Provisioning for Offshore Sailing

Offshore Provisioning - Food and Related Supplies

This topic contains checklists to used when provisioning the boat for an offshore voyage. The list is quite extensive and includes groceries for a crew of four for 8 days on the water.

Don't try to get all of your provisions in one giant trip. Make several trips and carefully stow groceries and supplies as you go. Take notes on where items are stowed. Buy canned goods and dried goods first, and buy your perishables at the last minute. Pre-order meats from the butcher and ask him to freeze the packages for you.

If you are going island cruising (to the Exumas for example) you should stock up on favorite items that you can get cheaply in the US. Also stock up on paper goods - they're very expensive in most island areas. By stocking up at relatively inexpensive US supermarkets, you'll save quite a bit of money as you go cruising.

This topic contains lists for:

Provisions (food, drink)
Meal list for 8 days
List of basic household items (cleaning supplies, etc.)
Easy meals for those who don't want to cook

____________________________________________

Provisioning Your Boat for an Offshore Voyage

The following list covers provisions for a crew of four for 8 days. Portions are generous and assume there will be leftovers for snacks and light meals.

I've included some of my favorite brands based on what seems to work well on a boat. I've used this list on seven different voyages with a total of sixteen different crew members. This provision list, and the associated meal list, is based on having average galley facilities and typical cooking skills.

	Item	Brand / Notes
Breakfast Foods
	Apples	1/2 doz
	Bagels	1 doz, assorted
	Bananas	1 large bunch
	Bisquick	1 large box
	Bread	4 loaves
	Burrito wraps	Pack of 12 wraps
	Coffee	3 packages, ground
	Cream Cheese	1 6 oz tub
	Eggs (or egg substitute such as "Egg Beaters")	2 doz
	Grape Nuts	1 large box
	Grits	1 box of regular (or can use instant)
	Instant or quick-cook oatmeal	2 boxes of 10 envelopes
	Oranges,navel	1 doz
	Orange Juice	4 cans, frozen
	Maple Syrup	1 pint
	Spam (good alternative to bacon - not as messy)	4 cans
	Sugar packets (for coffee)	Box of 100
	Tea	1 box of 100 tea bags
Lunch (largest meal of the day)
	Chicken breasts, boneless & skinless in 2 lb packs	4 lbs (two meals)
	Deli sandwiches (Day 1)	One per crew member
	Ground Beef, lean in 2 lb packs	4 lbs (two meals)
	Italian sausage	2 lbs (one meal)
	Pork loin for oven roasting	3 lbs (one meal)
	Stew beef, precut into chunks	2 lbs (one meal)
Dinner (lighter meal of the day / leftovers)
	Canned chowder (Snow's brand is a good one)	3 cans for four crew
	Canned tomato soup	3 cans for four crew
	Ham (Cure 81 is a good brand) for sandwiches and breakfasts	3 lb
	Pizza crusts (Boboli is a good brand) , mozzarella cheese	1 pak of 2 crusts
	Pasta sauce (Newman's Own is a good brand)	3 jars
	Parmesan cheese, pre-grated	2 jars
Snack Foods
	Brownies (fresh baked)	2 boxes of brownie mix
	Candy bars (esp Snickers)	4 bags of mini's
	Cheese - block of sharp cheddar, block of smoked gouda	2 @ six oz. blocks
	Cookies (esp. ginger snaps)	4 boxes
	Crackers - Saltines, Wheat thins, Triscuits	2 boxes of each
	Cup-a-soup (esp. in cold weather areas)	3 boxes of 4 envelopes
	Dried fruits - mango, pineapple, banana chips, etc.	4 @ 8 oz packs
	Dry roast peanuts	3 jars
	Ginger candy - helps w/ seasickness	1 package
	Peanut butter & Jelly sandwiches	2 jars PB, Grape & strawberry jelly
	Pepperoni	2 packages / presliced
	Pistachios or peanuts in the shell (messy though)	2 bags
	Pretzels	2 bags
	Raisins	2 packs of 6 small boxes
Drinks
	Bottled water ( 2 per person - refill and keep in fridge)	2 @ 6 packs of 16 oz bottles
	Cola	2 cases of 12 oz resealable bottles
	Crystal Light lemonade	4 @ 3-paks
	Ginger ale	2 six-packs of 12oz cans
	Hot Cocoa	2 @ 10 envelope packs
	Ice Tea mix	1 jar
	Parmalat milk	6 @ quart containers
Produce
	Bell peppers, red and green	4 of each
	Carrots	large bag
	Celery	large bag
	Lettuce, esp. hearts of romaine	3 heads
	Lemons	3 large
	Onions	2 lbs
	Potatoes	10 lb bag
Sauces, Spreads , Etc.
	BBQ sauce	1 bottle
	Butter	1 lb
	Cooking oil / olive oil	1 bottle of each
	Mayonnaise	2 plastic squeeze bottles
	Mojo marinade (Goya or similar brand)	1 bottle
	Mustard	2 jars
	Soy sauce	1 medium bottle
	Tobasco sauce	1 medium bottle
Staples
	Canned goods: chicken and beef stock	8 of each
	Canned goods: red beans, black beans, mushrooms, peas, corn	3 cans each
	Canned goods: tomato's - diced, puree, sauce	2 cans each
	Canned meats: chicken, tuna, corned beef, spam , salmon	3 cans each
	Dry goods: rice, pasta, dried beans, dried peas	1 bag of each
	Flour - all purpose	2 lb bag
	Salt - keep container in airtight zip-loc bag	1 lb container
	Spices - including the basics of salt, pepper, chili powder, Mrs. Dash, cumin, cinnamon, Tobasco, dried parsley, dried onion, curry	Various

Offshore Meal List

The following is a suggested meal list for a crew of four for 8 days offshore. An emphasis is put on simple, hearty meals. I've found that many crews like to have lunch as the "big" meal of the day (everyone is usually awake) and have a simple dinner (darkness may be falling and some crew may be napping before their watch).

	Item	Brand / Notes
Breakfasts
	B1 - Pancakes / Sausage
	B2 - Toasted bagels / Fresh Fruit
	B3 - Eggs / Spam / Grits
	B4 - Oatmeal w/ raisins
	B5 - Breakfast burritos (scrambled eggs, salsa, burrito wraps)
	B6 - Fruit salad / Granola or cereal
	B7 - Corned beef hash / Eggs
	B8 - Pancakes / Sausage
Lunches (large meal of the day)
	L1 - Deli sandwiches / potato salad - (a no-cook option for the first day out)
	L2- Chicken & snow peas in cream sauce / Linguini
	L3 - Beef stew
	L4 - Italian Sausage, peppers & onions / Pasta
	L5 - Cuban mojo chicken / black beans and rice
	L6 - Beef & red bean chili
	L7 - Roast Pork / Baked potatoes / Applesauce
	L8 - Meatloaf / mashed potatoes / gravy
Dinners ( lighter meal / leftovers)
	D1 - Black bean soup / crackers
	D2 - Leftovers 1 - Beans & rice burritos with beef or sausage
	D3 - Pasta salad with chicken
	D4 - Leftovers 2
	D5 - Homemade pizzas - top with misc. items from the fridge
	D6 - Leftovers 3
	D7 - Toasted cheese sandwiches / tomato soup
	D8 - Leftovers 4 - Meatloaf sandwiches, soup

Household Items

The following list covers miscellaneous household items such as cleaners, paper goods, etc.. The quantities listed will cover an offshore voyage of 8 days for a crew of four. If you're going cruising to the islands, stock up on these items. They can be hard to find outside of the US and will be very expensive when you do find them.

	Item	Brand / Notes
Paper Goods, etc.
	Coffee filters	1 box of 100
	Paper towels	4 rolls
	Wet Ones wipes (excellent for a quick salt removal from face and hands)	2
	Toilet Tissue	2 packs of 4 rolls
	Tissues	2 boxes
	Aluminum foil	1 roll of 100' sq.
	Zip-loc bags - Qt. and Gal. sizes	1 box of each
	Trash bags - esp. Glad brand - strong	1 box of 24

Cleaners, etc.
	Bleach (ultra concentrated)	1 bottle
	Dish soap	1 bottle
	Fantastic or other multi-purpose cleaner spray	1 bottle
	Hand soap / shampoo / conditioner	1 bottle of each
	Laundry detergent	1 bottle
	Laundry Quarters - save all your quarters for laundry machines	$20 in quarters
	Oxyclean powder - good for cleaning fiberglass	1 container
	Scott's Liquid Gold (for cleaning/oiling interior teak)	1 can
	Sponges / Scotch-brite pads /	Assorted
Health / Misc.
	AA batteries	2 packs of 8
	Baby oil (cheap brand, use for lubricating the head)	Large bottle
	Butane lighter (for lighting stove)	2 lighters
	First Aid items	Click here for First Aid topic
	Insect repellent, spray	1 can
	Multivitamins	1 bottle of 100 tablets
	Sunscreen, SPF 45 or better	2 bottles
	Toothpaste	1 large tube
	Vegetable oil (cheapest brand) for lubricating the head	1 large bottle

Easy / No-Cook Meals

There are times when you won't want to spend any time cooking. You may be delivering a boat that has little or no galley equipment, or you may be one of the people who just doesn't cook. The following list has suggested meals that require little or no preparation other than heating.

	Item	Brand / Notes
Breakfasts
	Bagels & cream cheese
	Fresh fruit
	Cereal / granola
	Pre-cooked breakfast sausages ("heat and eat")




Lunches (large meal of the day)
	Frozen lasagna (Stouffers brand is one good one)	One 3lb lasagna for four crew
	Beef stew, canned (Dinty Moore - not too bad if you jazz it up with some spices and chopped onion)	Two large cans for four crew per meal
	Pre-packaged pasta meals (esp. Knorr brand) + a can of tuna or salmon	One per crew per meal





Dinners ( lighter meal / leftovers)
	Prepackaged chili (Stagg brand is a good brand)	One 10 oz pack per crew member per meal
	Canned chowder (Snow's brand)	Three cans for four crew members per meal
	Hearty canned soups (esp. Progresso brand)	One can per crew per meal

Links to Outside Resources

The following links provide links to further reading, manufacturers websites and more information on "how to"

	Item	Link to Detail
Topic
	Article on provisioning from world cruisers Larry and Lynn Pardy	Link to Sailnet
	Hints for provisioning in the Bahamas from Janet Parks on s/v Charbonneau	Link
	SailNet's forums - Provisioning	Link
	Provisioining for the Carribean - article from Sailnet	Link

___________________________________________