Experienced Advising Newbies - Making S/V Home

[DoubleWhisky]

Hi IrishLass

I can completely support views of Bash - mine are the same.
For us some more things are important:

1. Galley - should be organized in the way enabling us to do some things together when moored or anchored, but be safe for single person under way.
2. Shoe lockers - one for deck shoes, preferably near the companionway, dry and well ventilated, and second for shoreside shoes, preferably near main clothing stowage, also dry, well ventilated and capable to contain the basic needs of well dressing woman
3. Separate handy stowage for linen - without fresh linen at hand the boat is not a floating home, but a floating camping tent.
4. Hmmmmm......... How to say it..... Straight will be the best When disscussing the layout, mattresses, berth and couch sizes and even hanholds placement for our preset boat we always had sex on mind - along with other things, of course. And this pay off - really

[svtankgirl]

Hi,

Though not related to storage, etc, etc...one thing I wished I would of learned sooner is to not get mad at your beloved home while offshore; heave to or drift when then weather is crappy/things need attention and get some rest! Turn on all your lights and/or spreader spot-lights and take a breather if traffic is not an issue. Buy a cheapo strobe ya can plug into a cig lighter. Just make yourself plainly obvious and get some shut-eye. Nerves are calmed...everyone aboard feels fresh and deal with it when you feel like it...forget losing the miles that day or two or three.....at first one thinks you need to squeeze every possible mile out of a day yet that is rarely so.

Best - Jay

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Bash

... 2. Don't focus on how many your boat can sleep; instead, focus on how many it sleeps well. ...

Sleeps 2, dines 4, cocktails & conversation 6-8.

[IrishLass]

I love all of these postings! This is exactly what we need to hear ..... no matter our level of experience. We need to be reminded of some of these things -- especially the relationship and philosopical issues! We can get caught up in "getting there" when it really is not that important and it can wait a day or two. And let's face it .... weather can stress us.

Love, sex, and playtime is soooo important (thanks DoubleWhisky) and we are living aboard -- not camping -- so we should have the comforts of home.

When we go below deck .... it should be our cocoon, our refuge, a place to snuggle in and share a cup of coffee or tea, a glass or wine, a Dark and Stormy, a Mojito, and a delicious meal. And, all the practical ideas about stowage, storage, and organization make that all the easier. Please keep the great ideas coming for the experienced and the newbies -- we can never hear them too much.

Thanks to those who have reminded us about making our boats/yachts a comfortable refuge for a "few" friends and family too. Ths hospitality of sailors is surpassed by none!

[barnakiel]

A marine head is a plus. Manual best - cheap, simple, reliable.

A shower is a huge YES - preferably in a separate narrow place with good overhead ventilation.

A comfortable bunk to sleep in any conditions is great - one each side of the boat - very wide, very long - but not too wide!!! (we found 0.8m a good compromise). With thick mattress (ours are 0.1m and I think this is minimum if you use thick foam).

Then come the niceties - nice glass ware to drink my wines and rums, nice cloths and rags for the table and floor, an oil lamp, plenty of warm light, coffee makers, kettles and mugs, stove with an oven, long dodger over the cockpit, bimini, comfy cockpit cushions ...

Basically, we carry everything as if we had a house, except heavy and useless items good for nothing.

b.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by RainDog

All of our shelves are behind doors except the galley shelf we replaced the pull out thing with. That one will have a front on it soon.

Ahah.

[READY2GO]

No matter what it takes to accomplish it. Make a comfortable place to sleep, and a galley that is a joy to cook in. If you sleep well and eat well, the rest is easy.

[DannySt]

By order of importance for me:
1. Good cockpit cover - good bimini and dodger can make a lot of difference on a hot day, or a rainy one. Also boat tents are great to keep it nice and cool.
2. Great cookery products- a good knife, good pots and pens, etc... as some said before, its a joy to make your food on your boat, but it can also be hell. Be sure to make it a joy.
3. Good sound system and a great music collection can take you far. For me listening to music on a boat is a complete experience for itself.

[lancelot9898]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

A shower is a huge YES - preferably in a separate narrow place with good overhead ventilation.

b.

Ditto that. I lived aboard at mainly a marina for over 20 years and even though they had good shower facilities, it was always nicer to have a private shower aboard.

One other thing is that I found it best to keep the clutter down so that I could go sailing at a moment's notice without having to put very many things away.

[Livia]

Learn the mantras:
"We chose this."
and
"It's part of being on adventure."

[SaucySailoress]

This is your boat.

We had issues the first few years, cos DH would pander to the desires of crew to keep them happy. That didn't work. In fact - things got so bad that I refused to sail any more - and only then did he promise that i could have it all my way! But it's your boat, and it should be your way!

[IrishLass]

Originally Posted by Livia

Learn the mantras:
"We chose this."
and
"It's part of being on adventure."

I love this!

[SabreKai]

Learn to switch off that part of the brain most of todays people are using.

Kill the buy, buy, buy voice whispering in your head every time you pass a store. Keep to the KISS principle and you will do fine.


Sabre

[Amapola]

Always, always follow your own timetable.Too many tragedies happen when you follow the crowd.

[gixerjen]

Originally Posted by Livia

Learn the mantras:
"We chose this.".......

Now that is going to be a frequent one for me I think - love it! Will try and remember it when I'm cold and damp, the electrics have failed, etc.

Also loving your advice SabreKai - although I'm not really one of those to begin with (well, I am a "kiss" person - comes easily to me ) but luckily the idea of living a little more "off grid" is not something I have issue with!

DoubleWhisky; number 4..... love it, will do!