Consider a family cruising on their sailboat who moors at a marina in the evening, only to wake up the next day to dark clouds and heavy rain. Certainly not the best time to resume their sea journey! Sometimes, the Port Authority itself, faced with particularly significant weather events, issues a weather alert, ensuring all recreational boaters are informed. And as we know, in case of bad weather, when difficult navigation is expected, the best solution is to stay safely in port, only casting off when weather conditions improve. But what can you do on a boat when it rains? How can you spend time in the marina? Here are our suggestions!
What to do on a boat when it rains: ensure rain doesn’t cause damage Perhaps you had planned to spend just one night in the marina, intending to cast off early in the morning and continue your journey. Or maybe you had already planned to occupy that berth for several days, giving yourself time to refuel, visit the city, and enjoy the conveniences of land before resuming your cruise, perhaps with subsequent nights at anchorage. In any case, when moored in port and facing several hours of heavy rain, it’s important to ensure water doesn’t cause damage: here’s what to do.
Check portholes and hatches: a basic tip, but always worth doing! No one wants to increase onboard humidity further, so it’s worth checking all openings to ensure they’re closed, even those that are typically protected but might still let water in during a storm. Check the bilge pump: when rains are heavy, water can find multiple indirect ways to reach the bilge. This might be the right time to ensure the bilge pump is working properly!
Prevent puddles and streaks: this is particularly important for boats with teak decks. There are spots where water cannot drain, creating small puddles with stagnant water that can cause damage over time. A smart tip? Place a foam strip in the cockpit and run it through a hole in the bulwarks to let the water drip into the sea! The deck will dry faster this way.
Check the covers: if the boat has biminis or other textile covers, make sure they’re not subjected to excessive loads; if so, it’s better to close them or “empty” them before they get damaged.
In the marina during rain: make the most of time aboard
On a rainy day spent at your berth in the marina, these checks are relatively quick. In the remaining time, you could do some minor boat care and maintenance tasks, such as:
Organize: if we’re facing several hours in the marina due to bad weather, it might be wise to invest some time in organizing our onboard spaces, at least in the dry areas not exposed to rain. Think about the locker where we keep safety equipment, cabin compartments, and so on. Sometimes just a few minutes can significantly improve the organization of internal spaces! Check the engine: those with mechanical inclinations can dedicate some time to engine checks and maintenance. Prevention is always better!
Clean the deck: our deck is getting washed by the rain. This could be the perfect time for a convenient
Take inventory: especially on larger boats, it’s not easy to have a clear idea of what’s on board, what’s missing, and what needs replacement. The rainy hours spent in the marina can be the perfect opportunity to take inventory, checking safety equipment, first aid kit, emergency spare parts, and so on.
Stock up: a rainy day at your berth can be ideal for thoughtfully stocking up on supplies, after carefully checking all products already on board, and creating a precise menu for the following days.
What to do when it rains in port: fun and relaxation
Checking the boat, doing maintenance, shopping. But who says a rainy day on a boat in the marina should be dedicated only to “work”? This is the perfect time to relax and have fun!
Visit the surroundings: armed with an umbrella or going ashore before the rain gets heavy, a day of bad weather in port can become the perfect opportunity to visit the city where you’re moored. Our marina is perfect in this sense, being located in the heart of Genoa’s historic old town, the largest in Europe (here we’ve seen what to see in Genoa in one day). Heavy rain? There are elegant palaces to visit, museums, theaters, and cinemas!
Take a nap: what could be better than retiring to your bunk and letting yourself be lulled by the boat’s movement and the sound of rain
Increase dry space: especially if you’re aboard with children, it’s important to increase the livable space with appropriate coverage.
Board games: when cruising, board games should never be missing on board, from playing cards to chess.
Cook: finally, those with a galley on board can take advantage of the rainy hours to cook at leisure, something that isn’t always possible while sailing, using fresh and typical products from the area where you’re moored. Those in our Genoa marina have it easy: just some fresh pesto to prepare a sensational pasta dish!
