If you are new to the crewing/cruising/boating life, then this section will give you some pointers for being a good and considerate guest on board, especially if you are hoping to secure a recommendation or an invitation to rejoin at some point.
Just as there are some general and socially-accepted guidelines for when you enter someone’s home – though even that varies from culture to culture – there are some basics you need to know before climbing aboard someone’s boat initially and some additional advice for on-board harmony, safety, and well-being.
Boat Etiquette
Provisioning
Budgeting
Boat Etiquette
There are two things you should do before you step on to someone’s boat the very first time… First, make sure the soles of your shoes are clean and not black/dark, which will put streaks or marks on the deck. If uncertain, remove your shoes before boarding. If there is a mat by the boarding entrance, remember to wipe your feet.
Second, it is customary to ask for permission to come aboard, something like, “may I come aboard?” and wait for the skipper to acknowledge with an invitation. Though this is a formality, it is polite to do so, and Savvy Sailing Girl recommends adhering to this protocol. Once aboard, there will be lots of things to learn and remember. SSG has compiled a basic list of things to keep in mind, but the skipper’s direction, in terms of what is expected and how he/she runs the ship, should take precedence.
Pre-Voyage
Footwear
As mentioned above, it is important to have suitable shoes when you arrive. Having boat shoes is preferable as they are designed to not mark up decks; they also provide protection from protrusions you can stub or damage toes on as well as good grip so you don’t slide.
If you don’t own (and don’t yet want to invest in) boat/deck shoes, then shoes with light-colored and non-marking soles are essential. If you plan to spend a lot of time crewing/sailing, then you may want to invest in a pair of boat shoes that are only worn on board. Wearing boat shoes on land will reduce the sole’s ability to grip the deck and can bring dirt on board.
Sun protection
Sunscreen is essential when spending time on a boat, so have that along and apply it often. The last thing you want is to show up and immediately have to deal with the discomfort of a bad sunburn.
Medical / Food
Make sure during your planning conversations with the skipper that you provide a complete list of medical conditions and medications you take. Even if they don’t ask, it is important that they know. Also make sure you indicate whether you have any allergies, especially to food, that will impact preparation and provisioning on board.
Luggage
Although structured suitcases with wheels are very convenient, leave them home and opt for packing in a duffel bag. If you can use one that completely rolls up or stows flat when empty, all the better. There is no room on most boats to store suitcases and the wheels can mark up the decks. There are even a few options for duffel bags that have wheels and completely roll up and fit into their own storage pouch.
Linens / Towels
Make sure you have discussed whether linens and towels are available for you to use on board. Do not assume that they are. If you have any doubt, then bring a towel and at least a sleeping bag liner. Microfiber towels are quick drying and take up very little space.
Personal Safety Gear
Make sure you know whether you need to bring your own PFD (Personal Flotation Device) with you. All boats will need to have PFD’s available for as many people as are aboard, but many skippers have the big chunky orange basic life jackets (not very comfortable) for back-up and you wouldn’t want to be stuck wearing one of those for a week-long passage. SSG recommends a compact and self-inflating one such as Spinlock if you want to get and travel with, your own.
On-boarding
Marine Head (Toilet)
The skipper or other crew will give you instructions on how to use the head on board and it is very important that you follow the instructions. Toilets on board do not function like their land-based cousins. Nothing goes into the toilet that hasn’t come out of you (for lack of a more delicate phrasing) and perhaps a teeny, tiny, bit of toilet paper. Many skippers do not even allow toilet paper to go in and will have a sealed container for that purpose.
Never, never, never, NEVER, put wipes of any kind (even if they claim they are “flushable”, they are not) into the toilet. That also includes feminine hygiene products, paper towels, or make-up removers. This is the single thing that guests tend to screw up the most. So please, pay attention and follow the rules on board.
Water Usage
Water is a precious resource, especially on a boat. It is essential to use it wisely. Never, never, NEVER, let water run freely – not when brushing teeth, not when washing dishes, nor when showering. Even if the boat you are joining has a water maker, it is still important to limit water usage where possible.
Power Usage
As with water, power is a precious resource that needs to be managed well and used sparingly. Boats now-a-days generally have some solar power and/or a wind generator, but otherwise run the engine or a generator of some sort to charge up the batteries. Small items like cell phones don’t take too much energy to charge, but many items we use freely on land, such as blow dryers or curling irons, use a lot of power and should be left at home. Ask the skipper.
Personal Space
Prior to your arrival, you should have a good understanding as to what your personal space on board will be. Keep all of your possessions in your space and don’t leave things in the main salon or in other shared spaces. Unless you have been allocated some space in the head for your toiletries, keep all your stuff in a basket or bag in your personal space. Respect the personal space of others and never enter (or peer into) the personal space of others without an invitation. There is very little privacy on board a boat in general, so one must preserve what little there is as best as possible.
Shared Space
Do your best to keep all the common areas as neat and clean as possible. Put things away (where they belong) after use, and clean up after yourself. This is important in the galley and especially important in the head, if you are sharing with others.
Safety Equipment
The skipper will give you a briefing when you first arrive on board and it is essential you know where the safety equipment is located and how to use/deploy it. This includes fire extinguishers and fire blankets, EPIRB (emergency locator beacon), flares, medical kit, life raft, life jackets, radio(s), and grab (ditch) bags.
Waste Management
Garbage is another topic that requires some additional consideration and handling onboard. On land, most people don’t give it much thought. You know what day is garbage day and put your trash cans out. You don’t need to minimize the amount you generate and handy trash cans keep it away from your living space. At best, there is some sort of recycling available where you live, at worst it all goes to the dump.
On a boat, one must manage the amount of trash, they type and the storage of it for as long as the journey takes. It’s part science, part good planning and part art. Composting can go over board if you are offshore, but the rest needs to be sorted and stored. Keep trash to a minimum, sort recyclables and compress what you can. Remove all cardboard and other superfluous packaging on shore. Especially important is to not bring any cardboard boxes onto the boat. Not only does it take up space, but roaches lay eggs in cardboard and you might end up with a serious infestation problem.
Underway on Voyage
Watch-keeping Schedules
If you will be doing over-night passages then you will have a watch-keeping system defined. There are many different approaches to this, but the important thing to remember is to ALWAYS show up for your watch 5-10 minutes earlier than it is scheduled to begin. You will want to spend that time debriefing with the person coming off watch so that they can leave their watch punctually. Plan to set an alarm, or if everyone agrees, have the person coming off watch wake you 20 minutes (or however much time you need) prior to when you need to show up. You will appreciate the person taking over for you if they are on time. Savvy sailing girl suggests putting a kettle on or making coffee or tea just before the end of your watch so the person coming on is welcomed with a nice hot (non-alcoholic) beverage at the beginning of their shift.
Keeping Watch
Depending on where you are sailing, there may be more or less traffic. That said, you always need to stay vigilant when on watch. Some people read, listen to audio books/podcasts or watch programs on computers. However, it is easy to get engrossed in activities and then miss something important (sights and/or sounds) Discuss with your skipper what their expectations are.
“One Hand for You and One Hand for the Boat”
Generally good practice is to always remember, when moving around the boat (and especially when the boat is moving around too!) to have one hand for yourself and one for the boat. Always hold on and take care to protect yourself and stay safe. Rule number one… stay safe!
Provisioning
Provisioning is both a pleasure as well as a chore. The wonders and delights of visiting local fresh markets and stocking up on local produce is contrasted by the challenges of keeping things fresh and by limited storage space. There never seems to be enough room on board and not all boats are equipped with freezers or even refrigeration… make sure to ask before joining. Depending on the type of voyage and accessibility of supplies, provisioning might be as easy as a daily run to the market or as challenging as planning for multiple weeks at sea.
It’s always good to have non-perishables as back up. Cans are better than glass for safety and to avoid breakage. There are countless resources and cookbooks that are tuned for meals made on board and underway. What, when, and who will prepare meals is all up for discussion. Make sure everyone is asked about food allergies, eating lifestyles (vegetarian, vegan, etc.), and general preferences.
If you like to eat fresh and mostly veggie, like Savvy Sailing Girl does, produce choice and storage are essential. Savvy Sailing Girl says, “cabbage is a cruising girl’s best friend”! Marilyn Monroe may say diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but after 3 weeks on passage even she might consider a fresh salad with cabbage more important!
Budgeting
Budgeting and estimating costs are always a topic of conversation among cruisers. There is no simple or single answer…The general consensus is that your budget will typically correlate highly to the size of your wallet (read: available financial resources). You can cruise/crew in luxury, sparing no expense and living lavishly, or you can do as the majority of sailors, and live on a budget. What that budget is and how you allocate costs will be an important factor in determining the success of your adventure on board and happiness of all concerned.
Make sure you discuss what the projected expenses on board will be and how you will handle those. The “how” includes not only the actual division/contribution, but how often and in which currency. Typically, you will pay a share of “running costs”, the expenses that are incurred in the running of the ship. These include, but are not limited to, fuel, food and drink, marina and mooring costs, cruising permits, park fees, and customs costs. Immigration and visa costs, travel, clothing, personal items, and such are typically at your own expense. If you have special dietary needs or your alcohol consumption habits differ (if you don’t drink for example and everyone else does), you may want to request that purchases of alcohol and specialty food items be individually handled and not included within the shared expenses.
Factors that will influence budget will be the type of yacht, where fuel costs for a large motor yacht will be significantly higher than for a sailing vessel. Whether you spend more time at the dock in a marina, on a mooring or out on anchor, will also impact costs, as will the frequency of dining out along with the bar tab and shore excursions. That’s why it is important to clarify preferences and expectations up front. The skipper will have an idea of what the daily/weekly/monthly costs will be and may already have a structure for what they are asking as a fixed contribution rather than shared actual costs. Make sure you are comfortable with the proposed financial arrangements. If you aren’t, negotiate up front and before you agree to join.
Dollars and cents (or rather, sense)
For starters, make sure you budget for your travel costs to and from the boat. Consider what types of shore excursions or recreational activities you may want to participate in and add enough to cover all of these, even if you decide not to do everything. Include your portion of the expected shared running costs and add an additional 30%, because these may vary from what’s anticipated. Then estimate what your personal expenses might be during the time you plan to spend aboard and double that… just to have a buffer, as things in remote and/or foreign countries may be significantly more expensive than they are back home. Total everything up and that’s your working budget for starters.
Do the Math…
Travel (R/T) + Recreation + Share of Running = EE (Estimated Expenses)
EE x 1.30 = EE30 (with 30% padding, just in case)
Personal items + non-shared provisions = PE (Personal Expenses)
PE x 2 = PE50 (with 50% padding, just in case)
EE30 + PE50 = TC (Total Cost with padding to plan for)
TC (Total Cost with padding) is a conservative and safe estimate for the trip.