Fast Upgrade Order in DREDGE
Want faster progress in DREDGE? Treat upgrades like a survival route, not a shopping spree. Start with Dry Dock upgrades (the boat-upgrade menu at a Dry Dock or pontoon Shipyard) to open more cargo and equipment space. More space means fewer forced trips back to port, so your money and material runs are usually better each day. While you build toward that, use daytime on nearby dredging spots (resource nodes you pull materials from) to stock Lumber, Metal Scraps, Bolt of Cloth, and Refined Metal for hull tiers that require it.
After your first practical hull expansion, keep this order: engine first for faster travel windows, rod/net coverage second so you can fish more spot types, and lights third for safer night visibility. Engines are a strong early payoff because better engines directly raise movement speed. Rod upgrades come next because fish spots can block progress if you do not have the right gear, and the Research Assistant chain in Stellar Basin includes Hadal catches that need Hadal-capable rods. Lights still matter, especially as Panic rises after dark, but they usually do their best work once speed and fish access are already stable.
Simple Priority Checklist
Use this loop to stay efficient: 1) Upgrade hull/cargo space when you can afford it. 2) Install the best engine setup your grid allows. 3) Unlock one new fishing method at a time with Research Parts (items used to research and unlock new equipment). 4) Add light range once your routes start stretching into dusk. 5) Save rare materials like Refined Metal for hull jumps that require it.
The most common early mistake is buying too many side-grade tools too soon. If an upgrade does not improve cargo efficiency, travel speed, or fish access you currently need, delay it. In DREDGE, fast boat progression comes from tighter loops, not from owning every gadget right away.