Tips for Cooking and Eating on Your Boat

Cooking at sea can be quite an adventure in and of itself. Galley kitchens are incredibly small if your boat is lucky enough to be equipped with one. Many boats have much smaller areas to prepare food and some boaters bring a grill on board. There are many safety concerns when it comes to cooking including boiling water, propane leaks, burns or a fire. All of these are dangerous in any home kitchen, but they could quickly become deadly on a boat. The Sea Tow Foundation has put together this list of 10 tips and tricks to make the most out of your cooking space on the boat and give you some food ideas, so that you can have a safe and fun time on the water!

1. Use the space wisely. Now is not the time for a 7-piece cookware set. Only bring the kitchen tools you absolutely need. You most likely will not need more than: 1 skillet, 1 pot, plus only enough cups, plates, bowls, and silverware for each person on board to have a set.
2. Multifunction is key. Not all galleys have a refrigerator or freezer. By bringing a hard top cooler, you can have a place to store foods and drinks. You also can use the cooler as an extra seat, a table, or even a food prep area! Think about all the ways you can use the items you bring on the boat to maximize your experience.
3. Saving space. If your boat has a galley kitchen, there won’t be a lot of counter space to spread out on a boat. Use the wall space and maximize what you have. Pockets can be attached to a wall to hold silverware or tools. Hanging nets can be set up to hold produce as well.Get creative with storage solutions.
4. Conserve water. Remember that fresh water is hard to come by while on the boat. Saltwater can be used for cleaning purposes to save fresh water to drink and cook with. Make sure not to dump the dirty water back into the ocean. Wait until you get to land and pour it into a pump-out drain.
5. There is always movement. Even while docked, there will always be movement on the boat. Safety latches, railings, and strategically placed handles can help to keep you and your equipment safe and in place while on the water. Remember to only cook when the boat is docked or anchored (this includes grilling) for your safety.
6. Emergency supplies. Before heading out on the water, make sure you have a well-stocked first aid kit and that your fire extinguisher is in working order. These are especially important if any cooking is being planned on the boat. Also, make sure that everyone on board knows what to do in an emergency and how to use the VHF radio to call for help.
7. Meal planning. By planning your meals ahead of time, you can minimize the amount of work and excess food you will have to worry about on the boat. Do the chopping, dicing and slicing of vegetables and fruits at home and pack everything in storage containers. Simple dishes with minimal chopping will work best in smaller galleys.
8. Cook ahead of time. It is important to make sure that you are thinking ahead to how much food you and your passengers will need to consume. Pre--cooking basic foods at home such as pasta, chicken, potato salad, taco meat, and other items can make the time on the water much more enjoyable. This way you won’t be stuck in the kitchen trying to cook while everyone else is fishing or swimming!
9. Schedule boat trips between meals. If it is possible schedule your outing for the time between lunch and dinner so that you can avoid packing meals and just pack some snacks. Whole fruit, granola bars and individual packs of cookies or chips can make for easy packing without worrying about cooking or refrigeration. Don’t forget to pack plenty of water, too!
10. Don’t rely on fishing. Fishing is a great way to enjoy the water and minimize the packing needed before the trip. However, there is no guarantee that you will get a bite. It is important to not rely solely on fishing for food while on the boat. Consider fish a bonus meal!

Do you have some favorite meals or snacks for a day out on the boat? Share your recipes here!

Thousands Learn Life Jacket Safety Lessons at Miami Boat Show

The Sea Tow Foundation has announced that more than 86,000 individuals visited this year’s Progressive Insurance Miami International Boat Show to see the new boats and boating gear and the Sea Tow Foundation made sure that the attendees received a quick course in the importance of wearing life jackets when on or around the water.

As a result of the show’s captive audience, tens of thousands of boating enthusiasts interacted with staff and volunteers from the Sea Tow Foundation, and nearly 500 of those decided to spend extra time learning more about life jackets. Additionally, 365 children borrowed life jackets for the day while they perused the docks and took part in the sea trials that were available.

For the 5th straight year, the Sea Tow Foundation hosted Life Jacket Loaner Stations at the show, which became the organization’s epicenter for education. All of the Foundation’s life jackets were made available from a generous donation from Onyx and the space for the life jacket loaner stations was provided by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). Volunteers from local schools, businesses and other organizations staffed the Life Jacket Loaner Stations and assisted the Sea Tow Foundation staff in fitting children with life jackets before they ventured onto the docks with their families.

In order to further promote the importance of life jacket use, the Sea Tow Foundation launched its first-ever Life Jacket Selfie Giveaway Contest at this year’s show. Through partnerships with NMMA, Onyx, FELL Marine, FishGillz, Navionics, Source4 and Formula Boats, the Sea Tow Foundation gave away five prize packs valued at $3,600 to  participants who took a selfie while wearing one of the Sea Tow Foundation life jackets at the boat show and posting that photo to social media using the hashtag #LifeJackets4theWin and tagging the Sea Tow Foundation. The contest saw more than 100 people participate in the five days that the contest was open and winners of the prize packs were randomly selected from the social media posts.

“Overall, this year’s Miami International Boat Show was our most successful yet,” said Gail R. Kulp, the Sea Tow Foundation’s executive director. “Not only were we able to interact with 100,000 attendees and teach nearly 500 individuals about life jacket use, we also engaged with countless numbers of boaters, both at the show and watching at home, through our inaugural life jacket selfie contest. We couldn’t be more thrilled with the way things turned out.”

The  Life Jacket Loaner Stations at this year’s boat show are part of the Sea Tow Foundation’s nationwide Life Jacket Loaner Program, which hosts more than 600 loaner stations across 43 states. The Sea Tow Foundation also offers other pop-up life jacket loaner stations at the Tampa, FL Boat Show and the Norwalk, CT Boat Show in addition to the stations featured at the Miami International Boat Show.

Sea Tow Foundation Blog 5 Reasons Why Boating is Good for Your Heart

February is American Heart Month and with Valentine's Day right around the corner, it’s time to give your heart a little extra love!

Luckily for you, boating is a great way to do just that! Don’t believe us? Check out the Sea Tow Foundation’s list below to see five reasons why boating is good for your heart:

1. It relieves stress – Even the most inexperienced boaters know that stepping onto a boat can make all your everyday stresses disappear. Heading out to your local waterway with friends and family is a great way to relieve stress, sit back, and relax. When we’re near water, our heart and breathing slows, which is a plus for our bodies.
2. It keeps you active – With so many of us spending most of the day sitting at a desk or in a vehicle commuting to and from work, boating is a great way to get outside and stay active. And you don’t have to be water skiing or wake boarding to stay active. Just getting out there and spending time in and around your boat is a great start to a healthier lifestyle!
3. It brings you closer to nature – Boating is the perfect way to enjoy the great outdoors and everything Mother Nature has to offer. It allows you to get a unique perspective on local wildlife and see birds and fish and other animals that you may never see back ashore. Plus, there are all sorts of unique little wilderness areas that are only accessible by boat.
4. It brings you closer to friends and family – Boating and family often go hand-in-hand. Getting out there and cruising the local waterways allows us to reconnect with loved ones and enjoy each other’s company. So, if you’ve been missing a close friend or family member, why not ask them to come out for a ride on the boat?
5. It puts your heart at ease – To sum it all up, boating puts your heart at ease. Not only does it relieve stress, but for many of us, it puts us in our happy place. If you’re anything like us, there’s no place you’d rather be. Stress and anxiety can have such a drastic effect on heart health, so there’s no doubt that getting out on your boat can help give make you heart healthy.

This February get back out there on your boat! Trust us, your heart will thank you.

Photo by Jude Beck

Thank you for a great 2019!

Whether you are a regular supporter of Sea Tow Foundation programs such as our Life Jacket Loaner Program or our Sober Skipper Program, or you are new to our nonprofit boating safety efforts nationwide, we want to take this opportunity to say thank you!

This year has seen major growth in the Sea Tow Foundation Programs. Our Sober Skipper program, which asks boaters to be or designate a sober skipper before leaving the dock, has seen an increase in the number of people taking the pledge in 51 states and territories and 94% of the states have seen a decrease in Boating Under the Influence accidents and fatalities as a result.

The Sea Tow Foundation’s Life Jacket Loaner Program now boasts 650 total life jacket loaner stations offered across 43 states at boat ramps, marinas, parks, fuel docks and community centers. And these life jackets have been credited with saving dozens of lives each year thanks to the boating safety supporters who help maintain our loaner stations around the country and ensure that the life jackets are available to the boating public.

To accomplish all of this, the Sea Tow Foundation has expanded its staff, increased its presence at boat shows, and made materials and resources available online in our new store to support the needs of the growing requests for our programs in our efforts to promote boating safety and education that directly reduces deaths, injuries, and property damage attributed to recreational boating.

Please consider making a year-end gift in any amount to help us continue our good work. All donations are tax-deductible and your support has lasting effect on every person borrowing a life jacket to prevent drowning or taking the pledge to be a Sober Skipper to eliminate Boating Under the Influence.

You can make a secure donation online at www.boatingsafety.com/donatetoday or you can mail a check to Sea Tow Foundation, P.O. Box 1325, Southold, NY 11971.

We thank you for being part of our progress!