What Great Lakes Boaters Should Buy in 2026
Published: Saturday, December 13, 2025 10:00 am
By: Dan Armitage
Here are a few new items that any Great Lakes boater would appreciate hearing about for possible use next season.
Whitewater Boating Vest
During cool, “shoulder” boating seasons I prefer a vest when boating, especially if fishing is involved, for the freedom of movement they offer. Whitewater Fishing’s new Thermoclyne Vest is a good choice, providing core warmth to facilitate individual layering systems. The vest has an outer shell composed of a durable but smooth 100% nylon shell with DWR (durable water repellant) treatment and measurable wind protection that both sheds moisture and lessens staining.
The vest is also “stink” resistant, using Polygiene StayFresh by inhibiting bacteria that cause unpleasant odors, allowing fabrics to retain freshness even during heavy use or sweaty conditions. Polygiene technology makes it impossible for bacteria to multiply by embedding silver chloride – a naturally occurring salt – in the fabric. The freshness feature is permanent, too, lasting for the lifetime of the vest which, by the way, packs into its own pocket for easy storage and transport. Learn more at www.whitewaterfish.com.
Garmin Quatix 8 Marine GPS Smartwatch
In an impressive showing, Garmin has been named Manufacturer of the Year in the large manufacturer category for the 11th consecutive year by members of the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA®) as the most recognized company in the marine electronics industry for excellence in product service and support in the field. Garmin was also awarded eight Product of Excellence awards.
My favorite is Garmin’s new Marine Specialty Product, the Quatix® 8 Marine GPS Smartwatch designed specifically for those who spend a significant portion of their time on boats. It features a 1.4-inch AMOLED display, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, and a durable titanium bezel, making it suitable for harsh marine environments. The watch is water-resistant up to 100 meters and offers real-time vessel data streaming for tracking and navigation, a speaker and microphone for voice control of compatible chartplotters and hands-free calls, has a battery life of up to 29 days in smart mode, with extended options for GPS and dive activities. See more at www.garmin.com.
SFEG Powerwinch Premier Series 2000
I own three trailer-able boats at present, two if my wife is reading this, so I’m doing lots of winching. When it came time to upgrade the winch for my Great Lakes boat, a 20-foot Aquasport, I did some research and found the Powerwinch, with which I was not familiar.
A basic manual, single speed winch has a 2,000-pound capacity and is corrosion-resistant with diecast aluminum covers which is important because the boat is used in saltwater as well as the Great Lakes. It comes loaded with a high-quality 20-foot-long, two-inch-wide polyester strap with four-panel stitching and a forged snap hook and features an eight-inch crank arm and a gear ratio of 4.75:1. Details at www.powerwinch.com.
Sharrow Pontoon Prop
While raising our son, we owned a pontoon boat for a decade and with its stability and enclosed deck, aptly referred to as the “playpen.” Our old Harris Flotebote was the perfect all-purpose craft for hosting kids and anxious parents on protected waters. That said, performance was not much of a factor. However, if I owned a pontoon boat now, I’d be looking at the new prop from Sharrow designed specifically for the popular watercraft.
The Sharrow Pontoon is engineered specifically for pontoon boats, made of stainless steel or aluminum and offered for engines ranging from 40hp to 450hp, and offers superior holding and bite in turns, better maneuverability at the dock and other tight spaces, straight-line tracking in reverse, eliminating the typical “swing” of pontoons and much quieter operation. Learn more at www.sharrowmarine.com.
TRU 5-in-1 Multitool
Having tools on hand, especially a cutting edge for emergency freeing of lines aboard, is important to boaters who prefer to be prepared for mishaps. Multitools have been around for decades, but a new model from TRU designed for mariners is worth a long look. From cutting and scraping to tightening and opening, this titanium block multitool and its 5-in-1 design can slice and pierces with ease, but what I find most impressive is the bit driver arm with a patent-pending design that offers a two-position lockout. You can use the 90-degree lockout for tight spaces and the 180- degree lockout in situations where you need to maximize torque with additional arm and shoulder rotation.
The driver has magnetic bit retention and integrated storage to keep the included Philips and slotted screwdriver set accessible and secure. The bit driver is compatible with any ¼-inch bits, so you customize the tool to make it work for you by carrying the bits you use most. The flat edge scraper can handle a variety of peeling or prying tasks and the bottle opener will be ready to open a cold drink after a long day on your fave Great Lake. The titanium nitride coating and black oxide finish provide improved abrasion- resistance, corrosion-resistance, and durability in a compact, pocket-friendly design. Check it out at www.true.acgbrands.com.
Shockwave Seating
The first time I used a suspension seat was a deal-breaker. I was a media observer aboard a high-end, trailer-able fishing boat entered in a Professional Walleye Tour (PWT) tournament on an angry Lake Michigan, and as I judged the chop I wasn’t looking forward to the opportunity. As we cleared the break wall, I braced for a bump that never materialized. Equipped with shock-absorbing seating, the boat — rather than my back — took the beating and saved me for the following two days of competition.
Shockwave is a major player in that market, and their new S5-LW model is designed to allow small craft operators to experience the comfort of the air-sprung shock seating option that adds only 20 pounds of weight to the boat. Built of anodized, powder-coated marine-grade aluminum, the new Shockwave model offers four inches vertical cushioning and 1.5 inches of forward travel with an adjustable rebound and a variety of swivel and slide options. Go to www.shockwaveseats.com for details.
tags: boating accessories, boating gear 2026, boating trends 2026, boating upgrades, Garmin Quatix 8, Great Lakes boating, marine equipment, marine products, Powerwinch, Sharrow prop, Shockwave seating, TRU multitool, Whitewater Thermoclyne Vest
