Four Accessories Guaranteed to Make Your Boat the Most Popular Craft on the Water this Summer - Best summer boat customization and accessories

True to our commitment to excellence in its own class, the team at Dandy Marine researched the most popular boat upgrades in Calgary and selected the four best summer boat customization and accessories that give boat owners the most bang for their buck.

The summer boating season is upon us, and Calgary boaters are racing to complete their spring run-up so they can get out on the water as soon as possible.

To maximize summer fun, Dandy’s trusted Calgary boat mechanics recommend ordering the best summer boat accessories for your watercraft before taking it out on the water. Here are the best summer boat customization and accessories.

Whether you prefer Lake Newell, Sylvan Lake, or Ghost Lake, maximize your summer fun on the water by giving your boat the facelift it needs and the accessories it deserves. Your summer will be even more amazing as a result!

1) Monster Towers: A Must-Have Accessory for the Best Calgary Wakeboarding

Monster Towers is the leading name in wakeboard towers. They are distinct in that their towers provide a universal fit for any boat with a beam width of 60”–102”. The towers are made from heavy-duty 2.5-inch-diameter 6061/63 aluminum tubing, anodized and powder-coated, so the material will not rust, corrode, fade, or deteriorate over time. The proprietary design also comes built-in with a quick-release folding feature that allows for easy “break down” of the tower for winter storage (and easy set-up during the spring run-up).

We at Dandy Marine specialize in installing and maintaining Monster Towers because they are the best wakeboarding towers in Calgary, guaranteed. The towers feature a “header area” designed for adding racks, speakers, lights, mirrors, tops, and additional customization. The unique mounting system is ideal for our premium storage service, allowing us to take down the tower in the fall and conveniently set it back up for you during your spring run-up. Last but not least, the design and material combination is unmatched. The towers are universal in their installation and feature aluminum, which has the best strength-to-weight ratio of any wakeboarding tower on the market today.

For new wakeboarding, wake-surfing, water skiing, or kneeboarding towers, shop local in Airdrie (just a 10-minute drive north of Calgary) and book a wakeboard tower installation today with Dandy Marine. Book online to schedule service, or email sales@dandy.ca. 

2) UltraDeck Flooring: The Best, Safest, and Longest Lasting Decking for Boats in Canada 

Whether you own an aluminum or fibreglass boat, whether your preference is fishing, wakeboarding, or simply pleasure cruising on Alberta’s many rivers, reservoirs, and lakes, UltraDeck boat flooring is the superior option for any and all boat decks.

UltraDeck is the perfect decking for boating on Sylvan Lake (great for water sports), Lesser Slave Lake (large sandy shores for fun beach days), Ghost Lake (great for mountain views near Calgary), and Lake Newell (warmer than most Alberta lakes), or Wabamun Lake, Cold Lake, and Lake Minnewanka. The UltraDeck material is designed for harsh sun exposure, meaning it will last longer and fade much more slowly compared to traditional marine vinyl. Its closed-cell foam technology does not absorb water, making it impervious to odours and stains (and making it easy to clean, in the process).

UltraDeck boat deck material has the best cushioning support of all boat flooring composites. Its proprietary anti-fatigue design protects joints and provides an added safety feature: the flooring is non-slip, even when wet! Furthermore, the industrial-grade 3M adhesive ensures a durable and permanent fit, even in high-heat, high-use, and chronically wet environments. 

All of that being said, the key feature that our best marine mechanics in Calgary say is why they always recommend UltraDeck is this: Each kit is machined specifically for the vessel, allowing unlimited customization options, unique logos, countless color combinations, and more. 

For new deck flooring that will last, bring your boat to the best boat mechanic in southern Alberta. Schedule a decking installation today that includes British Columbia’s own UltraDeck and Airdrie’s own Dandy Marine. Book online to schedule service, or email sales@dandy.ca. 

3) Go Surf Assist: A New Technology that Has Revolutionized Wakesurfing 

You’ve almost certainly heard about Go Surf Assist (GSA) by now. This aftermarket wake-shaping system has completely changed the wakesurfing game, allowing recreational boaters to customize their crafts to create incredible wakes that allow for two or more wakesurfers at a time. GSA even gives boat owners the ability to create different types of wakes.

How does GSA do it? A specialized aftermarket wake system designed for inboard boats, GSA creates a high-push wake by using heavy-duty, transom-mounted “tabs” and symmetrical ballast. Unlike older systems of wake manipulation that required listing or “tipping” of the boat or for all passengers to sit on one side of the boat, GSA empowers boat owners to create an even, flat ride that still produces stunning wakes big enough to allow for side-to-side wakesurfing and easy switching from one wake style to another. 

GSA gives the boat operator total control. The “surf side” can be changed with the push of a button. Wake size and duration can be controlled, enabling the operator to create the best wakes for wakesurfing, wakeboarding, or kneeboarding. The GSA also helps boats get on plane faster, increasing efficiency and performance. 

For a wake system that will make your boat the most popular wakesurfing boat in Calgary, contact Dandy Marine today. Our honest marine mechanics are the best boat technicians in Calgary, and they are ready to install GSA onto your watercraft. Contact us as soon as possible to make this customization a part of your spring run-up! Book online to schedule service, or email sales@dandy.ca. 

4) Fresh Air Exhaust

Finally, a solution that virtually eliminates the station wagon effect! This upgrade is a must because the station wagon effect has haunted boating enthusiasts for generations. The term refers to a dangerous phenomenon in boating: low-pressure air (created by a boat moving forward and causing low pressure behind the boat) can suck exhaust fumes, such as carbon monoxide, back into the cockpit and cabin.

The Fresh Air Exhaust upgrade makes boating safe and worry-free again. Quoting an important statement made by the folks at Fresh Air Exhaust:

• “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fresh Air Exhaust reduces Carbon Monoxide and other harmful exhaust gases by at least 90%. Unless your boat is equipped with a catalytic converter, it produces lethal levels of Carbon Monoxide (greater than 10,000 ppm); levels strong enough to cause you to lose consciousness within about three minutes. Even on boats with catalytic converters, the CDC recommends underwater exhaust (FAE) to further reduce Carbon Monoxide levels. Without underwater exhaust, you are still breathing the toxic fumes from a V8 gasoline engine.”

It is with great pride that Dandy Marine specializes in installing Fresh Air Exhaust systems on boats. These exhaust systems are unique and simply brilliant in their ability to inject engine exhaust into the propeller wash, which can eliminate up to 98% of carbon monoxide and reduce engine/exhaust noise by up to 75%. The system makes boating safer by moving exhaust fumes well behind the vessel. 

For a safe, better-for-everyone exhaust system, contact Dandy Marine to make Fresh Air Exhaust a part of your spring run-up! Book online to schedule service, or email sales@dandy.ca. 

The Best Marine Shop for Boat Customization in Calgary 

In business for over 35 years, Airdrie’s best marine shop, Dandy Marine, has established itself as the leading full-service boat mechanic garage in the Calgary area with honest, good-natured marine technicians and a clean, welcoming lobby, office, and work environment.

Precision engineering, diagnostic accuracy, and certified peace of mind on every boat upgrade you could possibly want. That’s the Dandy difference.

The weeks before summer sets in are the best windows of opportunity for boat upgrades, accessories, and customization. And while we’re making your watercraft even better, we’ll inspect it, too. Dandy Marine has Airdrie's best marine mechanics and the best marine technicians in Calgary on the service floor, ready to take care of anything and everything your boat needs.

Schedule a custom upgrade or accessory install today with Dandy Marine by booking online or by emailing sales@dandy.ca. And to learn more about Calgary’s best marine service, contact us and let us know what kind of rig you’re working with, and we’ll tell you what we can do for you. Dandy Marine offers the best boat upgrade shop in Calgary, employing the best marine mechanics in southern Alberta, guaranteed.

Until next time, we hope you have a Dandy day!

Sources: 

[1] BT. “12 Best Boat Upgrades.” Boatsetter, 2024. boatsetter.com