More than 100 Boat Job Ideas for Kids to Do on a Sailboat

We’ve had guests and family members participate in the Job Jar. The Job Jar jump-starts our day with energy and the more than the occasional groan.

The jobs range from cleaning the garbage cupboard to dusting the guitar and the shelf just below it.

Some of these tasks are specific to our St. Francis 50 catamaran. But many of the jobs can be adapted.

The object is to keep the boat tidy, and begin each day with a sense of accomplishment.

I’ve included our editable list below.

How it Works

First, I print the list, the jobs are cut, folded and put in a jar. Then, each child pulls a folded piece of paper from the Job Jar.

Each kid does one job per day. Yes, even on weekends.

The spirit of the Job Jar is to keep the task under 15 minutes. Some tasks take only a few minutes. That is all part of the surprise.

I will admit not everyone enjoys the uncertainty of knowing what task they will pull out of the jar. But, as Forrest Gump said, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”

With siblings onboard, there is some peer pressure to complete the job. And there is added incentive to complete the task. People who forget are given the opportunity to take two jobs the next day.

Download Word/PDF file

Download the editable job jar list in MS Word or PDF format.

Note: One of the jobs includes cleaning the “child cage.” We do not keep our children in cages. This is a term described in our Family Dictionary and refers to our cockpit grate. The term sounds sinister but it’s really just a grate where small toys and hairballs collect.

MS Word Format — Editable Job Jar List for Boat Kids

PDF Format — Job Jar List for Boat Kids

Job Jar Song

Finally, if you are still with me, check out the Job Jar Song.

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