Picture this: the warm sun is shining down on your face as your boat rocks softly to the motion of the ocean. It’s the perfect summer afternoon, and to make things even more perfect, you have your favorite ice-cold adult beverage in your hand—and there’s plenty more where that came from stocked up in the cooler. It doesn’t get much better than this, right?

Your daydream can easily become a reality, but before it does, you’ll want to ensure you have the right equipment onboard to support this situation.

While drinks, a cooler and a boat are obvious must-haves, one item that is often overlooked are boat drink holders. When you’re ready to go for a swim, tie up at the dock, or throw out the anchor, you’ll need a secure location to place your beverage.

Cup holders for boats come in a few different shapes and sizes, and a lot of the buying decision involved with boat cup holders is influenced by personal preference. Consider your favorite Yeti tumbler, Swell bottle, Corkcicle thermos and countless others to help you make an informed decision choosing about the right drink holders for your boat.

Ring-Like Drink Holder

One of the most common and basic designs used on many boats is a ring-like design cup holder. These can feature a half-circle open design or a complete circle and are typically made of stainless steel—although there are plastic options available as well.

Ring-like cup holders for boats can be installed with one, two, or even three holders. This style drink holder works particularly well for cups with handles and provides a seamless look built into your boat’s current layout.

Recessed Drink Holder

Another popular design, especially with boat manufacturers, is a recessed design. Recessed boat cup holders are flush with the surface of the boat and are generally proactively incorporated into the original design of a model.

Ideal for cans, bottles, and cups of varying sizes, these can also be made of a variety of materials, such as stainless steel or plastic, both with possible rubber padding.

Buyers also have the choice between closed bottom options or options with drain tubes. Drain tubes are definitely a worthy investment to help avoid mildew buildup from excess water or spills.

Folding Drink Holder

Another from our list of common boat drink holders is the folding design. Anglers in particular favor this design thanks to its easy ability to be put away and folded up when it’s not in use—therefore getting it out of the way of the action when reeling in the big catch.

Like the other designs we’ve discussed, this style cup holder for boats also comes in stainless steel or plastic materials.

Many boat owners will argue that this is the easiest drink holder to install and placement is very flexible. Likewise, most folding designs feature adjustable arms that accommodate cups both big and small.

Rail Mount Drink Holder

Okay let’s be real — sometimes you put too many people on your boat. You invite a few more friends than usual or somebody brings an extra and your boat gets a little crammed.

This can quickly turn into a game of musical chairs when everyone goes to set down their drink to jump in the water for dip.

Unless— you happen to have a few spare rail mount drink holders on hand. With the ability to mount both vertically and horizontally to rails, these drink holders can really save the day. They can be the difference between an ice cold beverage waiting for you when you climb back aboard, or a sticky mess ready to be cleaned up.

That being said, rail mount drink holders are a great addition to any boat and can be very versatile. They can even be used to mount to your chair or umbrella when you decide to catch some sun on the beach.

What drink holder is right for your boat?

At the end of the day, choosing the right design for your boat’s cup holders will make life that much easier and enjoyable when you’re out on the water. You can view and purchase all types of drink holders at Marine Depot Direct.

What's keeping your drinks cool? Let us know in the comments below!

Visit MarineDepotDirect.com for a wide variety of cost-effective, top quality stainless steel marine hardware. You may also connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for the latest updates or call 818-215-4211 to speak with a representative.