Howdy!
I suppose you might do some daysailing and prepare for more lengthy voyages. Some of what follows is my General Tips and is not intended to be everything I would do if preparing to go to sea (long voyage) or prepping for heavy
weather.
As with any
advice you find on a forum like this, the answers can be very different based on the advisor's opinion, preferences, or experience and how those may or may not fit the situations you encounter, your boat, or your tastes or experience.
On one long voyage, I spent over a week heeled on one tack and all of the lockers on the windward side of the boat were difficult to open (it was not my boat) without spilling everything out. So some of my tips are based on that experience.
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When going for a typical sail, I would use the following:
For Personal Gear (e.g. clothing, small items)
1. Soft Sided duffels or "gym bags" that are of various sizes and colors. I use the type that have good zippers that will not corrode in
salt air. Avoid those that have
cheap metal zippers. I prefer most of mine to be of "medium" size rather than too large to stuff in place. I would prefer my crew to bring aboard two medium bags rather than one very large bag.
2. I also use "net
laundry bags" to store my
clothing so it may be hung up to get air circulation. I hate musty, moldy, mildewed clothing. You can buy those net
laundry bags for about $1 at walmmart or dollar stores. I use several simply to hold clothing and they could be used on
deck (on voyage or at anchor) to either air clothing or keep it from blowing off the boat while airing.
3. I put most small items in gallon sized "zip loc"
freezer (heavy duty) bags. This includes the many small things that can escape and be hard to find in the dark. I prefer "soft" plastic containers like these bags, versus hard sided containers (typical tupperware type) because it is easier to fit them in small spaces and they collapse when empty.
4. . I would use small nets (small hammock style) for other soft goods items that you want to keep in place on or near your berths (e.g. pillows, towels, flash lights,
books,
water bottle etc.).
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If you are concerned about heavy seas and stuff being tossed about on the boat, I suggest the following:
1. Make sure each locker has a secure catch on it. Secure enough to hold the weight of whatever you store in that locker. If you store heavy things behind the locker door, make sure the catch is very strong.
2. If you are going far
offshore and concerned about dangerous things happening to you such as broaching or capsizing, also make sure your floorboards (on the sole of the boat) and other covers are secure too. You don't want those things (and their contents) coming off and flying across the boat during a knockdown.
3. Consider adding some fine net inside the locker doors, so you can open the locker door but still have the contents prevented from falling out. The net can be moved to reach only those items you need at the time. Use elastic (bungee type cord) to hold the net to the sides of the locker.
4. Consider adding some of the "small net hammocks" to the sides of the berths (hanging up above the berths or settees). Those add a handy
storage area that will contain many things in a place where one can find them, even when in a berth or sea berth or snug in a heeled boat. They are soft and collapse when not full of stuff. Just avoid having hard items in them hanging over your
head.
5. Consider using only using plastic dishes and "glasses" on the boat. Consider making a
rule that only beverages (e.g. beer) in plastic and cans are allowed on board (to avoid broken bottles on boats). When I say "plastic" I simply mean "not glass" or anything that breaks easily with sharp pieces. Some dish ware is durable and not just flimsy plastic.
6. A Matter of Opinion, Preference, or Experience?
I personally don't like the commonly seen "hanging wine glasses" often seen in boat galleys. While they may look good at the marina, I don't consider them
seaworthy (I consider them unsafe if someone is thrown off balance while boat is heeled and something or someone is thrown into the multiple glasses). This is my personal POV and obviously others feel differently. Perhaps they have never been tossed around in heavy seas before, because it can be surprising how things can fly inside a boat.
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There are many other folks here who can add many other tips. These are just a few that come to mind.
Good luck, good
wind, and good sailing to you!
Steady