Ever wondered what we wear out here? I mean, maybe you haven’t, but it is an interesting thought…
For example, we can’t just head down to town and grab a new shirt or whatever, so figuring out what to wear living on a boat gets interesting fast…. And to add to that, we don’t have walk-in wardrobes either. Most of our time is spent in the tropics, so how do we deal with staying as cool as possible?
Full disclaimer: I like to be minimalist, and I’m not a “dress-up queen” (you’ll have to talk to Pip about that one!). But this is how I like to do it.
Well, let’s answer some of those questions! This post is all about what to wear living on a boat—the real-life version, tropical style.
Sort of Related:
5 Things I Always Pack When We Go to Shore (Island Edition)
How to Stay Fit & Surf-Ready on a Boat (Without a Gym!)
Space…
Right, let’s start with my wardrobe, shall we? I use two of the three cupboards in my room. The first one’s got three shelves — I use one of them for my shorts, shirts, and underwear.
Yeah, I know — ONE SHELF! I like it that way. I reckon if I can’t fit it on that shelf, I have too many clothes.
Then in the second cupboard, which is a hanging cupboard, I keep warmer clothes for those rare times we sail or fly to cooler climates. So, things like jumpers, jackets, track pants, etc. Also in this cupboard I keep swimmers — bikinis, surf suit, dive booties…
Another thing to note is how I make the space work: I like to roll my shirts and pants, then I keep my underwear in boxes — doing my best to keep it all small and easily accessible. Here’s the best way to roll your clothes!
That’s my clothing space. It’s not a lot for some people, I’m sure, but I find it works great!
Daily Staples…
When it comes to what to wear living on a boat, especially in the tropics, your choices are important! So here we go:
- Onboard: You don’t want to wear much because by 9 a.m. it’s burning hot and you’re trying your very best not to sweat. So in the morning, I’ll throw on denim shorts and a singlet/top thing… These are a staple. I wear them every day!
- Heading to Town: Whenever we go to town, we want to wear something respectable — especially if it’s in Asia, where there are a lot of Muslim countries. So we’ll throw on a shirt, make sure we’re wearing long-ish pants. On this — most places, denim pants are okay, but if we’re unsure I’ll wear leggings, a wrap-around, or a sarong, just making sure to cover my knees.
- Heading to a Beach: So we’re anchored off a tropical beach and want to head in and get coconuts and explore. What do I wear for this occasion? The answer: a bikini and a loose white long-sleeve shirt. This works amazing as it’s not too hot, keeps the sun off, feels beachy, and means you can go for a swim whenever.
- Surf (or any watersports): As you might’ve guessed, this is my most important piece of clothing (okay, maybe you wouldn’t have guessed it — but it’s true)… my surf suit. It’s rashie-like material (or wetsuit material — depends what I’ve got at the time) and is a one-piece with long sleeves and a zip at the back. It keeps the sun off my back and with the rashie material it isn’t too hot in tropical conditions. On rare occasions when the sun isn’t too strong and the swell not too big, I’ll paddle out in a bikini — but I don’t do this often, as it doesn’t always stay on properly and I don’t want to get too burnt!
Tips for Staying Cool…
Temperature-wise, sorry — no gangsters here.
In short, it’s very hard to stay cool and it’s often inevitable that you’ll sweat out your clothes by mid-afternoon. But we’ve learnt a few things over time. Here are a couple of little tips for staying as cool as possible:
- Rechargeable 12V fans. Yeah, I know — you’re probably trying not to laugh, but I’m serious here! All six of us have one, and we’ll pull them out when doing school or eating dinner. They’re a game-changer.
- Stay in the shade. The easiest way to stay cool is to not be in the sun. Onboard Happy Days we have good insulation that helps keep the cabins cool, and we also put towels over the windows to keep any and all sun out.
- Literally don’t wear too many clothes. If you want to stay cool, do your best not to wear too much. Bikinis or crop tops are a lot cooler than t-shirts — simple things like this can really help.
Must-Haves for Boat Life…
Whether you’re figuring out what clothes work best for life on a boat or just packing for a sailing trip, these staples are worth having.
- Sunglasses. You’d be crazy to live on a boat — or any outdoor lifestyle for that matter — without sunnies!
- Hat. Make sure to choose a good one! I actually have two: one with a strap for surfing and dinghy rides, and another nicer one for heading to town.
- Runners. I have a solid pair of running shoes. Dad and I like to go for a run whenever we get the opportunity, and there are plenty of places where you need good shoes!
- Dark Shirts. Just a note: don’t wear light-coloured shirts in hot areas — you’ll see your sweat within the first 5 minutes.
- Flip Flops / Jandals / Thongs. We like the Havaianas. They last the longest and are super comfy. We only wear them when we need to — otherwise, we go barefoot.
- “Nice” Shoes. Yeah, I have a pair of these — but the only times I wear them are when we travel or go to airports… or if it’s cold.
There You Have It…
So there you go! It’s not high tech or fancy—it’s just what works for me when it comes to what to wear living on a boat. Everyone finds their own rhythm out here.
If you’re keen on some minimalist inspiration, go check out this vid, I’ve done it twice and it’s awesome.
Would you be able to live out of one shelf and a hanging cupboard? Do you have specific wardrobe needs? Got any questions? Please let me know!
Great tips Bella! Thank you!
I live on land in a country that loves to buy and accumulate things. A couple of years ago, having lived in other countries which involved a lot of moving, I adopted the replacement approach: only buy if a replacement is needed. And no throwing away. If the garment is in good condition, I donate to a local charity or see if a neighbor is in need of it.
Hey Sandra! This is really great! A perfect example of minimalism when it comes to clothes. Thanks for your comment! 😊
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