Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 09-06-2014, 09:35   #1
Registered User

Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Oregon
Boat: 57' Laurent Giles Yawl
Posts: 755
Do Crew Need their own Room?

Do crew need their own room?

We are thinking of bringing crew for our Pacific voyages. But we don't have an empty room, just a pilot berth in the pilot house. It could have a curtain, for privacy, but it's really just a bed with a low ceiling. There's not enough room to sit up.

I met an older lady who crews on boats here in the Caribbean, and she is only interested in boats where she could have her own berth. I guess boats are big these days, and even newer 40' boats often have four staterooms, so this could be an easy requirement for her. How common is this -- is this the new reality and it be unlikely for us to find folks without offering them their own room?

Last time I had crew I was in my twenties, on a smaller boat, and everyone else was in their twenties. No one had their own room, we all floated between the settee's and the aft room. A pair of us turned into a couple, and they started having watches together and sleeping together in the quarter berth. The second girl and I were not a couple and mainly stuck to the settee's. But generally no one had their 'own' room, it worked well, and we were happy. At some points we even had six people on board, and everyone hot bunked. It was fine.

But if 'own room' is the new reality, with some modifications to our interior we could make a fourth room. We'd have to remove our only shower and a closet, and I hesitate to get rid of the shower. It might be important later if we want to live aboard long term in a city or somewhere cold. Or the nuclear option is to take the V berth from my eight year old, and she (and all her toys) would sleep with us.

What do you guys think?
__________________
our blog
msponer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2014, 09:40   #2
Moderator
 
Pete7's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Solent, England
Boat: Moody 31
Posts: 18,429
Images: 22
Re: Do crew need their own room?

On a long trip I would like my own room, but at 18 I would have and did sleep on top of an No 1 Genoa for several weeks.

Pete
Pete7 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2014, 09:44   #3
Senior Cruiser
 
skipmac's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: 29° 49.16’ N 82° 25.82’ W
Boat: Pearson 422
Posts: 16,306
Re: Do crew need their own room?

Depends on the crew and the situation. If you're taking a younger person with limited experience and you are paying all the expenses then you should be able to find someone that can cope with the accommodations.

However, if the berth in your pilot house will be busy area, where the watch stander will be, activity day and night it could get tiring for the crew member sleeping there. For a long trip it sure is nice to have some personal space.
__________________
The water is always bluer on the other side of the ocean.
Sometimes it's necessary to state the obvious for the benefit of the oblivious.
Rust is the poor man's Loctite.
skipmac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2014, 09:51   #4
Senior Cruiser
 
atoll's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: gettin naughty on the beach in cornwall
Boat: 63 custom alloy sloop,macwester26,prout snowgoose 37 elite catamaran!
Posts: 10,594
Images: 75
Re: Do crew need their own room?

i would think that is quite acceptable,probably better than sleeping in the saloon, and with the addition of a hammock whilst in port or on anchor you will have a happy crew with the addition of grog and good food!
atoll is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2014, 10:02   #5
Moderator Emeritus
 
weavis's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Seville London Eastbourne
Posts: 13,406
Send a message via Skype™ to weavis
Re: Do crew need their own room?

Its primarily an age thing.

When out fishing as a teenster Ive slept in the RIB on deck...with a cover

Now unless its a boys trip I would prefer some comfort.
__________________
- Never test how deep the water is with both feet -
10% of conflicts are due to different opinions. 90% by the tone of voice.
Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.
weavis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2014, 10:02   #6
Registered User
 
Stu Jackson's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Cowichan Bay, BC (Maple Bay Marina)
Posts: 9,705
Re: Do crew need their own room?

Room? Toilet? Kitchen? Bed? windows?

Cabin...head...galley...berth...port(lights)

Everybody needs their own "space" but as a "requirement" I doubt it. It's an individual choice between the skipper and the crew.

Your boat, your choice.
__________________
Stu Jackson
Catalina 34 #224 (1986) C34IA Secretary
Cowichan Bay, BC, SR/FK, M25, Rocna 10 (22#) (NZ model)
Stu Jackson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2014, 13:13   #7
Registered User

Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: W Carib
Boat: Wildcat 35, Hobie 33
Posts: 13,480
Re: Do crew need their own room?

My perspective: "guests" get their own cabin, "crew" get space available. I've spent many a trip as crew/captain sleeping in the cockpit/salon/etc. If they are expecting a luxury cruise then maybe you don't want then as crew.

Definately would not get rid of the shower to accommodate them.

Plenty of folks looking to crew. Just agree you don't have a match and move on.
belizesailor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2014, 13:30   #8
Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 2,954
Re: Do crew need their own room?

Your boat, your conditions, as long as you can find someone to accept them.
letsgetsailing3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2014, 13:37   #9
Registered User
 
DumnMad's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Nelson NZ; boat in Coffs Harbour
Boat: 45ft Ketch
Posts: 1,559
Re: Do crew need their own room?

No brainer. 8 year old with you. Sleeping shifts it will be bonding and fun for her.
DumnMad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2014, 13:45   #10
Marine Service Provider

Join Date: May 2012
Location: New Orleans
Boat: We have a problem... A serious addiction issue.
Posts: 3,974
Re: Do crew need their own room?

Are you talking about for a passage or a permanent position? I had done deliveries where I slept anywhere that was available. But if you are asking someone to make this their home for six months or more then they will need some amount of personal space.
__________________
Greg

- If animals weren't meant to be eaten then they wouldn't be made of food.
Stumble is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2014, 15:43   #11
Registered User

Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Oregon
Boat: 57' Laurent Giles Yawl
Posts: 755
Re: Do crew need their own room?

Thanks for your perspectives.

This would be for eight or twelve months, something like the Caribbean or Panama to New Zealand.

I think we will have to kick the youngest kid out of her room and into the pilot berth. Or talk to a carpenter about turning the Pullman berth into bunk beds for both kids to share a room.
__________________
our blog
msponer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2014, 16:41   #12
Marine Service Provider

Join Date: May 2012
Location: New Orleans
Boat: We have a problem... A serious addiction issue.
Posts: 3,974
Re: Do crew need their own room?

That would be my suggestion. While I have been willing to sleep anywhere for a few days maybe up to a month, when the timeframe gets pushed out to a year... Well you need some room of your own.
__________________
Greg

- If animals weren't meant to be eaten then they wouldn't be made of food.
Stumble is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2014, 17:24   #13
Registered User

Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: W Carib
Boat: Wildcat 35, Hobie 33
Posts: 13,480
Re: Do crew need their own room?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stumble View Post
That would be my suggestion. While I have been willing to sleep anywhere for a few days maybe up to a month, when the timeframe gets pushed out to a year... Well you need some room of your own.
In that context I would agree. Normally crew are aboard for short stints, but extending this out for many months is different.
belizesailor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2014, 17:26   #14
Registered User

Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: W Carib
Boat: Wildcat 35, Hobie 33
Posts: 13,480
Re: Do crew need their own room?

Quote:
Originally Posted by msponer View Post
...

This would be for eight or twelve months, something like the Caribbean or Panama to New Zealand.
...
Curious though, why would you take crew on for such an extended time?
belizesailor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2014, 17:38   #15
Registered User
 
Dave852's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Tavernier, Fl
Boat: Outremer 50
Posts: 750
Send a message via Skype™ to Dave852
Re: Do Crew Need their own Room?

Rare that you will find a stranger that will work out for that long on a small boat room or no room. More likely you will have some turnover during the trip which is how it typically goes. I would not modify the boat, plenty of folks willing to sleep wherever it's dry for the experience.
Dave852 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
crew

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Anyone Pull their own Masts? Vino the Dog Construction, Maintenance & Refit 38 01-09-2014 13:12
Do Cruisers Have Time to Build Their own Dinghy? ptwatercraft General Sailing Forum 22 17-06-2013 14:46
Anyone fabricate their own chainplates? texwards Deck hardware: Rigging, Sails & Hoisting 28 24-03-2009 09:58

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 06:46.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.