking, open boat. You’ll have to figure out how to safely use a camping stove on a windy evening, and more. With time and experience, you will find solutions for everything.
LEARN HOW TO ANCHOR PROPERLY
Knowing how to set your anchor correctly is fundamental to staying safe and getting a good night’s sleep. On the water, if you don’t take the time to make sure your anchor is holding, you may wake up in the middle of the ocean. The fear of ending up adrift may rob you of precious sleep, too. So riveRecon recommends going out and practicing anchoring in advance. Take a whole morning or afternoon to test your skill - drop your hook on different seabed types and reverse on the anchor at different speeds.
Need to review the basics of anchoring? We’ve covered them in this article.
If you don’t feel safe sleeping at anchor, you can tie up to land or you can find a spot on land where you’re allowed to camp in a tent. In this case, you can beach and secure your boat to something solid on land. You can always try sleeping on the boat next time.
BRING A VARIETY OF FOOD
It’s a good idea to bring extra food and water in case you get stuck somewhere due to bad weather. Don’t rely on being able to cook all the food, keep it cool, or on catching fresh fish, though. Take something you can eat straight out of the box, bag, or tin (can) and which doesn’t require cooling. Think of nuts, tinned (canned) fruit, long-life bread, trail mix, and beef jerky. It may be too rolly or windy and you may not be able to light the stove. It’s nice to have the option to stay, rather than going back home or heading to a restaurant.
riveRecon’s top tip? Carry a tarp to collect rainwater and freshwater filters.
INVEST IN A BIMINI
Being able to take shelter from the sun or rain will improve your boat camping trip massively. Biminis aren’t exactly cheap, but they will allow you to be out in the sun all day and to get some protection from the elements at night.
riveRecon warns: “A heavy downpour can sink a small boat. If you can’t afford a bimini, DIY tarps lashed to a boat work well.”
PREP YOUR FISHING SETUP CAREFULLY
Take the time to research the area you’re going to be fishing in, so you know exactly what rod, line, bait or lures to bring. It also pays off to have a good look at your route - will you come across shallow areas or reefs?
IMPROVE YOUR BOAT’S PERFORMANCE AND COMFORT
If you usually go out on your boat for a few hours at a time, you may not notice that it’s not performing at its best. Using it on longer trips will help you unlock her potential.
riveRecon tells: “After my first trip, I realised I had to make some modifications to how I stored things on board to make the boat more comfortable. A larger casting deck made room for gear underneath and a stable platform to try bow fishing.” He continues: “I also changed the boat prop pitch and added an alloy anti-ventilation plate to improve fuel economy. I’m now getting about 2.7km per litre (6.3 miles per gallon) of fuel on my big 115HP 7m(24ft) open boat.”
PLAN FOR A WET NIGHT
Even when daytime temperatures are fairly high, you’ll find condensation on your boat, gear, and clothes in the morning. So it’s very important that you stow your equipment out of the elements and have a way to stay dry. Bring layers to sleep in and think about getting a bivvy bag to place your sleeping bag in. riveRecon opted for a "swag" (a portable sleep bundle) to keep warm at night.
DON’T SKIMP ON THE SAFETY GEAR
While camping on a small boat is cheap and accessible, you shouldn’t try to save money on safety gear. Carry all mandatory safety equipment as per your country or state’s regulations. Charge your VHF, and check your life jackets, bring an emergency boating ladder, and pack a first aid kit. riveRecon reminds us that: “There is often no phone signal in remote areas, so you need to be prepared.”
Need some inspiration to plan your first boating, camping, and fishing trip? Watch some of riveRecon's videos on YouTube, so you can get an idea of what to expect. Watching others going on their own adventures is what gave riveRecon the guts to go out and do it himself.
Download the Deckee app from the App Store or Google Play for free. Find that ideal boating camping hideaway on the map, interesting fishing spots, track your trips and take notes, check the detailed marine weather forecast, and more. Deckee will help you plan your boating adventures and stay safe on the water.