The Pamlico Sea Base (PSB) gear list has been refined over the years to include equipment that will keep you as comfortable as possible during your trip. The gear list you’ll find on the following pages is the long version.  It contains not just what you need – but why you need it – and wish you had it if you didn’t bring it.

Below are some general points to keep in mind as you pack. The faster your clothing dries, the happier you’ll be.  North Carolina is a tropical zone during the summer. Daily temperatures can reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit.  You’ll be traveling over open water with high levels of glare from the sun.  Nights are typically in the 70’s and humid. Your body will be exposed to harsh elements including salt, sand, wind and high levels of UV.

Due to the nature of sailing in this environment, you could be somewhere between damp and soaking wet every day.  Smaller and Lighter is better.  Although the sailboat can hold heavier and bulkier items than a backpack, remember that your personal gear must fit in the Cruise Duffel Bag provided.  Space on a sailboat is very limited.

You will pack and unpack your personal gear multiple times during the cruise. Bring zip-lock bags in a variety of sizes. They will help you organize your stuff within the duffel bag and help keep water out.  Clear zip-lock bags also make it easier to find your gear.  Don’t get zip-lock bags with the ‘slider’ – they don’t seal out water very well.

Avoid being a fashionista.  We know … long sleeve, quick dry, synthetic button up shirts look like what your grandparents wear.  We know you want to look cool.  When the sun is out, you’ll wish you had that long sleeve SPF 50+ shirt we coached you about.

Choose clothing that is comfortable – pants you can sit in for long periods of time, shirts that are loose and give you freedom to move. Button up or adjustable collars allow you to regulate your heating/cooling better than shirts with fixed, tight necks.  Synthetic fibers are usually best.  AVOID cotton when possible – it takes much longer to dry.  Follow our guidelines as closely as possible.

Baby powder is magic!!!  Keep reading to find out why.

Remember to bring your Class A uniform shirt and navy shorts or long pants for the opening and closing ceremony – as well as activities at certain ports of call.

 Some notes on specific gear.  Click on each link for examples of the right gear.

__ Water shoes – Your feet will be wet often.  Water shoes will protect your feet from razor sharp oyster shells, deck hardware, etc. Your water shoes should be comfortable and not give you blisters.  Get the type with non-marking soles – white soles are best.  No black soles on any water shoes.  When the deck is hot, black soles ‘mark up’ the boat – and it makes your VBO very mad.  Plus, you’ll be spending valuable time cleaning those black marks off the boat deck. 

__ Pair of shoes to stay dry – You’ll wear these if you go exploring in the villages. Sometimes it’s also nice to have a pair of dry shoes to put on.  Tennis shoes that are comfortable are great for walking around on shore.  If you buy a pair, break them in.  Remember, get the type with non-marking soles – white soles are best.  If your tennis shoes have black soles, you can only use them on shore.  No black soles on the boat!

__ Full brimmed hat – You will be exposed to the sun when on open water with little sun protection. A hat with a full wide brim protects your eyes and face from the sun. It should float and have a strap to go under your chin.  Remember, we are on open water with the wind blowing.  Hats get blown off often.  That’s why you want a strap on it!  If your hat goes over the side, we cannot turn around to dive into the water for it.  Bring a spare hat.  A baseball cap can work as a spare hat.  You don’t want to lose your hat (sun protection)!

__ Rain Jacket – Sometimes it rains or storms. It can get chilly when it does. Keep in mind you may not be able to access it when the rain starts, or you may already be wet from the spray.

__ 3 Pairs of Underwear – Our guides disagree on this subject. Some like synthetic underwear.  Others swear by compression shorts. Recommendation – bring comfortable underwear.   Whatever you bring, it should dry quickly and not bind. It’s also nice to bring extra pairs to keep dry and a clean pair to wear at night.

__ 2 Bandanas or ‘buffs’ – Bandanas or buffs keep sweat out of your eyes, and when wet, provide relief from heat. Over the mouth and nose, they keep out swarming bugs.

__ Lightweight sleeping bag – Nights below 70 degrees are rare. Your bag should be rated for summer and pack down very small. Many people bring a military poncho liner or other lightweight blanket.  Some people just bring sheets and double them.

__ Sleeping pad – sleeping on the deck is often cooler than sleeping below. However, to sleep on deck, you’ll want a sleeping pad to be comfortable.  Decks are hard – so bring a sleeping pad!  Note: there are typically NO places to hang a hammock on board.

__ Small Pillow – SMALL. It should be just large enough for your head. Storage is at a premium.  Remember, any pillow has to fit in your Duffel Bag.  In a pinch, you can roll up a towel, assuming it is dry.

__ High SPF Sunscreen – Waterproof, sweat-proof with zinc. At least 50 SPF.  Tear-free so it won’t sting your eyes from sweat on your forehead.  Make sure it is a brand you know works for your skin and is not expired.  Get suntan LOTION, not spray.  Sprays get droplets all over the boat and that is hard to clean.  Keep your VBO happy.

__ Sunglasses with a cord so it stays on your face in the wind.  They should fit your face well. You will be on water with high levels of glare for large portions of the day. A cord will keep them on your head while you sail.  Make sure they are polarized.  Click here to learn how to tell if your sunglasses are polarized.  It really does make a difference!

__ Headlamp – not a flashlight. You will need a headlamp to move around at night – and you’ll need your hands free to handle lines, hold onto the boat, etc.  A flashlight is too cumbersome for activities on a boat at night.  A flashlight requires you to hold it – a headlamp is hands-free.  A headlamp is a valuable piece of equipment.  Bring extra batteries as well.  Get a headlamp that has BOTH white and red lights (for night vision).

__ Insect Repellant – Sometimes bugs aren’t bad, sometimes they’re horrible. You should bring repellent with 20% to 30% DEET. This is enough to keep bugs off. Do not bring 100% DEET because it will eat through your synthetic fibers and dry bags. Even 20% DEET has been known to eat through synthetic fibers.  Get Insect Repellant Wipes – not a spray.  Remember, NO pressurized aerosol cans will be allowed on the boats.

__ 1 Dry Bag if you want.  When going ashore on a dingy or during other activities where you might get your personal gear wet, a Dry Bag is a valuable possession.  Get a small one – you really don’t need a large one.  It can also double as a way to keep your cell phone dry when close to the water.  Write your name on it with a permanent marker.

__ 1 Large drinking bottle.  It should have a wide mouth and sturdy lid. You will drink around a gallon of water every day.  Water is provided on the boat.  Dehydration is the enemy of a happy sailor.  Your water bottle should have a ‘ring or strap’ to which you can attach a carabiner.  For example, this water bottle has both a strap and a ring.  Make sure to securely attach a carabiner to it.  Loose water bottles roll around the deck and become a safety hazard under foot.  We will have several spare carabiners on board.    Also, your water bottle should be easy to clean – there are no dishwashing machines onboard – you will have to hand wash it.  Mark your bottle with your name.

__ Lip Balm with SPF – Sunburned lips are just as miserable as sunburned skin. Burned lips swell, crack, and bleed.  You can also put sunscreen on your lips to protect them.

__ *BABY POWDER* Baby powder is MAGIC. Bring a travel size bottle – or two.  Get the non-talc kind.  It will get all the salt and sand off your skin and leave you feeling cool and refreshed. When a shower is not available, you can basically bathe in it at the end of the day.  You’ll use it when you get ready for bed to get sand off your feet and body.

__ Medicated Gold Bond – You’ll want to bring Gold Bond. Bathing in Gold Bond isn’t pleasant, and non-talc baby powder just doesn’t cut it when you have chafing problems.

__ A&D ointment/Diaper Rash Cream – Your skin will sometimes be damp or wet during the day.  Baby powder and Gold Bond don’t work on wet skin. A&D ointment does.

__ Small Knife- Knives are always useful on a boat. You may need yours to slice food or to cut lines (rope)

__ Toothbrush + Toothpaste – Hygiene is important, especially on a boat in close quarters.  Also, dry deodorant is best.  Liquid deodorants can leak in your bag.

__ Small Towels – You may find 2 small towels useful when you return to the boat after a swim session or after a shower at a public facility.  Use one while the other one is drying out.  Make sure they are very compact and dry quickly.  Again, synthetic microfibers work best.  Cotton fibers take much too long to dry in a marine environment.

__  Sailing Gloves – you will be handling lines (ropes) throughout the day.  Sometimes, there is a lot of force pulling on these lines.  Having sailing gloves is a BIG plus and protects your hands from rope burns and injury.  You can use ‘work gloves’, batting gloves, etc., but sailing gloves are preferred due to their design.  You can get low-cost sailing gloves that work well for the week of the Cruise – and beyond.  You will be SO glad you have them!  Write your name on them with a permanent marker.

__ All clothing, such as T-shirts, etc., must be Scout-appropriate. No drug/alcohol references.  Bring your Class B shirts with your Ship logo – let everyone know about your home Ship!

__ Medications- Make sure you note any daily medications you are taking on your medical form and bring them on the cruise.

__ Charging cell phones is very LIMITED on a boat while underway.  Do not expect to charge your cell phone while on the water.  You might want to pack an external solar battery.  Consider the weight and space such batteries require in your Duffel Bag.  Remember that we are often cruising in open water, away from land for extended periods.  Therefore, you are unlikely to get cell reception on a regular basis.  Besides, you should be busy enjoying your sailing experience!  For safety, our VBOs have 2 powerful VHF radios on each boat for communication with the Coast Guard, etc.

__  Sea Scouts will be required to wear well-fitted life jackets for long periods of time. You are responsible for bringing your own USCG approved PFD. Type III is the primary standard. By permission of the VBO, Type V may also be acceptable. All other types will not be accepted. If you are unsure whether your PFD meets these requirements, ask your boat VBO at least 30 days prior to the cruise. 

As a Sea Scout, you probably already have a personal PFD.  If not, you can look online for examples of Type III PFDs.  However, we highly recommend you purchase your PFD at a local shop – so you can try it on.  You will be bending, squatting, twisting, etc., when working lines on the boat.  A comfortable PFD is so important.  It should be snug enough so that you can be lifted out of the water by the shoulder straps should you fall overboard, but flexible enough that you can move freely.  That’s why you need to try it on before buying. 

NOTE:  Space on a sailboat is limited.  All gear must fit inside your duffel bag!  The only exceptions are your PFD, Sleeping Pad, and a musical instrument.

NOTE:  Your Duffel Bag will undergo INSPECTION when you arrive.  Any gear that does not meet the specifications above will not be allowed on the boat.  Remember, no aerosol cans – and no black soles on shoes, etc.  Check your gear thoroughly – using this list – before you leave home.

NOTE:  All personal gear bought on the cruise is the responsibility of the individual participant.  We are not responsible for lost gear.  It would also be a good idea to put your name on all your gear.

Pack well – pack light – have fun!

NOTE:  We are not responsible for lost gear, including cell phones and cameras.