So you’ve been invited on a boat trip with your friends. That’s bound to be an exciting experience, especially if it’s your first time tagging along on such a trip! The proud owners of brand new boats know people would come out of the woodwork when they get invited on a water excursion. However, for you to get re-invited on the next trip, you’ll have to keep some basic etiquettes in mind.
Boats aren’t cheap, and they’re even more expensive to maintain. Plus, the host must be spending a great deal of time and money to entertain everyone invited. Therefore, acting like a buffoon at a frat party, either intentionally or unintentionally, wouldn’t work in your favor.
That said, here are a few rules to follow when you get invited on a boat trip!
1- Food and Drinks
First and foremost, don’t assume the host will feed you unless it is specifically implied. You’ll need to bring in your food and drinks and not depend on the kindness of others. You may consider bringing sandwiches, chips, or maybe even a cheese platter. The best rule of thumb is to bring extra (double the amount of what you might need) because there are bound to be a few people who just bring “themselves” on the trip. And yes, that’s the kind of people who may not get invited back, ever!
2- Tag-Along
It’s a well-known (but often ignored) unwritten rule not to bring a tag-along on any trip without checking with your host. It’s likely there won’t be any room for your friend or even pet, and the extra weight will become problematic for your host to manage. Besides, dragging in a sidekick without asking is plain rude.
3- Don’t Get Late
Nothing is more infuriating for the host and tiresome for the guests than sitting around on a boat full of people to wait for that one guy who’s not on time and has texted, “I’m almost there!” So, have some respect for everyone on board and be at the dock when you’re asked to.
4- Smoking
It’s not okay to smoke on someone else’s boat without asking first. Most boat owners worry that someone will put a burn hole on the seat in their drunken state or do something foolish that would start a fire. Therefore, be considerate and don’t assume it’s alright to have a smoke just because it’s an open-air party.
5- Under the Influence
You’re likely to get drunk on a boat trip with booze all around. However, there’s a fine line between getting drunk and getting wasted, and you need to realize when you’re about to cross the boundary and get completely intoxicated. It’s best to keep hydrated to prevent that situation from coming up.
6- Littering
Another thing that your host wouldn’t appreciate is littering on board or the water. There’re garbage bins on the boat. Use them. If there aren’t any, find a bag to put your litter inside and take it back home to dispose of it.
Lastly, don’t play with the boat’s buttons, switches, seats, or anything that would damage the ship. Plus, respect your captain’s orders because, unlike you, they have experience and know what they’re doing. As long as you keep these basic etiquettes in mind when invited on a boat, you’ll be on the guest list for sure every single time!
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