What Is There to Do on a Boat at the Dock All Day?

I am glad you asked this question.

There's actually quite a few things I do while docked. Since I am fortunate enough to have a houseboat, my day here at the lake plays out much like it would if I were at home—just with a much better view.

Here are some of my favorite things to do while docked all day.

1. I Love to Cook

Sauteed veggies.

I spend a lot of my time either in the kitchen cooking or outside on the grill. I know what you may be thinking: "I'm not going to a boat to be in a kitchen cooking!"

But for me, it's therapeutic. That's how I relax.

Now, don't get me wrong—I am not in the kitchen all day. I do most of my prep work at home. When I'm ready to cook, it's almost like making a freezer meal. I just take my ingredients out of the fridge and toss them into a skillet or on the grill.

And honestly, who doesn't love cooking outside? For me, I have the best view from my grill. I can watch boats going by, enjoy nature, listen to the water, and take it all in. It's magical.

2. Enjoying the Outdoor Spaces

We have three outdoor areas on our boat. Some days, I'll sit on one of them for hours listening to music, watching the water, and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.

I have my most relaxing times sitting, lounging, or rocking in one of those spaces. I have a front-row seat to all that lake life has to offer—people zooming by in their boats, kids and adults screaming with excitement as they ride tubes and bounce across the waves, and nature all around me.

If I'm looking at the right spot at just the right time, I can even catch a fish jumping out of the water. One of my favorite things to do is get up early in the morning and sit on the top deck or the back of the boat to watch the sunrise. Some of the prettiest sunrises I've ever seen have been right here on the lake.

3. Playing Games with Friends and Family

If we have company, we can play games for hours. Before we know it, the whole day has gone by.

The fun we get from playing games brings us all back to our childhood. We laugh so hard and tell stories from years ago. It's some of the best time you can spend with family and friends.

Playing games also brings out everyone's competitive spirit. Before we know it, we're trying our hardest to beat one another while talking all kinds of smack. As always, it's all in good fun.

The memories we create every time we're together are priceless. I know many of those memories would never have been made if we didn't have our boat.

4. My Hammock — The MVP

I talked about my hammock in another post, and it definitely deserves another mention.

I can get that thing set up and gently swing for hours, listening to the sounds of the lake. Sometimes I'll even catch a quick nap.

Swaying in my hammock gives me the feeling that the water and I are one. As the water has its motion and movement, so do I in my hammock.

I especially enjoy it early in the morning when the water is calm. It's so relaxing. I can sit there, gather my thoughts, reflect on life, and talk to God without interruptions or boats whizzing by.

5. My All-Time Guilty Pleasure: Watching TV

Yep, I said it.

Either I'll flip through multiple shows, or I'll find something I've been wanting to watch and binge-watch it for hours. There's nothing wrong with a lazy day on the boat every now and then.

But my favorite time to watch TV is during football season. We have a TV on the top of the boat, and on Sundays we cook all of our football food, sit back, relax, and enjoy the games.

There's just something special about watching football while sitting on a boat. Good food, good company, and football on the water—it's the best entertainment ever.

That's My List!

Those are some of my favorite ways to spend a day at the dock. Honestly, I never seem to run out of things to do.

Some people think being docked all day would be boring, but for me, it's one of the most relaxing places I can be. Whether I'm cooking, lounging, playing games, swinging in my hammock, or watching football, every day at the lake feels a little different.

Now it's your turn. If you had a whole day at the marina with nowhere to be, how would you spend it? Let me know in the comments! 🚤⚓🌊