DON’T BE A LUBBER: Basic Tips For Boat Guests By Kristi Larson It’s not too hard to figure out how to be a good houseguest: you just think about how you’d like your guests to behave when visiting your home and the rest comes pretty naturally. But if you don’t own your own boat and you haven’t done much boating, it’s harder to know how to behave as a boat guest. How long can you shower? What happens when the kitchen wastebasket is full? What’s that handle on the toilet for? For the inexperienced boater, clambering aboard a strange vessel is a little like venturing into a foreign country. A little thoughtful preparation on your part can make a big difference, not only in how much you enjoy the outing, but perhaps as importantly, in how much your hosts enjoy having you aboard. So for those whose seafaring experience is somewhat limited, here are some suggestions culled from my years of experience as both host and guest. Adherence to these tips will ensure that your boat-owning friends will appreciate your company on board and look forward to cruising with you again.   Before You Get On Board Express your enthusiasm and appreciation . First of all, assuming you like and trust your friends, accept the invitation with enthusiasm. That sounds like a no-brainer, but remember that this type of experience is something most people will never have. Being on the water can be great fun and good times, but to make it that way, your friends (we’ll call them the skippers) will go to a lot of trouble. Besides preparing their boat for the cruise, planning an itinerary, and purchasing supplies, they are responsible for the safety of everyone on board during the cruise as well as following the rules of the road, navigating, monitoring the boat’s systems and the environment, etc. So tell them how excited you are to join them on their boat, and let them know how much you appreciate the invitation. They will be gratified to know you understand and appreciate right from the start their efforts and the special nature of the adventure.   Ask what to bring . This is important, not only so that you are well prepared, but also so you can begin to take responsibility for stocking the boat with necessary supplies for the trip. On a boat, there are few rituals more important than the preparation of food and eating. (At least they have been on any boat I’ve ever been on!) Breakfast, lunch, and dinner punctuate each day and provide a structural framework for all other activities. In advance, talk with the skipper in charge of the galley and ask what food or drink you can contribute. If you don’t ask, you run the risk of duplicating supplies in the very finite space of the galley pantry, not to mention bringing items that simply don’t work, like baking supplies when there’s no oven. If you can cook, ...

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