Ultimate Packing List: Bareboat Charter Provisioning
Last Updated on January 14, 2022 by Boatsetter Team
Your Guide to Bareboat Charter Provisioning!
You’ve just booked an epic boat trip (nicely done) and you’re brimming with excitement! In fact, you may have gotten ahead of yourself with the details, designing your itinerary and sketching out a personal packing list. Now it’s time to learn the art of bareboat charter provisioning. With our tips, you can tackle the supplies and food provisioning like a boss. A task that once seemed daunting just became easy/peasy. It just takes a bit of planning and smart use of the boat’s facilities and you and your inner circle will be noshing on easy-to-prepare meals without slaving away in the galley.
Pinpoint Your Boat Trip Parameters
First step toward planning your bareboat charter provisioning is to note the length and tentative itinerary of your bareboat charter. For example, maybe you’ve booked a day trip on a mid-sized sailboat, which means you’ll return to the dock before dinner. Or, let’s say you’re out for the weekend on a mid-sized powerboat. That means you must create a two-day meal plan, unless you’ll dine ashore for one or more meals.
When you select the charter boat, you’ll receive a snapshot of the vessel’s configuration and equipment. Specifically, note if the boat has a refrigerator and/or freezer, and each one’s capacity. This determines how much perishable food you can expect to put in cold storage.
However, a smaller powerboat or sailboat might not contain a refrigerator. In that case, you must adopt Plan B: bring a cooler (or two) for perishable food, and ensure you have enough ice to keep everything sufficiently cold.
Learn Your Bareboat Charter Crew’s Food Requirements
After you get some details about the boat, obtain the lowdown on your crew’s meal requirements. Ask if anyone has a food allergy or sensitivity, dietary restriction, or personal food preference. If you’re not familiar with a certain diet, ask for recipe recommendations and/or request that the crewmember bring along some of their own food.
What happens if you don’t ask about food restrictions? You’ll face a hungry, cranky crewmember who won’t get the nutritious meal(s) they deserve – and that won’t make life aboard pleasant for anybody.
Get Your Non-Food Staples Nailed Down
Determine the quantity of paper towels, toilet tissue, and trash bags aboard the boat. If you can’t obtain that information, bring enough for the trip, plus some extras for emergencies. Although this sounds like a trivial detail, you don’t want to be anchored in a lovely cove for the evening, only to find you’re completely out of toilet tissue. Likewise, you don’t want to encounter a galley spill, and realize you just used the last roll of paper towels to mop up the cockpit after a swim.
Create an Easy-Prep Onboard Menu
Now that you know about the boat’s refrigeration system (or lack thereof), and the crew’s food requirements, develop a quick-and-easy bareboat charter meal plan.
For example, plan a one-day trip menu that includes easy-to-manage sandwiches, chips, and fresh fruit for lunch. Although you’ll likely be home before dinner, take some happy hour refreshments to enjoy during your return to the dock.
For a two-day trip, repeat the easy-prep lunch theme, but choose different components for variety. For the next morning’s breakfast, consider pastries and fresh fruit, cereal and fruit, or yogurt with granola and fruit. If you’re familiar with the stove operation, eggs and bacon are generally a good choice.
Now let’s resolve the dinner dilemma. If you’ll go ashore for dinner, invite everyone to enjoy happy hour snacks before leaving the boat. If you’ll dine aboard in warm (or downright hot) weather, being stuck in the heated galley can make you very irritable – or even ill.
Avoid that problem by grilling meat or seafood (plus vegetables) on the stern grill. Or, bring main-dish and side-dish cold salads and accompaniments, and let everyone prepare their own plates. For dessert, an iced-down Key lime pie or cheesecake will provide a delectable finish to the meal. Finally, remember these are just guidelines, and your crew members will welcome any creative touches you can add to meals aboard.
Enjoy a Taste of the Bareboat Charter Life
Now that you’ve gotten some bareboat charter provisioning basics under your belt, go ahead and take the plunge with your bareboat charter. Check out Boatsetter, the industry-leading boat-sharing company that helps boaters to connect with local boat owners. You can easily rent a privately owned powerboat or sailboat near your homeport, and even hire a licensed Coast Guard captain to handle the vessel while you eat and drink to your heart’s content.
Best of all, Boatsetter’s boats are docked in convenient coastal ports and on beautiful inland lakes throughout the United States and abroad.
So, don’t wait any longer – grab your calendar and book that bareboat charter today!
Boatsetter empowers people to explore with confidence by showing them a world of possibility on the water. Rent a boat, list your boat, or become a Boatsetter captain today.
