Assigning Bunks

[Shane T]

Hi All, anyone know a fun/fair way to assign cabins or bunks to your crew? Any experience where this has gone well or with issues please share, I was thinking of trying a fastest row around the boat or best dive off the stern, or short straw has first pick etc. Any ideas greatly appreciated.

[Snore]

On a delivery pecking order is Owner, Captain, 1st Mate, and then Second Mate (if present). Although, I have taken the salon area if the owner has supplied a crewman.

On a fun trip? Owner and then names in a hat.

If anyone bitches that much about their berth, you choose the wrong crew member.

[Meandercp]

On an Atlantic crossing we did the short straw gets first pick. We redrew and changed bunks at each stop (Bermuda, Azores, etc.) as soon as laundry was done. That gave incentive to do laundry to whomever was dissatisfied with his bunk.

[Shane T]

Thanks, short straw chooses first me thinks. Laundry at the ready

[Chotu]

I’d definitely do the more fun ways you described. Fastest row, best dive, person who can identify the night time light shapes best. Who can tie some knots. Any measure of their value as crew or watch keeper.

There could be a short (fun) set of mini challenges. The person with the most skills gets the first choice and so on.

[Shrew]

....best dive..

If you want to make it fun, I'd make sure to make it objective. Such as, fastest completion of a series of knots. Best Dive is subjective (according to whom??). Feats of strength (fastest swimmer, rower, etc) favors the strongest, and tips the scales when mixed gender is involved.

Challenges based on seamanship, like navigation, knots, nautical names, etc evens the playing field. If the least experienced person gets the last bunk, that seems traditionally fair.

[ChrisJHC]

Just make sure the taller crew members get the longest bunks!