Howdy!
I like to cook, and
cooking good
meals while at sea is either a hassle or an adventure but usually the most important thing one can do for good morale for a crew on a longer voyage.
I also like to see good "smart" design in
boats.
So, thanks for
posting the photos you did above. While I liked some of what I saw, I see a difference in others
images.
For example, looking at one of those photos (image 5) what struck me was how much cabinet space was wasted by those HUGE stacks of dishes. Count the dishes in one stack! While the dish holders may look cool and "clean" it looks like there is enough dishes for a crew of 20 people! In short, it looks like overkill on the amount of dishes and the use of the "design" for dishes. Look at image 5 above. Perhaps they are planning on having big dinner parties or have dinners with multiple courses.
Since I have done my time as a cook and galley slave (cooking and
washing dishes too) I know that having MORE dishes than necessary is a waste of space and time and effort.
Seems to me that most boat galleys are designed for use while anchored (naturally, as that is easier use of the stuff and most cruising time is spent on anchor). That said, my remarks below are aimed at a boat that is intended for making longer passages and with a galley designed for making
meals while underway.
What I enjoy seeing is a smart galley designed for use while underway, if one assumes the cruiser is used to move from place to place and some occasional long passages.
To that end the things I appreciate seeing on a boat galley include multiple handholds around the galley, good footing (as there may be spills or wet decks), good dependable
water pump that can be used without any hands (foot pump), and stowage that will not allow anything sharp or heavy to go flying across the boat when a boat possibly drops off a larger than normal wave.
Sinks were mentioned above. I don't share the opinion of the other person. In my view, deep sinks are preferred (because the boat is heeled and the shallow sinks will not hold much
water prior to spilling). So, when I look at a boat galley sink, I imagine the boat heeled for many hours at 20+ degrees and consider how much
water will be in the sink PRIOR to it spilling. Deeper is better in my opinion. This is not to say that the sink will be FULL of water at anytime, rather it should have the minimum amount needed to do the task (and that may be something simple like preparing (washing) potatoes or other
food items that are held IN the sink while preparing the meal).
Very importantly, I think there should be some
safety consideration for the cook who may be working with hot liquids and flames while standing on a sloping floor/deck and on a voyaging boat that may be pitching and rolling while underway.
So, things such as movable
safety bars in front of the
stove and some
stove top pot holders (that hold a pot or kettle ON the stove top). I would incorporate some way for the cook to comfortably and easily brace and secure themselves while
cooking as that will lead to less fatigue, and a happy cook makes for better meals!
Most importantly, there should be safety consideration for the boat (as everyone depends on it). So that means nothing that can be inflamed or ignited just above the stove. For example, I have seen some boats with
ports a few inches above the stove that had curtains on them (an
accident waiting to happen).
And proper placement of a fire blanket and fire extinguishers (close but NOT right next to the stove).
I also like to see good sized fiddles on the counters. Fiddles that will stop the sliding pots or stuff from going over the edge of the counter.
Similarly, when looking at cabinets in boat galleys, I consider what will happen when the galley is on the windward side of a heeling boat WHEN the galley cabinet/lockers are opened to get something out of them. Will the contents of that cabinet/locker come flying out when the door is opened?
_______
One thing I don't like to see in a Galley:
I think it looks ridiculous on a boat to see a dozen exposed long stem wine glasses hanging above a sink from some boat "interior" designs that mimic apartment decor (I had a luxury apartment in
NYC that had a similar "wine bar look" in the kitchen. Where will all those long stemmed glasses go when the boat is riding rough seas?
, so they will be added to the list.
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