If you cannot afford a repower, get the engine rebuilt ASAP. Don't trust it, this is the only thing that will for sure make a bad trip after towing the boat 18 hours one way. Once you are absolutely sure that the engine is reliable, get 2 new batteries, with a battery isolator switch. If the kicker has a charging loop, that can charge the one battery that runs all electronics and down riggers. Leave one batttery as the backup for starting. Get a solar panel to keep the charge on the batteries when moored up. This will ensure that the batteries last and are fresh. It makes a huge difference.
Beyond that, you will spend a pile on rod holders, bumpers, anchor, etc. What is most important is a very good VHF radio with a strong antenna. New ones are relatively cheap and will interface with new GPS to broadcast the location in an emergency call.
Make sure that you have an inline drainable fuel water seperator. Amazing amounts of water accummulate in a partially full inboard tank. You will be able to see water in the clear bowl under the seperator very fast, and your engine will not be wrecked in the process. Simply drain it off and go. The coast is not dry like Alberta. With high humidity, and constant cooling at night, fuel tanks have a way of sweating, and water creeps up on you at the worst times.
Finally, make sure you change out the bilge pumps, and cover all the electrical connections in the wiring in DI ELECTRIC graphite paste to stop corrosion. Rain on a bilge is rarely a problem, but salt water sure does fast work on pumps and electrical.
Drewski
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