When you get hungry, don’t stop boating — dock near a restaurant and enjoy a tasty meal before heading back out again.

Start your dining adventure by checking the latest navigational charts to confirm low water depths along the route and to the restaurant’s dock. If you’re uncomfortable navigating home in the dark, aim for a dinner that commences well before dusk.

Enjoying a stress-free waterside dining experience requires a combo of common courtesy and basic docking skills. To add to your know-how, we share dos and don’ts that will keep you from getting (nautical) indigestion.

Before heading to a water-adjacent restaurant, do give the eatery a call to ask:

• Will my boat’s length and beam be accommodated?
• If you’ll be arriving with other boats, make sure there are enough slips.
• Is there a dockhand to help me?
• Is there a fee and/or time limit at the dock?
• If someone aboard has limited mobility, is s/he able to access the dining area without climbing a ladder or a steep ramp?

When you arrive, don’t:

• Wait for a slip to open by blocking other boats.
• Leave your boat at the dock to explore nearby sights without making prior arrangements with the restaurant or dockmaster.
• Drink alcohol if you’re the captain or crew.