I’m sure you’ve seen list upon list of what is suggested to take on the boat with you. From safety items to miscellaneous floats and tubes. The lists never seem to end. With all these ideas of what to take with you on the boat, have you ever thought about what you should leave at home?
Several items are better off being left on dry land. The reason these items should stay home varies depending on what they are. Some are for safety, and others are unnecessary and take up needed space.
Having an understanding of the items that should stay at home will help your boat stay organized, safe, and clean. After reading this article, you will know what these are and why they aren’t worth taking out on the boat.
Hazards
Most importantly, let’s go over the things that should stay at home for safety reasons. These are items that could cause big problems while out on the boat. For this reason, these things should stay at home and off the boat.
Fireworks
Fireworks should never be on a boat. Unless you are the firework barge on the fourth of July, these should stay at home. Taking fireworks on a boat always results in trouble. Fireworks are dangerous no matter where you are, let alone on a boat.
I have seen several accidents that involve fireworks on a boat. I have seen people injured and damage done to boats. All because someone thought it was a good idea or thought they were being festive. Trust me, it’s not worth it. Leave the fireworks behind and enjoy your boat safely with family and friends.
Gas Cans
Before heading out on your boat, you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of gas in your boat for the day. Fill your boat up with gas before even leaving the dock. Now, if you’re planning on a long day out on the water, it may be tempting to bring a full gas can with you on the boat.
I’ll tell you right now, that is a bad idea. Leave the gas can at home. There are many safety reasons to not have a gas can with you on a boat. For one, gasoline vapors expand as they heat causing pressure to build up within the can. If this pressure were to get high enough, it could explode.
Having gas on board your boat is not a good idea because of how flammable it is. If something were to spark, that gas can would be the first thing to ignite. It won’t just ignite, it will explode. There are many dangers to bringing a gas can on board your boat.
Always fill your boat with gas prior to heading out on the water and leave the gas cans at home. This will help keep everyone on board safe and happy.
Chemicals
Thinking about the health of the water you’re enjoying should always be a top priority. There are a lot of boat cleaners out there and not all are safe for the water. It is best to play it safe and leave all cleaners at home.
Chemicals found in cleaners can contaminate the water and create all kinds of issues. This could result in toxic water making it unusable for fun boating adventures. Everyone should work to keep the water healthy and chemical-free by leaving chemicals in a safe place far from the water.
Electronics
I have seen people lose valuable electronics time and time again on the boat. I’ve seen them slide off the seats right into the water. A good rule of thumb is that if you don’t need to have electronics with you, leave them at home.
There is no need for a laptop, tablet, or any other larger electronic device on your boat. These are likely going to get wet and could be ruined easily. Also, you should be enjoying the outdoors while on the boat rather than jumping online.
The only electronic that makes sense to have on your boat is a cell phone. This is helpful in case you were to run into an emergency. Other than that, other electronics are not needed.
In the Way
The following items may not be hazardous to anyone or anything, however, they are not needed to enjoy your boating adventure. Leaving these things at home is best for everyone's enjoyment while on the boat.
Messy Snacks
I am all about bringing snacks on the boat. After spending hours and hours in the sun, everyone will need a snack. The important thing here is to make sure the snacks you pack are not messy. If you spill something like melted chocolate all over your new boat, cleaning up will not be fun.
I recommend sandwiches without sauces on them and granola bars. These are not too messy and pretty easy to clean if they were to end up on the floor. If you choose to bring chips along, make sure they aren't Doritos or Cheetos. Those will stain anything.
You’ll also want to consider what drinks you bring on board. I can’t imagine anyone would be too thrilled if someone spilled a red Gatorade all over your light-colored interior. Sticking to clear-colored liquids and easy-to-clean foods will save you the hassle of a deep clean-up later.
Shoes with Marking Soles
The last thing anyone wants is to be the person who leaves a mark of their shoes on a brand-new boat. This would be quite the ugly mark and I'm sure the boat owner wouldn't be too happy. For this reason, make sure your shoes don’t leave marks.
If you plan to wear shoes on the boat, it’s a good idea to choose shoes that can get wet. Something like sandals or boat shoes are perfect. These rarely have dark-colored soles that leave marks behind.
Be considerate of the boat and make sure your shoes aren’t going to leave any surprising marks behind. Pro-tip, if you want to be invited back, take your shoes off before entering the boat.
Miscellaneous Items
I can admit that I am someone who often overpacks for a day on the boat. I’ve gotten better in recent years. Though, I still catch myself packing everything I could need while out on the water.
For reference, I boat on a very small lake where it takes maybe five minutes to get from one side to the other. I don’t need to pack everything I own when going on the boat. Understandably, people boating on larger bodies of water will want to be a little bit more prepared.
A good idea is to avoid packing anything that you will not need for the day. For instance, you likely don’t need multiple changes of clothes and blankets. These things will take up room on the boat and make sitting uncomfortable and cramped.
Pack only the things that you and everyone else need and leave everything else at home. It will save time and space. Trust me, I always overpack for even the smallest of adventures but I’ve learned that some things are better off staying at home.
Pack Light
When heading out on the boat for an adventure, it’s best to bring only the necessities. Plan out your day and pack accordingly. Some are for safety and others are simply not needed.
There’s no need to stress if you forget something because most of the time, you can boat back home and grab whatever it is you’re missing. Now that you have an idea of what to take with you and what to leave at home, get out on the water. Enjoy the warm sunny weather in the best way possible, on your boat.
