Way back in 2010, we ran a contest about affordable upgrades. Contestants sent in descrptions of upgrades they'd done recently, and the winner earned a $250 West Marine gift card.

Let me be clear: we are not running another contest. But that doesn't mean we can't remind you of the ideas, in case you haven't already made all of these improvements.

towboat with tower

Adding a tower to your towboat will make next season even more fun.



Ed Sherman wrote about Six Great Upgrades Anyone Can Afford, which included everything from rust removal to marking your anchor line with length indicators (after a careful inspection) to LED lighting. Electronics and systems come and go, but Ed's choices still look like great upgrades today for both power and sail.

Our Outboard Expert Charles Plueddeman  covered $500 Upgrades. He focused mostly on fuel protection and monitoring: "Install a Remote Fuel Filter," "Buy a Case of Fuel Additive, " and "Add a Fuel Flow Gauge." But he also mentions having your propeller tuned up—a great job for the off-season, when you won't mind as much if the job takes a little longer than expected.

In Towboat Upgrades for (mostly) Under $500, Brett Becker suggests adding water tanks (for extra weight), tweaking your prop, adding some accessories, and—if you're willing to blow that $500 budget cap—adding a tower and/or speed control.

Here are the links to the other Affordable Upgrades stories, though the electronics one is (not surprisingly) a bit out of date. Enjoy pimping your ride, and let us know what projects you're taking on this winter.

Written by: Carol Cronin
Carol Cronin has published several novels about the Olympics, sailing, hurricanes, time travel, and old schooners. She spends as much time on the water as possible, in a variety of boats, though most have sails.