How I Use the Provisioning Map To Keep Our Boat Organized

Provisioning for a long cruise can be overwhelming. At first glance, you might think it's like stocking a kitchen. All the baking supplies go here, and all the spices and rubs go there.

On a boat? Nope. I've spent enough time on power and sail boats to know how limited and quirky storage space can be. Ultimately, finding storage space at all becomes my biggest win. Keeping track of and being able to find what I've got then becomes  my next priority.

Sound familiar? If so, keep reading, because I found a solution to my problem. I now use a Provisioning Map and a Provisions Inventory. Here's why and how:

Note: I've created a batch of more than 34 unique printables from which you can make your Boat Notebook, that's described in The First Mate's Guide to Cruising the Inside Passage. These valuable provisioning pages are included.

I developed a method where I:

• store all my provisions first
• create a provisions inventory second
• update the inventory as new provisions are added and subtracted. 

Provisioning Map from the Boat Notebook Printables.

First, get all your provisions stored.

That means everything. Galley supplies. Food in the fridge and freezer. Medicines and body care. Batteries and impellers. Everything. Make it so when you turn to leave, you don't feel haunted by something left out. At least try to do that.

Worried that the peanut butter isn't with the jelly? That the syrup and honey aren't standing shoulder to shoulder? No worries. All will be found.

Note: Hopefully you've been pretty creative in finding spaces below decks, inside weirdly shaped hatches. To keep thinks from flying around in these places, you've found study boxes and/or zippered bags (I usethese).

Second, make drawings of your boat's layout and number each storage area.

Depending on your boat's size, make at least one drawing of your boat's layout. I make a total of three:

• Forward spaces (see right)
• Galley and stern spaces
• Captain's spaces

I then give a unique number to each storage area. For example, in my freezers, I used numbered bins to keep the food from moving all over the place and to make it easy to find what I want.

So everything gets numbered. Drawers, cupboards, bags, bins, etc. I end up with like fifty specific storage areas. Which is one of the reasons it's hard to remember where you put things on a boat!

As you can see, it doesn't have to be a gorgeous map. It's not hanging in the L'Ouvre.

Third, get enough paper to deal with each storage area.

This is why I'm an advocate for having a Boat Notebook! It can be a ring or a disc-bound binder. (I really like the disc-bound binders because pages are easy to refill or toss, Plus they open flat. And I can make it myself in the measurement I like.)

Keep one area of your Boat Notebook for provisions:

• Put your Provisioning Maps in your notebook.
• Put your inventory lists in your notebook.

Provisioning pages from the Boat Notebook Printables.

Last, go from area to area and list you inventory.

I usually get Davy to help with this part. It goes so much faster. He:

• open each storage area
• tells me item-by-item what's in side
• closes the storage area
• ends up having some idea what's on board.
  

Let's talk a bit about the lists to the right:

• Area #3 has four packages of spaghetti (which I spelled incorrectly, but alas). The three checkmarks indicate three extras.
  
• The last item in Area #3 had six packages of brownie mix. One package plus five extras. Except the last check has a slash going through it. That means I used one of the packages, and really only have five in all at this time.
  
• Same thing goes for Area #4. I originally had eight cans of tuna, but now I only have seven.
  
• When I eventually go shopping while on our cruise, when I put things away, I add them to the correct list.
  

I bet you can guess Area #3 is a drawer. Long and skinny. Spaghetti. Straws. Kebab sticks. Un hun.

For reference, I printed these Boat Notebook Pages using letter size, black and white, scaled down 84% to print on letter paper. I then trimmed it to 7" x 9.25". Not too big. Not too small. 

The First-Mate's Guide to Cruising the Inside Passage now has its own
Boat Notebook Printables.
Available at Etsy.com

The Boat Notebook Printable Pages ($8)
More than 34 unique pages to keep you feeling safe and organized on your extended cruise.

The Boat Notebook Printable Covers ($2)
Personalize your Notebook Cover with your boat's name. For view and disc-bound binders. Three choices.

The Boat Notebook Fillable Printable PDFs ($2)
Three PDFs that you can enter information on your computer and print multiple copies. 

All bundled together -  $10

VoyagerPlus

"Quick read. I enjoyed all the lists and info author has located. Anyone looking for ideas about how to get organized on their boat will find this a useful collection of ideas and reference info. Fun to compare what I've accumulated over many years of boating with authors thoughts. Dennis Thornton”

The First Mate's Guide to Cruising the Inside Passage
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