The Extras you Don't Need BUT Love to Have on a Boat

The Extras You Don’t Need but Love to Have Onboard

Welcome to the first episode of Erica’s Corner! In this series, we dive into various aspects of boat life. Today’s topic focuses on those special extras you don’t necessarily need onboard, but they sure do make living on a boat more enjoyable. Being aboard Barefoot Travels for over five and a half years has taught me a thing or two about what really enhances our boating experience. Living on the water requires a certain level of self-sufficiency because popping to the local shop isn’t an option every time. Thus, I’ve compiled a list of these not-so-necessary-yet-incredibly-wonderful items we can’t do without. ### 1. Bread Maker: Our first extra is probably considered a little overboard by some but trust me, it’s worth having on board. There have been too many instances when we’ve bought bread in the islands or even locally, only to find it moldy upon return. To solve this problem, I decided to invest in a bread maker during our last trip to the states. A bread maker makes the process of making fresh bread incredibly easy. Simply add all the ingredients and press a button – your fresh bread is ready in 3 and 1/2 hours. The downside? Your neighbors might be envious of the aroma wafting from your boat. I can already smell that freshly baked goodness. ### 2. Sparkle Machine: Moving on to the sparkle machine, this nifty gadget works similarly to a Soda Stream but doesn’t require CO2 canisters. In the Bahamas, as well as many other Caribbean destinations, it’s almost impossible to find replacements for those canisters or even access to delivery services. That leaves you with something not very practical onboard. Instead, opt for a sparkle machine that uses sodium bicarbonate and citric acid packets mixed with water. It creates CO2 to ‘Sparkle’ your drink of choice and allows you to infuse fruits like lemon or lime for a refreshing beverage.