A Man About Sea’s Guide To Being The Best Boat Guest

It is far better to have friends with boats than to have to a boat. That's simply a fact.

Boats are excessive amounts of effort and work - which in turn means a guest's level of gratitude and good behavior has to be MAX. 

In my personal opinion, moreso than a Hamptons house or an Amalfi Coast villa, the boat invite is the top invitation of the summer.

Not particularly prepared to set sail?  Just mind these five rules for being your best guest self!

The Gift Of Gratitude (& Something Hermès)...
One must always bring a good gift.  Bringing a boat gift is more important than bringing a standard housewarming or hostess gift. You must be more generous, more thoughtful, and make a grand impression. 

I typically find that a gift that can actively be used during the trip is always a winner! Games, binoculars and that sort of vibe is the way to go. Nautical themes are a win, of course, but not needed. One simply can't go wrong with an all leather backgammon set, custom monogrammed cards with an alligator case, or a pair of Hermès binoculars. 

You should never ever solely bring a perishable gift. Something of this nature is acceptable only if it’s in addition to a non-consumable gift. I do tend to bring a tin of caviar, mainly because I find that getting fairly priced tins of caviar in St. Barths or on the Med is a struggle. But one must be thoughtful of their hosts menu and likes. Adding a wrench to the Chef’s meal plan might not make you popular.

In Good Company...
When you're not paying for the boat, your job is to contribute in other ways. 

The role of a guest is to be entertaining and interesting. Consistently be adding to the conversation. Depending on the group, having a few interesting articles or Tik Toks or personal anecdotes to reference each night is a sharp idea. Boats often have lots of time spent on meals and cocktail hours, and let's just say with one group of people bound together for days at sea, conversation can eventually run a pinch dry. But not on your watch!

Troubleshooting...
Captain my Captain… there can be troubles. Boats are massive engineering and mechanical marvels, after all. 

I mean, I sometimes struggles with my Sonos system - imagine making sure everything on the boat goes smoothly! It's notably complex. 

When there are issues or weather conflicts, as there are bound to be, have a smile and learn to gracefully roll with the tide. Smile, sip some champs and enjoy the view.  

All Hands On Deck...
Being tidy is important! Crews on boats are often changing, and only an elite few have a roaming staff. Therefore the boat crew will not know whose shoes were left in the salon, and whose sweater is still out on the aftdeck… 

Do not leave your things strewn about the boat. When you return from an outing take off your shoes and bring them to your cabin. This way things will not get lost and put in to other staterooms, minimizing stress.

Politely Punctual...
Schedules on boats are important. Meals, outings, appointments with non crew staff. Don’t be tardy! Be respectful of the tender/chase boat. Motivating an entire group is hard enough, and you never want to be a part of the problem or the delay.