20 Must-Have Items For Bluewater Cruising
Our cruising network has voted on the top must-have items to make your cruising trip more enjoyable.
October 17, 2024
Cruising Essentials
Are you preparing for an ocean crossing? When making an ocean crossing miles from land, you need to be self-sufficient and are often not in contact with the conveniences you are accustomed to finding at home. Consider purchasing these must-have items chosen by experienced cruisers around the world.
Above: A cruising family enjoying a day on the water. Photo by Ron Lach via Pexels.
1. Yeti Cooler Backpacks
Keeping your drinks and food cool on tropical islands is a challenging feat but the Yeti cooler is game-changing for picnics. The magnetic closure is a nice touch.
2. A Supplies List
Organization is vital to any cruising mission when on board for sustained periods. Everything in the main food locker could go into a numbered bag, recorded on a list. When shopping, check the list to see which supplies are running low. You can locate items in seconds instead of turning a locker upside down.
3. Vacuum Sealer
When it comes to food preparation, vacuum sealers are great for dividing and sealing meats for the freezer. You can also use them for dry goods that do not fit in your day-to-day containers. Since the seal protects items from humidity and rain, you can use them on a wide range of storage items.
4. Cordless Vacuums
Maneuverable and small for storage, the Battery-powered handheld Dyson vacuum from Costco is a great option.
5. Portable Label Maker
For the pantry, clothes drawers, engine room, everywhere. DYMO Label Maker LabelManager 160 Portable Label Maker, Easy-to-Use, One-Touch Smart Keys.
6. Clothespin Hanging Basket
Handy for hanging out your washing on board since it’s portable and nifty.
7. Electric Scooters
There’s no need to wait for Ubers to get provisions when you have a speedy electric scooter capable of reaching top speeds of 60 mph. Light, fast, and easy to fold and carry, a scooter will significantly enhance your cruising experience.
8. Lunatec Dishcloth
This cloth uses less water and scrubs like a demon, all food washes out easily so there are no bacteria or bad smells at all. Notable for its durability, it is also multi-purpose and it can be used in the shower! Another option is Envirocloth from Norwex which cleans mold from headliners quickly and easily.
9. Sena Bluetooth Duplex Headsets
Ideal for communicating when docking, anchoring, mooring balls, or even just communicating between the helmsman and someone at the front of the boat on the lookout for coral heads or boat traffic in the fog.
10. Laundry Sheets from Sheets Laundry Club
Biodegradable, dissolves fast even in cold water, are non-toxic and contain no plastic, and weigh less for lugging to the laundromat, are smaller, and store much better than bottles. There are no spills, and the linen scent is divine.
11. The Whale Gulper
Hair clogging is a big problem for boat plumbers. Installing the Whale Gulper is effective and runs error-free for many years.
12. Silicone Pot Holders
The holders are easy to clean and prevent bowls, plates, cups, and pots from sliding across surfaces. If you have an induction cooktop, you can put it between the pot and the cooking surface to prevent slippage.
13. Luci Lights
Invest in these inflatable, solar-powered, and everlasting lights that serve as a flashlight while adding a twinkling romantic atmosphere while enjoying sundowners on the deck. Available in 10 different color ways.
14. Mesh Zip-up Pouch Bags/Folders
To prevent losing small items on board use a sealable zip-up pouch. Useful for buttons, first aid items, bills, receipts and more.
15. Electric Fold Up Bikes
Fast and compact, electric bikes are ideal for exploring islands as a family.
16. Rangefinder, AOFAR HX-700N
Anchoring in small or crowded bays is much easier when you can use the rangefinder to measure distances to other boats and to the shore and maneuver the vessel precisely.
17. Beachmaster Dinghy Wheels
Dinghy wheels are a must for long-distance cruising and enable you to bring the dinghy onto the beach with minimal effort. Beachmaster wheels lift up out of the water quickly and automatically lock when upright, and drop down and click into the auto-locking position for recovery from the water.
18. Ice Maker
Sundowners with an ice-cool drink are essential in the tropical heat. The convenience of having ice on hand will make your trip much more enjoyable and eliminate the need to purchase bags of ice or manually refill ice trays.
19. Handheld Depth Sounder
Most useful in the dinghy or when swimming in the water to check depths around an anchored boat (or bommie heights).
20. Underwater Scooter
Enhance your underwater exploration and be pulled along the water, lessening your exertion. Submersible scooters increase your range underwater. The WhiteShark Mix Underwater Scooter from West Marine has a removable float giving you option to either dive, or stay within 5 meters of the surface. Ideal for adults and kids looking to learn more about vibrant and colorful marine life first-hand.
