If your boat has a galley, it's time to talk food preparedness. Even if you never make long passages, it's just good seamanship to have emergency food supplies onboard.

Why? Weather or mechanical problems can keep you holed up in a remote harbor for days. Freezers fail. On some long river systems, the marinas may be miles from a supermarket. And supermarkets run out of supplies during natural disasters or transportation strikes. Having ample food reserves is therefore practical and economical. It's the cheapest insurance you can buy.

Find the "dead" spots on your boat, where emergency food can be stored.

HOW TO STOW

Many people keep size in mind when food shopping at home – and compactness is even more important on a boat. Food items also need to be protected against dampness, corrosion and damage from shifting in rough seas.

Start by finding areas in the boat for dead storage, meaning spots where you can put things and forget them until needed. Then determine how much bulk and weight these areas can hold without overloading the boat or upsetting trim. Once you do this, you can purchase packaged items that will last many months and simultaneously provide as much food value as possible per pound and per cubic foot.

But don't put the cans and boxes in your storage area as is. Paper labels can clog bilge pumps if the area floods. Remove the labels, and use a grease pencil to mark cans with the name of the item, expiration date and any instructions on how to cook or reconstitute it. If you boat in salt water or your storage areas are especially damp, coat cans with rustproofer such as Texaco Compound L. Some boaters bag cans in plastic, which is less messy but less foolproof. Water can still get in.

Determine how much bulk and weight various cabinets and other stowage compartments can hold.

Therefore, if you boat in salt water, avoid aluminum cans and pouches as much as possible. Salt spray can quickly eat holes in an aluminum can. Try plastic containers instead.

Regardless of the material the containers are made of, organize your galley so that newer items go in the back or on the bottom and older supplies come to the forefront. You may not have to dig into dead storage at all. Once a year, replace items that go bad with new ones.

MORE FOOD TIPS

Here are some additional tips to keep in mind as you shop and stow:

• When buying supplies, always look for use-by dates. Most canned fish keeps for years, while other canned foods degrade in a year or less.
• Foods that provide excellent nutrition in little space include rice, peanut butter, oatmeal, popcorn, tomato paste, raisins, olive and canola oil, sprouting seeds, hard cheeses and salamis, and whole grains such as wheat, barley and oats.
• Don't waste money on emergency foods you can't stand. While cruising, my husband and I once met a couple who were desperate to trade anything for the canned, dehydrated fruits and vegetables they bought from a survival store. Try before you buy in large quantities.
• Don't trust serving sizes listed on emergency foods. Four of us once ate a "10-serving" can of freeze-dry chicken and rice, and we were less than stuffed.
• Pouches and MREs (the ready-to-eat meal rations the military uses) can get you through short-term emergencies, but real foods cost less and taste better.

For long passages, pasta not only lasts, but also provides good nutrition.

• Make your own plan instead of buying survivalist-company kits. While these feed, say, four people for 14 days or two people for a week, if you buy emergency foods you'll actually eat, you can keep supplies fresh by using and replacing them.
• Water is even more important than food, so have at least one back-up system. It could be as simple as a rain catchment that channels rain water into containers.
• Canned foods that can be stored for five years and more are available from suppliers such as nitropak.com and survivalcenter.com.
• Don't rely solely on frozen foods for passagemaking or long periods where you'll be away from hookups. If the freezer or generator breaks down, you'll have to eat them immediately or give them away.
• Don't forget food for pets.
• Include non-food items, especially toilet paper and trash bags, in your supplies. Seal toilet paper in heavy-duty plastic bags to keep it dry.
• Vitamin supplements make a good addition to emergency supplies. Note use-by dates, and keep the vitamins in a cool, dry place.