Submitted by: Paul Weste

Boat accessories are a way of life. It seems nothing lasts forever and at the same time upgrades will always be needed. Anyone owning a boat will eventually need to purchase items just to keep up. Paying just a little more for quality materials can go a long way.

So things tend to wear out over time. Those items that aren t resistant to the UV rays or are just plain not built well will not last forever. Boat accessories are just that as many parts are manufactured from plastic while others are different types of metals. The key to purchasing quality boat accessories will lie in the material of construction as well as the quality of manufacturing.

This holds true with many things today but in the marine business it is especially important. The pricing can be significantly inflated on many items leaving the poorly manufactured items as the preferred choice. Even the boat builders know this as many boats aren t even built with quality materials knowing they will soon fail or cause problems. Just an example of this would many of them are sold and don t even have all the hardware installed as stainless steel. From the screws that hold the hinges, to the cleats mounted to secure the vessel correctly, this is not a good practice yet it still remains acceptable.

The intended water type should also be considered before purchasing any accessories. If you plan to use your boat in salt water you will need to pay extra attention to every component you install. The fresh water isn t as bad but water and metal don t mix well and sure enough the water will win. Corrosion will son set in and that will be a quick end to an expensive item or part that looked great at one time. I can t say enough about the salt water use though. I ve seen plain steel boat trailers rusting to nothing and boat accessories such as rod holders to the screws and bolts rusting completely out. If you have a bass boat, then use it for bass fishing and don t attempt a run in the ocean and destroy items. Even trolling motors will corrode really badly if used in salt water and not made for the purpose.

The other item of the UV rays is also important. Years ago they didn t make the plastics well with the UV inhibitors in them. This creates a problem in the marine industry as the plastic is great for corrosion resistance but really not to good to leave in the sun. This is known by many as plastic hinges on decks would crack and break, cup holders would become brittle and crack, and many boat accessories installed in locations in direct sunlight would fail shortly.

So when purchasing boat accessories it is a good idea to do a little homework and make sure what you re purchasing. Those items manufactured from good materials may cost more but will surly last longer providing many years of service.

About the Author: I have been in the

Boat Accessories

business for a long time and purchase all of mine at the Boaters On Top web store.

Source:

isnare.com

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