Getting around the ocean in How to Fish depends on two things: a boat that can actually reach new islands and a radar that shows you where to sail. You start with neither. Both are earned through quests and shop purchases as you move through the islands, and the upgrades that follow make travel faster and free up your hands during combat.
Quick answer: Beat the Spider Crab at the Lighthouse and hand its meat to the Lighthouse Keeper to earn your first boat, then buy the radar from him for $10. Later, buy the mounted radar upgrade before The Rocks, and grab the engine upgrades on Forest Island ($230) and The Rocks ($860). The military boat comes only after defeating the final boss on Volcano island.
Unlock your first boat at the Lighthouse
You cannot swim between islands, so the boat is your only way off the starting area. The Lighthouse Keeper hands over the keys, but only after you clear the first boss.
You know it worked when the boat becomes drivable and the first quest is marked complete. If no keys appear, check that you handed over the crab meat rather than selling it.
Buy the radar for $10
The radar is sold by the Lighthouse Keeper for $10, and it is one of the first purchases worth making. Once you defeat an island’s boss, an NPC gives you coordinates for the next destination. Without the radar, those coordinates are hard to follow because you have no easy way to see where to sail.
Buy it right after you unlock the boat. You can cover the $10 by selling a few fish, so there is no reason to delay it.
Note: This early radar is a handheld item. You have to hold it in your hands to read the map, which means you cannot carry a weapon or fishing rod at the same time.
Mount the radar on your boat before The Rocks
Holding the radar becomes a problem once fights get harder, since you cannot keep a gun ready while navigating. The fix is a permanent mount upgrade.
Before you head to the fourth island, The Rocks, visit the local shop and buy the upgrade that fixes the radar screen directly onto your boat. After this, the radar sits at a stationary position on the vessel, so you can read the map while keeping your weapons in hand. You no longer need to equip it manually.
Boat engine upgrades and where to buy them
The standard boat can reach every location on the map, so engine upgrades are about speed rather than access. They cut down travel time between islands, which matters most later when you are bouncing between areas to finish collections or achievements. Because money is tight early on, weapons and quest items should usually come before speed.
| Upgrade | Cost | Where to buy | Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| First engine upgrade | $230 | Forest Island | Getting an upgrade |
| Dual Motors (fastest) | $860 | The Rocks | I am speed |
The Dual Motors setup is the best boat engine in the game. If cash is limited, it is fine to save for it and skip the middle-tier options, since faster travel is a convenience rather than a requirement.
The military boat on Volcano island
The last transport in the game is the military boat, and it only appears at the very end. It is not used for fishing or exploring. Its single purpose is to carry you back to the mainland, which rolls the end credits.
Boarding the military boat ends the main story. If you want to keep playing, reload your save file after the credits. You retain the boat, radar, engine upgrades, and every weapon upgrade you earned, so you can go back to catching fish and completing your collection.
