8 Tips for getting the most out of your workouts on a boat

After 7 years of living on a boat, I think I have proven that it is, in fact, possible to stay in shape by exercising on a floating home, whether it be a catamaran or a monohull. If you are looking to follow suit, there are a few things that you should keep in mind. The following are some tips that can help you to exercise safely, and also to get the most out of your workouts:

1. Choose appropriate exercises

Unless you are on a huge yacht, explosive exercises such as plyometric tuck jumps are probably not ideal. Static movements like squats or push ups are a much safer option. Also, never try to do exercises that your body is not ready for. For example, if you are not able to do a bodyweight squat with good form, you should probably not start adding weight to the exercise.

2. Take note of what is around your workout area

Chances are your workout area is small. Several things are also likely in the way (eg. hatches, hand rails). Learning to move around those obstacles may require getting a little creative with your workouts. If there are things on the deck that you can potentially trip over, or stub your toe on, take extra care when doing your exercises to avoid those spots as much as possible. Always look around your area prior to exercising to make sure that there is nothing lying on the deck that can potentially cause injury.

3. Hydrate

Make sure that you drink plenty of water. Although you should do this when working out anywhere, it is even more vital in this case since you will be exercising outside, and quite possibly in the sun. Drinking plenty of fluids will help you to avoid getting dehydrated, or ending up with heat exhaustion.

4. Pay special attention to form

Regardless of where you are working out, you should ensure that you are using good form. With a boat’s motion that can throw you off balance, it is especially important that you pay special attention to how you are doing each exercise. It doesn’t take much to tweak a knee or strain a shoulder. Along with this, be sure that you know how a particular exercise should be executed. If you don’t know how to do an exercise with proper form, try to learn first on land, or choose another that you are more familiar with.

5. Hold on

Push ups, planks or hip presses are great exercises to do on a boat since you are low on the deck, decreasing the risk of falling. Standing exercises such as squats or lunges require a little more balance. Holding onto the mast or a stay is a great way to still be able to do these movements without the risk of toppling over.

6. Put a mat or pad down on the deck

Using a mat on the deck makes it more comfortable for doing exercises from a prone position. If you are going to use weights, putting a mat or pad down will protect the deck from getting chipped or scratched.

7. Keep your eyes peeled for any approaching wake

If you are lucky, you have found a nice calm anchorage, decreasing the amount of motion on the boat. Even so, it is important to keep your eyes peeled for any oncoming wake from another boat. Sometimes these waves will come through an anchorage without you actually seeing where they came from, so watching the water for any unusual motion will give you a chance to grab ahold of something to prevent you from falling.

8. Apply sunscreen / Wear a hat

Unless you are going to workout very early in the morning, or in the evening after the sun goes down, sunscreen should be applied. A hat will also help to protect you from the burning rays.

Put a priority on your health

Yesterday, Mike wrote an excellent post about self-preservation, and fitness was the key to that. I believe that putting a priority on your health should be an important focus so you can continue to enjoy your adventurous lifestyle as long as possible.