Recommended Boat Snacks 

Beef Jerky

Beef jerky is always a hit for its protein content and its easy cleanup. And while it won’t leave particularly sticky fingers, it is important to make sure the wrapper gets in the trash can. 

Nuts

Individual containers of nuts are one of the best snacks to have aboard. Avoid trail mix, which generally contains chocolate (see below), and go for straight mixed nuts. Not only are they a good source of salt to replace electrolytes on a hot day, but they are also one of the most calorically dense foods on the planet, which means they will keep you fueled up for a long day of fun. 

Fruits & Veggies

Although controversial amongst superstitious boaters, various fruits (including bananas) are a great boat snack. Dried fruits also work great, and there’s nothing to clean up at the end. 

If you prefer veggies, carrots and hummus are a go-to of many Malibu veterans. Just transition the Multi-View Wake Bench from its bench position to a table and you’ve got the perfect afternoon snack. 

Boat Snacks to Avoid

Cheetos & Other Cheesy Chips

Unless you are a professional boat detailer (and even then, why?), don’t let these delicious orange snacks on your boat. The keyword here is orange. Whatever they use to color Cheetos also likes to color everything it touches. It takes forever to clean up, so it’s best to leave the Cheetos on the dock. 

Crunchy Granola Bars

We love granola bars, but it’s best to not bring extra-crunchy granola bars – like Nature Valley — on the boat. Though they’re great for keeping blood sugar in check and giving kids that instant pick-me-up that avoids a potential meltdown, extra-crunchy granola bars will also crumble the instant you look at them. This will lead to hours of vacuuming under cushions and in crevices. It’s an unwritten rule of boating that the person who spilled the crumbs never seems to be the one cleaning them up, so this is a good rule to enforce. 

Melting Snacks

We love chocolate as much as anyone, but it’s a challenge to have on a boat. To avoid melting, chocolate must stay in the cooler at all times, but even then it can still get messy. To be on the safe side, it’s best to avoid unless you want to monitor the melting situation closely. This same general principle goes for anything that melts like ice cream, popsicles, caramel apples, etc.

Drinks

While sugary, syrupy drinks are best avoided for their potential to spill, some sports drinks, waters, and juices are critical to surviving a long day in the heat. Pack the cooler with drinks, then pack ice on top and fill it to the brim for best results. Air is the enemy of ice, so a packed cooler that stays closed will keep ice longer.