Can this item be used without any dust extraction equipment? I plan on using it outside on my boat and am not concerned about dust.

Yes, definitely. As with all tools, Festool can be used with or without dust extraction. Depending on your application, this may not be the best option for working on a boat. The majority of our customers who are using their sanders for boats tend to choose the Rotex 125 or Rotex 150 due to the larger pad size to cover more area quickly, the aggressive sanding capability, and the capability to use it for polishing. The LS 130 is a great sander for profiles, trim, rounded surfaces, etc. due to its back-and-forth sanding motion. If you have questions on these, please feel free to call us or email at info@toolnut.com.