11 Must Haves You Need to Live on a Boat
Imagine waking up every day to take a dip in the ocean and watch the sunset as the waves change their course.
Living on a boat is a completely alternative lifestyle and can be rewarding in some ways.
While the open ocean is exciting and everything, it’s not without challenges. Before you claim your boat as a full-time residence, you need to do some preparations.
The question arises: What do you need to live on a boat? From humidifiers to cooking pots and storage bins, I have made the perfect ‘living on a boat checklist’ for you.
What Do You Need to Live on a Boat: Checklist
Living on the water can change your needs and create new ones out of the blue. What is essential for living on land might be utterly useless on a boat, and vice versa.
Apart from that, your everyday life will revolve around a few quality items that will make your day to day life much more comfortable.
Since there is not much space on a boat, you will have to declutter your kitchen essentials, tools, and even clothing. Keeping things minimum will make cleaning more manageable and give you more living space.
If you are wondering, “What do you need to live on a boat?” check out my top 11 picks to take on board that will make your daily life easier.
1. Shore Power Cord
No matter your location, shore power is essential to run technology, such as your laptop. But, you can’t go for any old power cord lying around.
You will need a heavy-duty power cord, such as the Camco PowerGrip Marine Extension Cord, which is durable and weather-protected. The PowerGrip also has an adjustable cord organizer and a carrying strap handle for easy handling and storage.
Before plugging in the cord, check for any damage or corrosion. It will reduce the risk of any complications or accidents.
2. DeHumidifiers
A boat is prone to dampness like anything. The humidity gives rise to mold and mildew in the wet areas of your boat, and you don’t want that.
You can’t escape dampness on water, but you can manage it with dehumidifiers. I said dehumidifiers because you will need a couple of them for each area.
For small areas of your boat, go for a simple and affordable moisture absorber, such as the DampRid Refillable Moisture Absorber. It manages excess humidity and keeps the musty smells out of the boat. It is also fragrance-free and won’t leave behind any strong odors.
For larger spaces with more humidity, an electric dehumidifier is the best option. It will ensure that your bedding, clothes, and other fabrics remain undamaged, especially if you have a cabin shower.
3. Head Torch
A head torch can come in handy at night when you have to trim the sails or move around at night. You can light the headlamps to go out at night and then switch them when they are not needed to save energy.
A good option is the Everbeam H6 Pro Head Torch, with a runtime of up to 30 hours in red light and 10 hours on white light. It is also water-proof and can withstand humidity so that you can make much use out of it.
4. Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
A vacuum cleaner is one of the many things you will be using multiple times throughout the day. A handheld vacuum can clean every nook and cranny of your boat and keep it hygienic.
A lightweight and cordless vacuum, such as the Black & Decker Handheld Vacuum, will remove fine dust and debris from tight spaces around the boat.
It comes with a brush tool for picking up any bigger spills from the floors.
5. Curtains
Curtains are essential to a boat, especially when the afternoon sun is shining on your head. They can offer some shade in the day and some extra privacy.
You can either buy a pair of curtains or DIY them for your windows.
6. Storage Bins/Dock Boxes
If you have seen one of those nylon storage boxes, you know what I am talking about. They are great for holding things, easy to clean, and you can fold them flat for storage.
The quality ones like the AmazonBasics Storage Container are exceptionally durable and keep your stuff safe.
Dock boxes are ideal for larger items like chairs and fishing gear that you won’t need daily. They can help you make the most of your deck space and serve as sheds to your boat.
7. E-Book Reader
With limited storage space, you can only carry a few paperback books with you. You can always sell or exchange guides when you move to new cruising grounds, but you won’t always find your favorites.
You can keep paper copies of boating books and use an eBook reader for the rest. It takes up less space, and you can read comfortably in the evenings and at night.
With an e-reader onboard, you can read a new book every week.
8. E-Cloth
Using paper towels on the boat can be expensive. Adding to that are storage and waste factors that quickly makes them a poor choice.
Solution? E-Cloths are durable microfiber cloths that are amazing at cleaning and make zero waste. The E-Cloth Microfiber Starter Pack is non-toxic and only requires water to clean any surface.
9. Cooking Pot
When you live on a boat, you will have to make cooking your hobby. And for that, you will need cookware.
You want high-quality cookware that can be stored easily, such as the Magma 7-Piece Nesting Cookware Set. The set is non-stick, durable, and easy to clean. It comes with a Bungee Storage Cord for convenient storage.
10. Whistling Kettle
You can’t keep separate pots for everything. A kettle is a multi-purpose vessel in which you can boil water for tea or coffee, prepare soups, and heat water for dishwashing or bathing.
Go for a stainless steel kettle with a stay-cool handle. The Mr. Coffee Flintshire Stainless Steel Whistling Tea Kettle is lightweight, portable, and can be used on the stovetop or electric coil ranges.
11. Potted Herbs
Having potted herbs onboard can make all the difference in your everyday meals. It also lets you get creative and bring a fresh vibe into your living space.
Green onions, rosemary, thyme, basil, and mint are just a few options. These herbs can elevate the flavors of any meal, and you can always store them for later use.
Wrap-Up
What do you need to live on a boat?” you can enter your boat well prepared.
Even though everyone lives a little differently on a boat, this is a checklist of all the necessary things that you won’t regret buying.
