NaCzarter Team
· Updated
What to pack for a houseboat: the short version
Packing for a houseboat is easier than for a sailing boat, because you have a bathroom, a kitchen and more storage. Bring your ID, cash for the deposit, bed linen and towels if they are not included in the offer, layered clothes with a rain jacket, shoes with light-coloured soles, gloves for mooring, groceries for the first few days and drinking water. The cooker, crockery and life jackets are usually waiting on board.
Water and power on a houseboat are limited, the toilet has a holding tank, and you moor at the quay yourself. That is why the list differs from the sailing boat one in a few places. Things you need on any boat are on our list of what to pack for a boat trip in Masuria.
What is usually on a houseboat and what you bring yourself
| What | Usually on board | Bring yourself or check |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | gas cooker, pots, crockery, cutlery, fridge, sometimes an oven | paper towels, washing-up liquid, tea towels, bin bags |
| Gas | a cylinder connected to the cooker | a spare cylinder may cost extra from the owner |
| Bathroom | toilet, washbasin, often a shower with hot water | towels, toiletries, toilet paper |
| Sleeping | berths with mattresses | bed linen, if it is not included in the offer |
| Safety | life jackets for every person, a lifebuoy | a life jacket in a small child's size, if the owner does not have one |
| Mooring | mooring lines, fenders, a boat hook | gloves for handling lines |
| Power | 12 V system, USB sockets, 230 V from shore power or from an inverter if the boat has one | power bank, 12 V car charger |
| Heating | on many boats | warm clothes in May and September, check the heating on the yacht's page |
Equipment varies between owners, so before you go, look through the list and the fees on the page of the yacht you have chosen. Bed linen and towels vary: some owners include them in the price, others charge extra, and some do not provide them at all.
Clothes, shoes and gloves
A houseboat moves slowly, but on deck you get the same wind and rain as on a sailing boat. A rain jacket, a fleece and a warm sweatshirt for the evening are needed in July too, and on the open upper deck a cap, sunglasses and sunscreen come in handy. Shoes should have light, soft soles, because dark rubber marks the deck. When mooring, closed-toe sandals work better than flip-flops.
Gloves for handling lines seem unnecessary until the first time you come alongside a quay in a crosswind. A houseboat has a high, long side, and the wind can push it hard against the quay or away from it, so you hold the mooring lines more securely with gloves on.
Kitchen, water, power and toilet
The kitchen on a houseboat is usually bigger than on a sailing boat and the fridge holds more, so you can bring more fresh food. Do your shopping before you pick up the boat: long-life products for the start, fresh food for two or three days, and top up the rest along the way. Our list of yacht provisions suggests what works in the galley.
The water tank is limited, and the shower uses the most. Refill it in every port where you stay overnight. It's better not to drink water from the tank, because it sits for several days and is filled up in different ports, so for drinking you use bottled water. The 230 V socket works on shore power or from an inverter, if the boat has one. You only switch on an electric kettle or a hairdryer on shore power, and never both at once.
The toilet on a houseboat usually has a holding tank that is emptied by a pump-out in port. There are not many such ports in Masuria, so before you set off, check where along the route you can empty the yacht's toilet, and return the boat with an empty tank.
Documents, deposit, fuel and briefing
At handover, an ID card or passport is usually enough. You don't need a licence if the houseboat meets the conditions of Article 37a of the Inland Navigation Act, meaning it has an engine of up to 75 kW, a hull of up to 13 m and a speed limited by design to 15 km/h. Check the requirements for the specific boat before booking, because a houseboat without a licence is a matter of specifications, not of the name. At handover the owner gives you a briefing on operation and safety, so allow time for it on your first day.
According to the owners' price lists on NaCzarter for the 2026 season, the deposit for a houseboat is usually around 3,000 PLN and is settled on site, most often in cash. Fuel is settled according to the owner's terms, most often full-to-full or by consumption. According to owners' figures, a houseboat with a diesel engine uses around 3.5 l per hour, and you can check how fuel is settled on a houseboat before handover. If you come by car, add parking at the port, usually around 25 PLN a day.
With children and with a dog
A flat deck and guardrails make a houseboat convenient for families, but you still need a life jacket in the child's size. Ask the owner whether they have children's sizes, and if not, bring your own, chosen for the child's weight. When mooring and coming alongside, children are best off sitting inside, because that is when the lines and the boat hook are in use on deck. For longer passages, bring them games, books and snacks. Boats with more cabins are collected among our family houseboats.
Some houseboats allow dogs on board, and any extra charge is shown in the fees on the yacht's page. Bring your dog a life jacket, a lead, a bowl and an old towel for wet paws.
What not to bring on a houseboat
- A barbecue to light on deck. You don't barbecue on a charter yacht, and on land you only do it where the port allows it.
- Two suitcases per person. There is more storage than on a sailing boat, but the cabins are still small.
- Fresh food for the whole week. The fridge won't hold much anyway, and there are shops in the larger ports along the route.
- 230 V appliances that you expect to work on the water. At the quay, yes; at anchor in a bay, probably not.
Frequently asked questions
Are bed linen and towels provided on a houseboat? It depends on the owner. Some include them in the price, others charge extra, and some do not provide them at all, so check the terms on the yacht's page before booking.
Is there a hot shower on a houseboat? Most often yes, with a water heater in the bathroom. The water tank is limited, though, so plan your showers sensibly and refill water in ports.
Is there heating on a houseboat? On many boats yes, but not on all. If you are going in May, June or September, check it on the yacht's page and bring warmer clothes for the night.
Do I need a licence for a houseboat? No, if the boat has an engine of up to 75 kW, a hull of up to 13 m and a speed limited by design to 15 km/h. In that case the owner gives you a briefing at handover. Check the specifications of the specific boat before booking.
How much is the deposit for a houseboat? Usually around 3,000 PLN, according to the owners' price lists on NaCzarter for the 2026 season. The deposit is refundable and is settled on site, most often in cash.
