What Do You Need to Run a GoBoat?
The short list of what's required, what's optional, and what people overthink. Spoiler: it's simpler than you think.
A GoBoat is simple by design, but there are a few essentials you need before it ever touches the water. Most confusion comes from not separating what's required from what's merely optional.
Sun protection doesn't make most GoBoat equipment guides — but it should.
GoBoat makes a sun shade that does its job, and we have customers who love it. Personally, I'm not a fan of the design, but there are some incredible DIY setups in the GoBoat Nation Facebook group that are worth a look if you're just getting into this.
At a bare minimum — hat and sunscreen.
We're partial to Zinka colored nose coat ourselves.
As if the GoBoats weren't colorful enough.
The short answer
- The boat
- An electric motor
- A battery
- A charger
A manual air pump is typically included and will fully inflate the boat. That's it — no gas, no trailer, no ramp required.
The required components, in plain terms
The inflatable hull, seating, and front transom mount. Once inflated, it doesn't require much thought beyond basic care. Deflates and packs back into its carry bag after each use.
A quiet electric motor designed for calm water and controlled movement — not speed. Attaches to the front transom and typically stays in place for the whole outing.
Powers everything. Without it, the boat doesn't move. Battery size affects how long you stay on the water and how hard the motor can work. See Chapter 4 for the full breakdown.
Used after the outing, not during. Once the battery is depleted, it's recharged for next time — typically overnight or between uses. Must be compatible with your battery chemistry.
Typical setup order
In practice, most people set up a GoBoat like this:
- Inflate the boat
- Attach the electric motor to the front transom
- Drop in the battery
- Launch from shoreline, dock, or gentle ramp
There's no fuel, no priming, and no warm-up. That predictability is a big reason GoBoats work so well for families, campgrounds, and first-time boat owners.
What's optional (but often helpful)
These items aren't required, but they come up often once people are comfortable with the basics:
-
+Larger batteries for longer outings — the single most common upgrade
-
+Spare batteries for back-to-back use or multi-day trips
-
+Electric air pump — not required, but a significant quality-of-life upgrade
-
+Storage and transport solutions for frequent travel
-
+Comfort accessories like canopies or upgraded seating
-
+Fish finder for anglers wanting electronics on the water
Air pumps: manual vs electric
Manual pump works. Electric pump changes everything.
Every GoBoat includes a manual air pump, and it will get the job done. For occasional use it's perfectly adequate. But inflating a GoBoat with a manual pump is not light exercise — it's manageable, but you'll feel it.
If you go the electric route, look for pumps with:
- Ratings suitable for high-pressure inflatable boats
- Battery capacity around 5,000–6,000 mAh or higher
- Automatic shutoff to prevent over-inflation
It doesn't change how the boat performs on the water, but it dramatically reduces setup fatigue if you're inflating often.
Why batteries are often sold separately
This surprises people at first. Batteries are separated because usage varies widely — some people already own compatible batteries, runtime expectations differ, and battery technology changes faster than boats do.
Separating power allows flexibility instead of forcing a one-size-fits-all bundle. It also means you can choose the right battery for your specific use case rather than paying for capacity you don't need — or being stuck with capacity that isn't enough.
What people tend to overthink
- Exact runtime numbers
- Finding the "perfect" battery size
- Advanced accessories on day one
- Getting everything right upfront
- Calm water uses less power than expected
- Larger batteries add margin, not complexity
- Starting simple works just fine
- Upgrades become obvious after a few outings
Understanding the basics is more important than optimizing on day one. Get on the water first — the upgrades will make sense after that.
My honest answer: it's 100% not necessary if you're up for a brief workout — we're talking 15 to 20 minutes.
Do I use one personally? Absolutely.
We're constantly packing up and heading to the next destination, and the pump gets you on the water faster. It's also an absolute delight when you're trying to fully deflate the boat at the end of the day.
That last part alone is worth it.
As for what people overthink — it's usually the battery and motor setup.
For someone who's never used an electric motor or a lithium battery, it can feel overwhelming at first glance.
We get that.
Some of these concepts are genuinely new to people, and that's exactly why we built this guide.
A GoBoat requires four things: the boat, a motor, a battery, and a charger. Everything else is an upgrade. Start simple, get on the water, and let your actual use case tell you what to add next.
Find Your GoBoat
Free shipping to the Lower 48. Dock demos in Carolina Beach. Rob & Dana pick up the phone.
Ready to Get on the Water? Browse GoBoats →