Do you have too much stuff on your cruising boat? How do you know for sure? I’ll give you a series of questions to help you decide.
One big problem for new full-time cruisers is over-stuffing the boat. And it’s not just newbies. Even after years of cruising, we realized we had more than we needed on our boat.
How Do You End Up With Too Much Stuff?
When we moved aboard, we decided that some things from our house were better than what was on the boat. We planned to take the better stuff to the boat and then donated the old boat stuff.
But in other cases, clothing was a big one for us; we thought we needed more than we did. We also overestimated the room we had. In the end, we gave away quite a lot.
Problems Caused by Too Much Stuff On Your Boat
You may think this is a minor issue compared to navigation, engine maintenance, or dodging hurricanes. But keeping your boat tidy is crucial.
A Sluggish or Unbalanced Boat
Our boat, like any boat, handled best when she wasn’t overly weighed down. And we worked hard to keep her light. Our catamaran, Barefoot Gal, made balancing stuff even more crucial than when we cruised on a monohull.
Takes Room Needed For Important Things
Boat storage is all about efficiency. You want important items to be close at hand and easy to find. If you accumulate too much stuff on board, you may find crucial items hidden or harder to find. At the very least, it’s more work to track what is where.
Clutter Makes Managing Emergencies More Difficult
Emergencies don’t happen on schedule. You want to always be ready to move when bad stuff happens (read about how a member of The Boat Galley team’s cluttered boat hindered her from helping a sailor in distress). And it’s easier to keep your boat clean if you don’t have too much stuff onboard.
Are you convinced? Then how do you know what is important to have on board and what you can ditch?
Three Questions To Decide How Much Is Too Much
We get attached to our stuff. It’s easy to get worried about not having what we need when we first set out cruising. But here are a few questions to help you decide what’s important and what you can get rid of.
Can You Use It Before It Expires?
I’ve written about the importance of buying spices in small amounts. There’s no point in having food, spices, medication, or personal care products in bulk if they don’t survive storage.
We discovered that once we combined what was on the boat, what we moved from the house, and what we both had in our travel bags, David and I had nine bottles of shampoo and seven bottles of conditioner. We would have eventually used them, but they took up too much space and added too much weight. And who knows what shape they would have been in by the time we used them?
We gave away all but two of each. They were quickly taken from the “free” shelf at the boatyard where we were paring down.
Can You Replace It Easily When You Need More?
Do you need to stock up? Or can you find items easily as you cruise?
Let’s face it, people eat, clean themselves, and wear clothes in most places in the world. So there’s less reason to stock lots of stuff you can buy elsewhere. On the other hand, specialty boat parts can be hard to find in some cruising grounds. And a water pump will benefit you more than an extra half dozen T-shirts.
Does It Have To Be On The Boat At All?
When you move aboard, you may bring things with sentimental value, or that you want to have if you swallow the hook. But do they actually need to be on the boat with you? Not only are they more vulnerable to damage, but they’re items you don’t plan on using on the boat.
Perhaps a family member or friend would be willing to keep a few of these specialty items for you.
Our Experience Getting Rid Of Stuff
We spent a lot of time getting rid of stuff in the boatyard while preparing Barefoot Gal for cruising. Besides our overstock of toiletries, we found a number of other extras on the boat.
We had no less than four sets of sheets, four quilts, and three blankets on the boat. There is our bed and a guest bed, and we were in southern Florida. Laundry is readily available, so I don’t need spare sheets. Or if I did, we could have used the guest sheets since we rarely have guests. Two quilts, one for each bed, and an extra blanket were plenty. Goodwill got the rest, and the guest bed got half cleared off (that’s where I’d stacked all the extra bedding).
We brought all our lifejackets from the house. After all, we knew we needed more in the dinghy. We had two permanently in it but scrambled to find more whenever we had guests or gave someone a ride. I preferred the ones from the house for SUP-ing. But we ended up with way too many, and while they didn’t weigh much, they took up a lot of space. Rather than get rid of the extras, though, we moved them to our storage unit since it was already the smallest size and not full.
Electronics are another area ripe for paring down. It’s all too easy when something dies to put it in a drawer and forget about it, along with the cords, cases, and anything else that went with it. I’ve been working on weeding those out whenever I find them. The dead items went to electronics recycling and the extras to Goodwill.
Goodwill also got a box of kitchen goods. I got rid of a lot of items that the previous owner left, and replaced them with items from the house.
We brought extra tools from the house, and they were heavy. Some we use only rarely (and would be unlikely to need in an emergency). Those went to the storage unit, near the DIY yard where we were likely to use them. Others went into the car, which we took to the Keys. They were available to us, but we no longer had them weighing the boat down.
Even our boat dog, Paz, pared down. We got rid of the toys and balls she rarely played with and bags of treats she didn’t like. A local, no-kill shelter was glad for these items as well as her extra brush, bed, and four leashes she accumulated over time.
New Cruiser Problems
Having too much stuff on board is something common for new (and even experienced) cruisers. It’s the kind of problem I hoped to solve in creating a series of courses to make the learning curve less steep. The Basics of Living on a Boat course is a great place to start. And if you sign up for the All-Access Pass, you get permanent access to all the courses The Boat Galley offers or adds in the future.
Best of all, you can access all our classes online. No clutter!
Carolyn Shearlock has lived aboard full-time for 17 years, splitting her time between a Tayana 37 monohull and a Gemini 105 catamaran. She’s cruised over 14,000 miles, from Pacific Mexico and Central America to Florida and the Bahamas, gaining firsthand experience with the joys and challenges of life on the water.
Through The Boat Galley, Carolyn has helped thousands of people explore, prepare for, and enjoy life afloat. She shares her expertise as an instructor at Cruisers University, in leading boating publications, and through her bestselling book, The Boat Galley Cookbook. She is passionate about helping others embark on their liveaboard journey—making life on the water simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.
Emily Davidson says
We are one year away from setting off (from the U.K.) I shudder when I think of all the stuff I have to disappear!!
Kate Ellis says
We live aboard but weight wise, a few extra bottles of shampoo is the least of our worries. Those products are one thing I stock up on for remote destinations or huge walks to some random hole in the wall hoping they sell shampoo. We have certainly removed loads of clothes though.
The Boat Galley says
A lot of it depends on where you are. We know that if we go to the Bahamas for a lengthy stay, the boat will be loaded down. Ditto when we were cruising in the Sea of Cortez on our previous boat. But when we’re in the US? No need — and it all adds up. We just had tons of duplicates of EVERYTHING.
Charlotte Caldwell says
Isn’t it liberating to get rid of things.
Charlie Adams says
It’s very liberating.
Nikki Dowden says
I’m living aboard in two weeks or so…….. so much stuff to take, that I seemingly cant live without in the UK, the poor airlines! But when I get to Turkey I shall be ruthless and sort out loads to be deposited in the dog’s charity that the marina runs. Last count I had 22 pairs of shorts and 50 tee-shirts……. I know that count has increased. Whoops.
Kristi Cilles says
It’s freeing to donate things, and pare down. When I moved into my Columbus house, I had a bed and a dining room table. You can always get more stuff if you decide to change course! It’s a good mindset to carry in life!! Looking forward to all your posts!! Prolly see ya this winter as my Columbus house has taken longer to ready for sale, and my Maine house is currently uninhabitable for the winter! Oh well, I guess I’ll have to buy a small sailboat and be forced to winter in Florida! Poor me!!!
Carol Zip says
It’s a constant process. I periodically go through cabinets and weed out things I have, been using.
Sara Peterson says
Just so you know, you can give to Salvation Army rather than Goodwill. Goodwill has gone into the ‘business’ of using other peoples stuff for profit and paying the ceo upwards of $500,000 dollars a year while it pays it’s people nothing. Salvation Army actually does try to help people and they will pick stuff up if you ask.
Carolyn Shearlock says
We give to all sorts of organizations. Right now, Goodwill is the only one with a drop station near us (SA doesn’t have a store near here, so no pick ups either). Salvation Army and several local charities got stuff when we were in Illinois. The local animal shelters always get the dog stuff. Boat stuff goes wherever cruisers put their “giveaway” items . . .
Trish Draze says
Yep, I don’t won’t and haven’t used them in years. I seek out needy families and such to give to locally. Churches and shelters are a good source.
Barbara Lowell says
I prefer to donate to Hospice and the Humane Society … if its building supplies Habitat for Humanity. These are more target audience related rather than generalized Goodwill. I heard the same about United Fund donations, but not sure if true, meaning they go to fuel the infrastructure. Further, what amazes me is how although I constantly cull my possessions to make my life in my little house lighter, I am always somehow acquiring “new stuff”. Its so fun to find things that make life easier and more lovely. I just bought 2 new pots to replace my well loved but well scorched ones, and strangely it was so hard to take the old ones to the recycling black and warped as they were. Have to be disciplined to let go of stuff. ;D
Sherlene Eicher says
Been there! It’s so hard to live simply!
Donna Rohwer says
I sooooo identify with this….I’m tripping over stuff everywhere. Time to get ruthless!
Jennifer Armintrout Holder says
I love your articles! Lots of things to learn!
Heidi H says
Thanks for the great article Carolyn. So timely as we downsize to a smaller storage unit, bring more stuff aboard, and get ready to sail south in about 6 weeks! Time is crunching in on us and trying to decide what we can live w/o is a daily exercise!
Paula B says
Reading this made me laugh because of a flashback to many decades ago … Straight out of grad school we bought a Vega 27 and stocked it for cruising to the Bahamas. Of course everything was low budget so we crammed it with canned food goods, including mystery cans without labels that we bought really cheap. • After crossing the Gulf Stream to Bimini at an incredibly slow speed, we realized our folly. • So we started a competition to use the most cans in preparing a meal. That always made for interesting combinations and taught us a valuable lesson early in our cruising life. • Thanks for bringing back that memory.
Carolyn Shearlock says
Love it! Great story (and as always, the problem with great stories is that first you have to live through them . . . )
Donna Melville says
YES YES YES! we are currently getting our house ready for renters, with the intention to rent it indefinitely…and the job list goes on and on, as we keep doing things with the house that make it beautiful to US! SOMEBODY STOP US! and, the basement is so cluttered so we can hardly move. We are lucky enough to have “saved” storage space for our stuff in the house but still…and I realize why people DO just keep on the way they are. I remind myself when I feel overwhelmed that this all leads to what we want MORE…more travel, more experiences, more freedom ( financial and the YAHOO variety) I am inspired by you, Carol, and all the other boaters out there that have done the same thing…Thanks for sharing and allowing me this place to express my angst as we embark on the same journey! Anyone go to Zihuatanejo??? hope to see you there! Sailfest in February!!
Wendy Nichols says
Oh my, we came down to the boat with a car full of gear, most of which went on the boat, was used once and then taken back to the car for storage. Its so difficult to know when you are away from the boat what it actually needs and how much room there really is. In some cases I have bought stuff especially and found it just doesnt fit which is annoying, but then I do love a challenge! We are limited in that most of our storage is very open so not great when actually sailing. Luckily we spent time onboard before committing to major changes as most of our early ideas we have changed!
Maryalice Falconer says
Dear Carolyn…you have been so helpful with all of your blogs and different articles and your replies to me and to other boaters. Thank you SO much!
We are leaving first of October to Mexico from San Francisco area and I’m still struggling with what to bring in the way of clothing. I put aside all of the clothes I’d like to take but it’s too huge! What do I REALLY need to bring? Do you have any tips of how to figure this out. We will be sailing for 6 months to start.
Thank you for any advice you can offer!
Maryalice
Carolyn Shearlock says
Since you’ll be there for winter, I’d say one or two pair of pants/jeans and a fleece with a couple of tops you can wear under or separately. Two or three pairs of shorts and at least 7 t-shirts, plus a couple of “better” tops. A couple of stained work t-shirts. Two swim suits. A simple dress or two (sundress if you’ll be heading towards Zihuat, with at least short sleeves if in Banderas Bay, Mazatlan or La Paz. Three pairs of shoes: walking sandals, sneakers and simple “dressier” shoes (but remember, you may be walking some distance in these — low heels at the most, I wear flats). A couple of pairs of socks for when it’s chilly. One or two nightgowns — you can wear your fleece in place of a robe. Plenty of undies — this is usually the limiting factor of when laundry HAS to be done!
Maryalice Falconer says
Wow!! Thank you!! I will follow your suggestions!
This will help me so much! I was feeling paralyzed when it came to figuring out the clothes situation!
Happy Sailing!
⛵️
Jeanne Jerow says
I’m reminded of a long, long bicycling trip limited to one change of clothing. Carry one small bottle of shampoo. Wear and wash today’s clothes and myself in the shower tonight. Put tomorrow’s clothes on after my shower. Hang my clean, wet clothes to dry. Hang remaining wet clothes on the back of the bike tomorrow to dry as I go down the road. Look a bit odd some days on the road, but hey, clean clothes every day! and super light traveling…
Thanks for all your hard blogging/writing work.