Checklists for Guests

[DRFerron]

No sailing this weekend so I thought I'd throw something out there while I wait for the baseball game to start:

Do any of you prepare a checklist for your guests? I'm mostly thinking about non-boating guests who may not know to wear non-marking shoes, pack light, etc.

Last year (I think) I read a magazine article in one of the sailing magazines where the author prepared a letter for guests and gave it to them a week or so before they sailed. The main theme was about living comfortably in limited space but it covered topics such as wearing life jackets when told to, using the head, wearing shoes that don't mark the deck, etc.

If I remember correctly, I think it also implied that if the guest can't follow the rules, don't bother coming. I can't think of anyone I know who I'd be that harsh with, however.

When my teen niece and her friend planned to stay on board with us for the weekend I did prepare a short email but their plans changed and they never came.

So, just wondering what others do.

[windtraveler]

Hi there - I published this Top Ten Tips for Guests on our blog and it got A LOT of great comments and a LOT of feedback. It might be a good place for you to start!!

Good luck!

Brittany

[DRFerron]

Thank you, Brittany!

[rikhall]

We had friends who expressed a number of times how they would like to come sailing with us for a day. They got two trips out of one our boat - their first and their last:

• Showed up late
• With an extra kid "Didn't think you'd mind if we brought a friend for our 12 year old daughter"
• Didn't bring a change of cloths but sure enjoyed being up on the bow getting soaked
• Went into our cloths locker without asking to find dry cloths for the three kids
• Went home with some of our cloths

Funny how some people get it and some don't.

Shalom

[DRFerron]

rikhall,

All I have to say is: Wow.

[tomperanteau]

LOL to all!

We recently took a group of 10 (grand kids and kids/grown ups) to Catalina Island on our 36 footer. Yea, I know... Anyway, we didn't have a guest checklist but it would have been a great idea. They all brought too much junk. It was crowded enough with just the people, but we had to also contend with backpacks and other stuff, not to mention the food.

Live and learn, eh?

[TQA]

This is for someone coming to the Caribbean for a few days or more not just a day sail.

PLEASE BRING:
1.Shorts and tee-shirts One long sleeved shirt one pair of lightweight long pants. Pair of walking shoes pair of sandals. Hat
2.Personal toiletries.
3.Swim wear x 2.
4.Snorkel mask and your flippers if you have them - I snorkel a lot!
5.Sun cream and sun block.
6.Personal MP3 player/ipod/CDs
7.Camera +transfer cable
8.Insect bite ointment
9.Travel sickness tablets if need them.
10.Travel Insurance policy + emergency contact details.
11.At least one pound of good ground coffee. The skipper is a hopeless addict.

PLEASE DO NOT BRING:
1.Hard sided suitcases or framed ruck sacks.
2.Heavyweight oilskins but a lightweight shell is OK.
3.Negative attitude.

[Andrea Royer]

Oh my gosh, rikhall! I just can't imagine someone doing that! I have a feeling those people wouldn't be good guests on a boat or in a house.

Talking about our Proline 27' Center Console and day trips, I usually make it a habit to keep the thing as bare as possible, because guests will inevitably bring some junk they need stowed. I also keep dramamine on the boat as a courtesy. It's come in handy a few times.

[rockDAWG]

I don't use check lists. I bribe my family to come on board.

[Andrea Royer]

Haha, yeah. I'm having to do the same with my friends. Most of them don't get the full awesomeness of being out on the water, since they're from TN. So I use lines like, "if you come stay with me on the boat, I'll take you snorkeling, and we can go to Gulf Shores, and you can get the best tan!" but I'm still having trouble mustering a ton of excitement.