Now that we’ve passed to this side of Memorial Day, I don’t think that anyone would disagree that boating season is officially here. Whether you’re into skiing, boarding or just hanging out on the lake, there are some things to remember to make sure everyone has a good time. Even aside from all the stuff that’s required.

First one is sunscreen. I fully agree that getting a tan is one of the perks of playing on the boat, but with all the time you’ll be spending out there, it’s best to take some precautions to reduce your exposure. You remember that day last summer that you forgot to put sunscreen on and got burned really badly? Good times, right? Also, skin cancer isn’t fun. I’ll leave it to you what kind and how strong your sunscreen is, but you definitely need some. Last summer, we tried out some Bullfrog gel that was pretty cool because it rubbed right in, but it flaked off later in kind of a strange way that made me a little nervous. This summer, we’ll be trying a Coppertone spray.

Second is snacks. You’re going to need something to fuel your time on the water, and I’m not talking the gas in the boat. I’m a big fan of dry roasted peanuts, juice, and a ham sandwich or two. If you ski anything like I do, you’ll end up drinking a lot of lake water, but you’ll want to have some on the boat, say, in a container of some kind. It would be ironic and sad if you got dehydrated at the lake.

Third, you’ll need something to cover up with. The shade on the boat does a good job of keeping the sun from beating down on you, but the light also reflects off the water. It’s a good idea to take a shirt or a towel to throw over you or something else to keep yourself from getting all tired out by just being exposed to the elements. It’s also nice to have in case you’re out longer than you’d planned and it gets a little chilly. I like to keep a few sweatshirts around for this very reason.

I’m sure there are more that I’m not coming up with at the moment, so what kinds of things do you not launch without? Let us know in the comments!