Surf’s Up: Planning a Boat
or Dock Party
Buckets of fish aside, throwing a boat or dock party is pretty much a picnic. Splash!, a Pacific Rim grill on the coveted Westport, Connecticut, strip of Long Island Sound, suggests fun, carefree entertaining with a focus on fresh fruit and seafood.

Decide What Kind of Party It Will Be
Live within your means. If you can’t light a beach fire, skip the clambake. (Check with park or dock authorities to be sure.) If you’ve got a full kitchenette aboard and you’ve got the urge, do a full dinner party. But if your boat doesn’t have a stovetop burner - or you don’t feel like slaving over it — you’ll need to create a menu around chilled fare.

Plan the Menu
For an easy summertime buffet, Splash! both serves and recommends:

• shrimp salad
• Asian pears and watercress salad
• plated hors d’ouevres
• lightly grilled coconut shrimp
• smoked salmon rolls
• nori and sushi rice hand rolls
• exotic vegetables with lemongrass dipping sauce
• roasted lobster in a green chile vinaigrette
• grilled summer corn
• barbecued citrus-glazed salmon
• individual summer lime tarts

If you want to mess with a campfire dockside, you can do anything from grilled salmon steaks and skewered shrimp to hot dogs and hamburgers. Suppliers will rent large kettles to boil clams and corn. And you can always haul in an old-fashioned hot dog cart and cotton candy machine. What better way to celebrate summer?

Gather the Gadgets
You’ll be stranded at sea in no time, so make a list and check it twice. Include:

• all edibles (fix ahead what you can)
• beverages
• coolers (make sure everything fits the night before)
• ice
• serving dishes
• serving utensils
• knives to shuck oysters/picks to pull crab or lobster meat
• large kettles and water to boil seafood
• plates, cups and utensils
• plenty of napkins
• wet wipes
• trash bags
• sunscreen
• eating surfaces, from tablecloth-covered coolers to folding tables
• folding stools or chairs
• shade umbrellas

Special Requirements for a Clambake

• place to build a fire (and official permission to do it!)
• shovel to dig a pit
• charcoal or wood
• fire starter of choice (fluid, lint from your dryer, newspaper)
• matches
• tongs, strainers and lots of foil
• mesh/wire screen to grill fish, kebobs, corn
• large kettles to boil seafood

Set the Mood
Enhance the ocean-going ambience with fishnet tablecloths and sprinkle colorful pillows on folding chairs and the deck. Place utensil roll-ups in a decorative wicker basket or sand pail, and center a simple wooden serving table with citronella candles. Capture sand, shells and sea grass in clear glass votives to add beach-savvy pizzazz to your deck.

Now relax and enjoy.

-- Michelle Nellett