Charter Provisioning

Many charter companies can stock and provision your boat before you arrive. This is a good idea for the basics but there is usually little imagination in the food that is supplied. So we recommend allowing the charter company to provision for basics but plan on a trip to the supermarket for the sometimes delectable local foods and cheeses. There is typically a large supermarket close to the charter base. But check with them before you arrive via phone or email. Even in non-English speaking countries, most people who will answer the phone at the charter base speak pretty good English.

Also, it’s a good idea not to go overboard on provisions. On most islands that you’ll visit during the trip you can get extra provisions and ice, so don’t buy too much. For those that are used to ice in their drinks, however, the Mediterranean is definitely lacking in ice machines so get used to one cube in your drink. There are often other remote places like Baja and Belize that have limited ability to re-provision. So definitely find out that information before you head out. Once while in the remote Baja region, we pre-arranged for a dive master to come out with their dive boat and meet us to lead a dive about 3 days into the trip. We also cleverly arranged for him to bring us more ice at the time.

Here’s a list of extra things to make sure you provide for your boat

• Matches
• Trash bags (big tough ones)
• Ziplock bags
• salt and pepper
• TP (probably more than the charter company provides)
• Paper towels
• Bug repellent
• More bug repellent
• Sunscreen
• Cheap little hand towels
• Rum (for your guests of course)

Once on the boat, the charter company will provide a checklist, however, also check these simple things that may not be on their checklist:

• Wine opener
• Coffee maker
• Cooler that does not have a leaky drain. Very Important!
• The charter company will probably supply all your bedding but it’s a good idea to check each cabin is supplied

Things to bring from home

• Small 12v DC to AC inverter for charging mobile devices, laptops, cameras, etc. that need 110/220 volts.
• Some boats do have inverters or generators but do you really want the noise of a generator just to charge a cell phone?
• A 12-volt splitter. This allows multiple 12-volt plugs to allow multiple devices to be charged at one time. Very important if you’re taking more than a few people on the trip. Everyone thinks their cell phone/iPod is more important than everyone else’s. You’re a hero when you pull one of these devices out of the bag.
• European to American style plug adapter. (Many charter boats are made in Europe and thus have round-style AC plugs. Check this but most of your chargers these days take 220 or 110 volts input so you’ll just need an adapter and not necessarily a transformer)
• Music on your mobile device
• Mobile devices loaded with a navigation app (iNavX or Navionics are the standard). Many charter boats have a GPS. Some don’t and some will be broken when you arrive or will break sometime during the trip
• Cruising Guide and Anchorage Guide – although usually provided on the boat.
• A local area travel guide like Frommers etc. for reading up about the area and places to go
• Many times the charter co. will provide masks, snorkels, and fins, however, if you bring your own you’re guaranteed to have a good set.
• Comfortable fitting lifejackets (PFDs) for the kids.
• Digital camera.
• Cheap little hand towels. The charter company will give each person two towels for the whole week. So these little towels can serve as face and hand towels and then finally as floor wiping towels.
• Book of knots and a short piece of line – for the entertainment of the crew.
• Deck of cards.
• Other Fun stuff – we really have fun on our charters and we get into the mood.

On a catamaran, a good suggestion is to use a used towel as a floor mat just inside the doorway to the saloon. This eliminates sand and grime being tracked into the saloon area and throughout the boat.

Don’t bring from Home

• A hard suitcase: There is just no room on the boat for it. Ensure you send out an email to your crew prior to the trip informing them of limited space and not to bring suitcases. Instead bring a pack down and away duffle-type, soft bags. Sometimes there is room at the base but they really don’t appreciate every charterer wanting to store bags in their small locker room for a week. (In that email we recommend that you recommend this Charter Clinic to your crew as well. They’ll learn lots of tips to help improve your experience as well.)

Click on and download this handy Provisioning Basics Shopping List PDF and store it on your smartphone. Note: there are a few things you can bring from home.

Regarding provisioning and cost-sharing amongst a group, download this iOS App called CostSplit. It is so well designed. Anyone can enter a group expense and at the end, it sums it all up as to who owes who.

Or on Android use Split Wise

And here is a fun knot App called Animated Knots on iOS OR  Animated Knots on Android to keep the crew entertained.