Good Galley: Meal Prep Ideas for Small Spaces Aboard Your Boat

Jonathan Timianko

— 4 min read
Good Galley: Meal Prep Ideas for Small Spaces Aboard Your Boat

The biggest difference between a boat galley (a.k.a. kitchen) and the one in your house is size. Stoves, sinks and refrigerators are all smaller on a boat. Even the cabinets used to store everything in are on a much smaller scale than a home kitchen. The next factor is that the boat will be moving around a lot more than your house (hopefully). Taking into account the limited counter and floor space, and sometimes electricity, and meal prep aboard a boat can seem like an impossible task.

Now, there are some boat galleys that are virtually no different than the kitchen in your house (Can you say granite countertops, cherry cabinetry and full-size gourmet appliances?). If this describes your boat (or, rather, mega yacht), how about inviting us over sometime?

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Photo: Sandy Allen

Docking and dining is always fun, but if you’re going to be on board a boat for a while, you’ll need (and probably want) to prepare some meals on board. It’s just simpler and more convenient than finding a dockside restaurant for every meal (as well as being far less expensive). If you’re planning an excursion to the Bahamas, a Great Loop adventure or a long weekend on the local lake, take a minute to peruse some of our suggestions for meal prep in small spaces.

Tips for Meal Prep in Small Boat Galleys

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Photo: Sandy Allen

Create a staple list of meals your crew enjoys. This helps with everything from meal prep to grocery store runs.

Plan and prepare meals ahead of time. Make meals at home and freeze to take on board. This saves a lot of time and energy while you’re on board (and eliminates trying to navigate a small galley space). Vacuum-pack items if possible to save on space. One dish meals are easiest. A three-course meal every so often can be really special, but it’s certainly not a necessity.

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Photo: Sandy Allen

Organization and space management are key. When you have limited storage space, those collapsible silicone bowls, colanders and cups are a boater’s best friend.

Just keep a minimum amount of kitchen essentials on hand: a pot, a skillet, lightweight silverware and some unbreakable bowls and cups. Don’t forget a can opener, bottle opener, corkscrew and a wooden spoon or two. You’ll likely need a knife, but it’s wise to have a strip with magnets so that they stay safely in one place. The more stuff you have, the more stuff there is to fall out of cabinets and get in the way.

Save the cooking for when the boat is either anchored out or docked at your private boat slip for rent (rather than while it’s underway).

Grills that attach to the railing of the boat are a great way to get out of the galley and have more elbow room. There are also cutting boards that can be attached to the railing.

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Photo: Sandy Allen

Take advantage of marine engineering. Gimbaled stoves are not only a necessary boating safety feature (especially for the narrow hulls of a sailboat), they’re quite helpful when it comes to keeping things level on the stove in choppy water. A pivot point runs from front to back so that the stove sways with the motion of the boat, about 20 to 30 degrees. There’s a latch to keep it in place when not in use. They usually have pot restraints, which is super helpful.

Keep a variety of canned food on board. This makes decisions easier and you’ll have options in case something unexpected happens and you can’t prepare your planned meals (whether that something is the weather or you run out of propane).

Meal Ideas

  • Sandwiches are always great on a boat.
  • Scrambled eggs and hand-held items like fruit, crackers, granola bars and muffins are easy to prepare and eat on a boat.
  • Pasta and tacos are quick and easy. Some boaters suggest making pasta ahead of time and sealing in plastic bags for easier prep on board.

Boating Cookbooks



Kitchen Appliances for Boating Meal Prep

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Photo: Sandy Allen

When it comes to kitchen appliances aboard a boat, it’s best to think on a small scale. Appliances and tools that can easily be stored in a cabinet or bin – or take up the least amount of counter space as possible – are what you’re going to want to look for.

  • Small rechargeable blender (those boat drinks aren’t gonna make themselves)
  • Compact coffee/tea maker
  • Small food processor and chopper
  • Collapsible or stacking bowls
  • Resealable plastic bags for sandwiches, spices and other items (meals can be prepared ahead of time and kept in these super useful bags)

Insider Tip: If you have a liveaboard boat, or you’re going to be off on an extended trip, it’s a good idea to invest in a heavy-duty cooler to supplement your refrigerator (especially if you don’t have a full-size fridge). Store drinks, bottles of water and often-used items like hot dogs in here.

Whether you’re on the hook or tied up at a private boat dock rental, cooking on board your boat doesn’t have to be a stressful and time-consuming task. Hopefully you’ve picked up a few tips to make it easier. Let us know if we’ve missed anything.

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