Most people remember sunscreen. They remember towels, snacks, a cooler full of drinks. They think they’re ready. Then they’re an hour offshore, the chop kicks in, and someone’s rummaging through a bag desperately looking for seasickness pills that aren’t there.
A good boat day doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because someone thought ahead. Here are the essentials that regularly get left on the dock, and why they matter more than you’d think.
If you’re still figuring out the basics, start with this guide.
The Float Plan Nobody Files
Filing a float plan is the single most overlooked boat day habit. The idea is simple: before you leave, you tell a trusted person on land where you’re going, who’s with you, what your boat looks like, and when to expect you back. If you don’t check in, they call for help.
It costs nothing. It takes five minutes. And the vast majority of boaters never do it.
The reason most skip it is the same reason most people don’t think about emergency exits on planes – nothing bad has happened yet, so it feels unnecessary. But conditions change fast on the water, and a float plan means someone is watching out for you even when you’re out of signal range.
More Water Than You Think
Here’s a number that surprises most people: plan for at least two litres of drinking water per person for a full day out. More if it’s hot. You’re in the sun, often with wind drying you out, and the heat reflecting off the water intensifies everything. Experienced charterers recommend skipping glass entirely – bring cans or reusable, non-breakable containers.
Sports drinks with electrolytes are worth packing too, especially if people are swimming. What to avoid? Sugary juices and dark sodas. They can actually speed up dehydration, and a spill on upholstery is no fun.
Something for Motion Sickness (Just in Case)
Nobody likes to admit they get seasick. So nobody packs for it. Then someone goes quiet, finds a corner of the boat, and the day gets awkward fast.
Motion sickness tablets, ginger chews, and acupressure wristbands all have solid track records, and they work best when taken before symptoms hit. Once you feel it, you’re already behind. Toss a few options in the bag and forget about them – the best case scenario is that you never open them.
A Dry Bag
Your phone will get wet on a boat. Your wallet, your keys, your camera – all of them are at risk. A proper dry bag solves this completely, but even a sealed zip-lock bag for valuables buys you real protection.
Pair the dry bag with a fully charged power bank. Most day boats have limited outlets, and a dead phone is annoying at best and a safety issue at worst.
A Light Layer You Won’t Think You Need
It’s warm on the dock. Out on the water, wind and spray change things fast. A lightweight windbreaker or rash guard takes up almost no space and pays for itself the moment the temperature drops or the chop picks up. Experienced boaters rarely leave without one.
Trash Bags
Boats don’t come with rubbish bins, and the water is not an option. Bringing two or three small bags for trash keeps the boat clean, makes the end-of- day cleanup quick, and means you’re being a decent human about the environment. It’s the kind of small thing nobody thinks about until someone’s holding an empty chip packet with nowhere to put it.
Sunscreen You’ll Actually Reapply
Bringing sunscreen is obvious. Bringing enough sunscreen to reapply every two hours – and actually doing it – is less common. Look for a waterproof, broad-spectrum formula with SPF 30 or higher. Lip balm with SPF is worth adding too – lips burn quickly and the damage is uncomfortable for days.
The people who have the best days on the water aren’t the ones with the most gear. They’re the ones who thought through the small stuff before they left the dock.