Top tips to keeping a tinnie tidy

A common question for boaties is how to keep things on board nice and tidy. It's easy on a big boat, where everything can be stowed out of sight, but what if you're on a tinnie with limited space?

The smaller the boat, the more important it is to utilise storage space wisely. The more organised the vessel, the easier it is to operate and fish while out on the water.

Here are our top tips for keeping a tinnie tidy.

Some gear you will use every time you are on board, such as safety gear and emergency equipment that, by law, must always be on board.

But not everything on board is mandatory. Try to only take the fishing gear that you will use for that given day.

You'll know you have too much gear on board; this is where a lot of people have gone wrong, unable to grab what they want just when they need it because it is under all the gear used for a previous outing.

There's nothing worse than sorting through a heap of gear while the bite is on.

Maximise the use of storage compartments and underfloor storage.

The compartmentalised underfloor storage built into my tinnie has been particularly handy.

It ensures everything stays neat and tidy, off the floor, and out of the way while travelling from spot to spot, as well as when you are fishing.

I have the aft section of the tinnie set up so that one side is sectioned off for the fuel container, and the other side is used to store the bait board, pliers and other fishing gear.

The middle section tends to be the best spot to keep life jackets and all relevant safety gear.

Here, everything is easily accessible and is normally the first place a person will look in an emergency situation.

The front section of my little runabout is split into two compartments where you will find the boat cover, and earmuffs and hose for washing down the boat.

It is also the spot where I keep my wet weather gear and fishing tackle boxes for the day.

Once all the underfloor storage is used up, extra storage space can be added using accessories such as tinnie storage bins.

Tinnie storage bins are perfect for keeping smaller items in place, as well as bait and tackle

Available from marine retailers, the storage bins are very easy to assemble and fit over the gunwale of the boat.

Most come in a standard 40mm size, which means they will fit over gunwales up to that wide. Generally speaking, buying one of these as a storage solution isn't going to break the bank.

The only thing on the floor of my tinnie when I’m heading out for the day will be my fishing rods.

However, if you don't want to keep them on the floor, you can keep them out of the way by fitting a rod storage rack to your boat.

Different brands offer a variety of options, including horizontal or vertical storage. Choosing the right one for your boat depends on its layout.

You can pick up a basic five-rod storage holder for surprisingly little money, while the more advanced rod storage racks will come with the option of a lock so that your rods will stay secure when you pull up somewhere for a debrief.

Fishers don’t have to spend a fortune to add some nifty little options to their tinnie.

For less than $100 and with very little effort, tinnie owners can greatly improve their storage and keep things tidy and organised.

Happy fishing, and stay safe out on the water!