Sleeping In Your Boat

There are no better lullabies than the gentle lapping of water on a hull and quiet stars overhead. Sleeping on your boat can feel like an adventure, and it’s guaranteed to bring you closer to nature and provide a new perspective. But night boating overall requires some preparation to avoid any unpleasant situations, and if you’re going to be sleeping, that goes double for you.

Thank goodness you’ve got us over at L&M Marine LLC! We’ve put together a few tips for making the most out of your night on your boat. 

If you have questions, or you’re looking for a boat to try this with, contact our store in Stapleton, Alabama. Our staff will work with you to find what you need at the prices you want!

Supplies

It’s important to make sure you’ve got all your supplies and tools before going out on your overnight maritime sleepover. Make a list of everything you’ll need to keep yourself in good shape and make sure it’s stowed securely aboard your boat. 

Food

Overnighting requires that you plan ahead for meals, even if that’s just dinner and breakfast. Pack a cooler with foods you can eat cold, like sandwiches and salads, or with foods you can easily heat using a small portable grill. Be careful with these—no one wants a shipboard fire. Of course, if your boat comes with its own galley, you can just use the appliances there to make up a nice hot meal. You might even bring two coolers: one for food and snacks, the other for drinks. This can be especially useful if you’re going with a group.

Comfort

Make sure to pack plenty of comfortable pillows and blankets or sleeping bags to keep everyone warm while they sleep. If possible a portable generator can help charge electronics like phones, tablets, or computers to keep you connected and allow for some movie binging. You’re also going to want to bring whatever you need to sleep at home, whether that includes sleep masks and earplugs or just medications and toothbrushes. Remember to conserve water when brushing your teeth, though!

Safety

Of course, the most important supplies are safety related. You’ll need everything you’d typically go boating with, including life jackets, first aid kits, flares, a fire extinguisher, and radio. Make sure you have an anchor that’s sufficiently heavy to moor your boat in a cove, if you aren’t staying at the docks for this trip. Generally speaking, you want an anchor that has one pound of weight for every two feet of boat length, but for an overnight trip, err on the side of caution and go for something a bit heavier. 

Timing

Keep the weather and time of year in mind when you plan your trip. You don’t want to be on a relatively exposed deck when temperatures hit freezing, and you certainly don’t want to end up in a rainstorm. Check the forecast a few days before your trip to make sure there are no storms brewing, and if there are, we recommend rescheduling. Even if your boat has a covered shelter, storms can buffet your boat around and that, at best, makes for an unpleasant night’s sleep.

Tell Someone Where You’ll Be

If you go boating regularly, you’ve probably gotten into the practice of telling someone ashore where you’ll be. This is doubly important if you’ll be spending the night out on the water. Make sure these folks have your contact information and check in whenever you can, especially if there are unexpected delays. If you don’t come back on time or are otherwise in trouble, these people can contact the authorities for you, which is always a good lifeline to set up. 

The Right Boat

This may sound like common sense, but the type of boat you overnight in is vitally important. You don’t want to spend the night in a small flat-bottom fishing boat or a canoe. This is more than impractical—it’s outright unsafe. Ideally, your boat should have an enclosed cabin with a head and berths to keep everyone cozy and safe from the elements. A galley is optional but very useful if you don’t like cold food. Generally speaking, larger boats that offer shelter of some kind are best for you and your guests.

We hope these tips help you have a fun and safe night aboard your vessel! If you want more advice or you’re looking for a new boat, contact us at L&M Marine, LLC. We proudly serve Mobile, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida—let us serve you today!