Experiencing a beautiful, sunny day sailing the open seas is awesome. But there’s nothing more frustrating than getting underway only to realize that you forgot some essential things you need on a boat. Guests get grumpy when they’re hungry. And the Coast Guard doesn’t mess around when it comes to safety equipment.

To help you avoid turning back mid-cruise, Aquarius Boat Rental and Tours has put together a comprehensive list of what to bring on a boat trip for an amazing, fun-filled, safe day on the water.

Boat trip packing list

Safety equipment

You have nothing to worry about. Aquarius Boat Rental and Tours provides all the necessary safety equipment, such as:

Airhorn and whistle
GPS and GPS app
Fire extinguishers and flares
First-aid kit
Life jackets (1 per person)
Throwable life ring and boat hooks
Extra lines

Kids over 6 years old don't need to wear a life vest. And little kids under 6, must wear a life vest on boats smaller than 26 feet. That applies to the Miami boat and the Fun Boat. We also provide kids' life jackets.

Refreshments

When in doubt, add plenty of water to your boat trip packing list. All that sunshine and salty air can lead to serious dehydration! If you’re planning for a larger group, make sure to ask what they would like to drink onboard, too. Overpacking goes a long way on a boat, therefore we recommend:

Beverages and extra water
Food and extra snacks
Ice and icepacks
Utensils, plates, and bowls

Comfort

Conditions on the water can change from minute to minute, so you’ll want to be prepared. When creating a boat trip packing list, keep weather conditions in mind because getting a serious sunburn or catching a cold is no fun!

Sunscreen
Bug spray
Anti-nausea medication (we have some onboard too)
Towels
Bathing suits
Extra layers of clothing
Hair ties
Hats and sunglasses

Items for cleanup

Any boat captain worth her salt has an onboard waste management plan. Designating garbage and recycling bags and keeping plenty of napkins, rags, or paper towels handy will make post-cruise cleanup much easier.

Last but not least!

Bringing games, floaties, and good music aboard guarantees that you and your guests have a great day on the water.

Your favorite playlist
Camera
Floaties and water games

This boat packing list should help you make sure that you bring everything you’ll need on your boat trip from snacks to life jackets to make your voyage enjoyable and safe.

Boating tips summarized

Play it Safe

Although boating is an incredibly low-risk activity, like anything, the fun stops right away if someone gets hurt. Watch some videos or visit our Boating Safety Page to know all the equipment you will have included with your boat rental and how to use them. Don't do any crazy drinking or stunts while the boat is underway and everything will be fine. Also, if you are a non-swimmer, we strongly recommend that you inform your captain so he can point out the areas where it is safe for you to be in the water. The sandbars for instance have a very strong current and are not recommended if you don't know how to swim. Instead, we will bring you to a cove or an island.

Overpack for your boat ride

When you’ve checked your itinerary and figured out how to find us, make a list of any boating supplies you may need to be fully prepared for all the grin-generating wave-hops, laughter-inducing tube-towing, and/or smile-causing fish-catching that’s about to come.

By the way, did we mention that it's best to overpack on a boat?

This may sound a bit simplistic, but the truth of the matter is that after hosting over 5000 clients, we have noticed that most new boaters tend to "under-pack". They don't bring enough water, food or/and drinks on the boat. Remember that when you are on the boat, it's harder to go and get these things. Although we can bring you to convenience stores on the water, it's much more enjoyable for you if you have purchased everything you need at hand.

Don't forget sunscreen, towels, and bathing suits if you plan to go in the water. Always barefoot onboard! Don't forget to remove your shoes before boarding. Shoes rip the seats and the boat is a clean area, the shoes bring dirt from outside.