You've probably seen the video. A shirtless, vascular man with a drill instructor's intensity is screaming at a camera while holding a heavy rucksack or standing in the surf. He asks a simple question that has since launched a million gym edits: Who’s gonna carry the boats? To the uninitiated, it sounds like a weirdly specific nautical inquiry. To the millions of people following David Goggins, it’s a visceral call to arms against the comfort of modern life.
It isn't just a meme. It's a reference to the literal "hell" of Navy SEAL training—specifically BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL)—where candidates have to carry heavy inflatable boats on their heads for miles. But Goggins turned it into a metaphor for mental toughness. He's not really talking about watercraft anymore. He's talking about the burdens of life that most people are too soft to touch.
The Brutal Reality of the Boats
In the actual SEAL training environment, carrying the boats is a nightmare. These are seven-man rubber raiding craft (IBS). They weigh around 150 to 200 pounds dry. When they’re wet and sandy? Much more. Candidates have to hoist them onto their heads and run. It causes "boat neck"—hideous sores, chafing, and literal skin loss on the scalp.
Goggins uses this specific imagery because it represents the point where the body wants to quit but the mind hasn't been given permission yet. When he screams, "Who's gonna carry the boats and the logs?" he’s referencing the relentless, physical grind of the "Great Equalizer." That's what the instructors call it. It breaks the individuals who rely on talent and rewards the ones who rely on pure, stubborn grit.
Honestly, most of us will never touch a Navy SEAL boat. But the "boat" in your life might be a failing business, a grueling 100-mile ultramarathon, or just the discipline to wake up at 4:00 AM when the house is freezing. Goggins’ whole brand is built on the idea that we are all living at about 40% of our actual capability. He calls it the 40% Rule. When your brain tells you that you're done, you're actually only 40% through your reserves.
Why This Phrase Went Viral in 2026
The staying power of "Who's gonna carry the boats" is kinda fascinating. We live in an era of maximum convenience. You can get food, entertainment, and even "connection" without leaving your couch. This creates a vacuum. People feel soft. They feel unfulfilled. Goggins provides the antidote: voluntary suffering.
It’s a psychological concept known as hormesis. This is the idea that a small amount of stress—physical or mental—actually makes an organism stronger. By shouting about boats and logs, Goggins is tapping into a primal need for challenge. He isn't selling a "get rich quick" scheme or a "six-pack in six minutes" workout. He’s selling the idea that you should intentionally seek out things that suck.
- The Logs: This refers to the 10-foot, 200-pound telephone-pole-style logs that teams of six men have to hoist and maneuver.
- The Boats: The aforementioned rubber rafts that cause neck compression and mental fatigue.
- The Mentality: Taking souls. Goggins often talks about "taking the souls" of his instructors or competitors by performing better the more they try to break him.
If you're wondering why your Instagram feed is full of guys in ice baths and 5:00 AM runners, this is the epicenter. Goggins didn't just write a book called Can't Hurt Me; he created a vocabulary for a subculture that finds beauty in the "pain cave."
The Science of Mental Toughness (E-E-A-T)
Let's look at the actual science behind why this "boat-carrying" mindset works. Dr. Andrew Huberman, a neuroscientist at Stanford, has frequently discussed the Tenacity and Willpower circuits in the brain. Specifically, the Anterior Mid-Cingulate Cortex (aMCC).
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Research suggests that when people do things they don't want to do—like jumping in a freezing lake or pushing through a final set of heavy squats—the aMCC actually grows in size. This area of the brain is smaller in people who are depressed and larger in athletes or people who live long lives. When Goggins asks who's gonna carry the boats, he’s essentially asking: Who is willing to grow their aMCC?
It's not just "bro-science." It's neuroplasticity.
However, there is a flip side. Experts in sports medicine often point out that the "Goggins way" can lead to catastrophic physical failure if not managed. Goggins himself has suffered from a hole in his heart (an ASD), severe kidney failure (rhabdomyolysis), and multiple surgeries. He’s the first to admit he’s an "outlier." For the average person, carrying the metaphorical boats requires a balance between pushing the limit and avoiding a total physical breakdown.
Common Misconceptions About the Goggins Method
- It's all about the physical. No. Goggins has stated repeatedly that the physical stuff is just a "lab" to study the mind.
- You have to be a SEAL. Goggins was also an Air Force TACP and an Army Ranger. The "boat" is just a symbol for any elite-level hardship.
- It's about motivation. Actually, he hates the word "motivation." He prefers "driven" or "obsessed." Motivation is a feeling that comes and goes. Discipline is what stays when the feeling leaves.
How to Actually Apply This Without Ending Up in the ER
If you want to adopt the "Who's gonna carry the boats" mentality, you don't start by running 100 miles on broken feet like Goggins did at the San Diego One Day event. That's a recipe for a hospital stay. You start by "callousing your mind."
This starts with the Accountability Mirror. This is Goggins' technique of taping his goals and his "ugly truths" to his mirror and facing them every day. You don't lie to yourself. If you're out of shape, you don't say "I'm working on it." You say "I'm lazy and I need to change."
It sounds harsh. It is. But that's the point.
The boats represent the responsibilities and hardships that others shy away from. In a corporate setting, "carrying the boats" might mean taking on the project everyone else is scared of. In a family, it might mean being the rock when everyone else is panicking. It's about being the person who can be relied upon when the "weather" gets bad.
Real Examples of Carrying the Boats
Think about Marcus Luttrell, the "Lone Survivor." Think about the ultra-runners like Courtney Dauwalter, who push through hallucinations in the "pain cave." These people aren't fueled by a catchy song or a pre-workout drink. They are fueled by a deep-seated need to see what's on the other side of "I can't."
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You've probably felt it before. That moment during a long run or a late-night study session where your brain starts negotiating with you.
"We can stop now."
"We did enough."
"Nobody will know."
That's the moment the boat gets heavy. That's the moment you have to answer the question.
The Psychological Burden of Being the "Boat Carrier"
There is a loneliness to this lifestyle. Goggins often talks about being "uncommon among the uncommon." When you decide to live this way, you'll lose friends. People will tell you that you're doing too much. They'll tell you to "balance" your life.
Balance is great for most people. But the people who change the world—the ones who carry the boats—usually aren't balanced. They're obsessed. You have to decide if you're okay with that. Are you okay with being the "weird" one who runs in the rain? Are you okay with the silence of the early morning while everyone else is sleeping?
Most people aren't. And that’s why the question is so powerful. It’s a filter. It separates the talkers from the doers.
Practical Steps to Build a "Boat-Carrying" Mindset
If you're ready to stop being a "hobbyist" in your own life, here is how you actually implement this stuff. No fluff. No "manifesting." Just work.
Audit Your Comfort Zone
Identify three things you do every day purely because they are comfortable. Maybe it’s the heated seats in your car, the sugary latte, or the hour of scrolling TikTok before bed. Cut one of them out. Immediately. Replace it with something that challenges you.
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The Rule of Threes
Pick three "boats" for your week. These are tasks that you’ve been procrastinating on because they are difficult or uncomfortable.
- A difficult conversation you've been avoiding.
- A physical milestone (like a 5-mile run or a heavy lift).
- A professional project that requires deep, focused work.
Control the Internal Dialogue
When the "negotiator" starts talking in your head, recognize it. Give it a name if you have to. Then, do the exact opposite of what it wants. If it says "sleep in," you get out of bed. If it says "one more bite," you put the fork down. This is how you build the "callous" on your brain.
Seek the "Suck"
Once a week, do something that you genuinely hate doing. For Goggins, it was running. He actually hated running for a long time. For you, it might be public speaking, cold showers, or cleaning the garage. The goal isn't the task; the goal is the discipline required to finish it.
Final Insights on the Goggins Philosophy
The world doesn't need more "influencers" telling you to "just believe in yourself." The world needs boat-carriers. It needs people who are willing to do the heavy lifting when the sun goes down and the crowds go home.
The phrase "Who's gonna carry the boats" isn't an invitation to a party. It's a question of character. It’s a reminder that there is always more in the tank. You just have to be willing to dig past the 40% mark to find it.
Next time you're faced with a choice between the easy path and the hard one, remember the sores on the scalps of those SEAL candidates. Remember the logs. Then, pick up the boat.
Next Steps for Implementation:
- Perform a "Mental Audit": Write down the one thing you are most afraid of doing right now. That is your "boat." Schedule a time to do it within the next 48 hours.
- Physical Stress Test: Tomorrow morning, engage in one physical activity that pushes you 10% further than you think you can go. If you usually run 2 miles, run 2.2. If you do 10 pushups, do 11.
- Remove One Luxury: Identify a minor luxury you rely on for comfort and eliminate it for one week to practice "voluntary hardship."