Time to Brag on Your #liveaboard hacks

[ProteusRising]

So the house goes up for sale near the end of August. We have slowly been moving onto SV Elli.

It's exciting. We're thrilled. But it feels like a puzzle that no one has the cheat-sheet for...

You all have been so helpful this last year. I have yet another request, please.

What is your favorite liveaboard hacks? We're especially interested in those focused towards sail boats. And if these hacks are for increasing organization -- double star!

Thanks in advance for responding!

[JPA Cate]

Keep the boat as simple as you can tolerate; it means more timefor the other fun things you want to do.

A corollary is live as inexpensively as you can tolerate; so you have more to spend on extra treats, whatever category they come under.

Ann

[ProteusRising]

Our anchoring out was pretty easy, but we may need a new way to cook crab because such an operation KILLS the cooking gas. And that's not keeping with what we're trying to do. But having today's catch drive what's for dinner is pretty simple living. However, our lives have been so complicated for so long, that it sometimes seems like a default setting and we're in complete reboot mode. But the upgrade is going to be worth it.

[rbk]

Originally Posted by ProteusRising

Our anchoring out was pretty easy, but we may need a new way to cook crab because such an operation KILLS the cooking gas. And that's not keeping with what we're trying to do. But having today's catch drive what's for dinner is pretty simple living. However, our lives have been so complicated for so long, that it sometimes seems like a default setting and we're in complete reboot mode. But the upgrade is going to be worth it.

Cooking crab only requires a small amount of boiling water (1/2 inch) and 7-10 min of steaming. Do not boil 2 gallons of water with crab for an hour it’s a total waste of time fuel and crab.

[ProteusRising]

Originally Posted by rbk

Cooking crab only requires a small amount of boiling water (1/2 inch) and 7-10 min of steaming. Do not boil 2 gallons of water with crab for an hour it’s a total waste of time fuel and crab.

Thanks for the tip! Although, I didn't have that much water or cook for that long. But I did have more than 1/2 inch.

[stainless guy]

Originally Posted by ProteusRising

Our anchoring out was pretty easy, but we may need a new way to cook crab because such an operation KILLS the cooking gas. And that's not keeping with what we're trying to do. But having today's catch drive what's for dinner is pretty simple living. However, our lives have been so complicated for so long, that it sometimes seems like a default setting and we're in complete reboot mode. But the upgrade is going to be worth it.

Go to the beach light a fire and roast them same goes for shellfish and potatoes and veggies...

[ProteusRising]

We thought same when we're able to access the beach. This particular outing, the anchoring (and good crabbing spot) provided no land base. But that totally will be the plan when such a strip of ground is available to us! What's your process when you do it?

Originally Posted by stainless guy

Go to the beach light a fire and roast them same goes for shellfish and potatoes and veggies...

[stainless guy]

Originally Posted by ProteusRising

We thought same when we're able to access the beach. This particular outing, the anchoring (and good crabbing spot) provided no land base. But that totally will be the plan when such a strip of ground is available to us! What's your process when you do it?

Potatoes go straight intonthe coals whole unwashed

Crab gets cooked on a bed of coals or a grill if available

Shellfish on a hot rock or grill or if oysters just slurp em

Veg is best in a Dutch oven tough to cook broccoli or spinach over a fire carrots can be cooked on a hot rock

It's pretty spartan and I don't do it like this that often as it takes a bit longer and kids/wife get crazy when hungry

[RaymondR]

Originally Posted by rbk

Cooking crab only requires a small amount of boiling water (1/2 inch) and 7-10 min of steaming. Do not boil 2 gallons of water with crab for an hour it’s a total waste of time fuel and crab.

I use the same technique but put them in the fridge in a plastic bag to kill them then dismember and rinse the bits off before steaming them. That way if they have consumed any nasties you are not boiling them in it.

Another gas saver is to use an SS plunger coffee maker with an extended base you can put on the gas stove to boil just the amount of water you need for a cup rather than a kettle full. The large base will also stop the coffee maker from tipping over when the boat rolls. An old saucepan lid TIG welded onto the base makes a good heat director and wide base.

[rbk]

Originally Posted by ProteusRising

Thanks for the tip! Although, I didn't have that much water or cook for that long. But I did have more than 1/2 inch.

I’ve just watched far too many people take a huge pot, full of water bring it to a boil (about 30 min) then proceed to turn the crab into rubber.

[scallowayuk]

Originally Posted by rbk

I’ve just watched far too many people take a huge pot, full of water bring it to a boil (about 30 min) then proceed to turn the crab into rubber.

hi i cook a lot in a pressure cooker ,would it work for crab lobster ect. never tried seafood, but it saves a lot of gas and water.

[roland stockham]

Advice I got from reading that works. "if you live in the area you have all the space you need, the ocean for a pool, the beach for a work table. If you live on the boat an ocean liner will seam small". Remember the boat is for storage an traveling. The world is the place you play in.

[redhead]

This seems to be a cooking thread now - that's cool, but I have an organization tip. I have many spray bottles and little "floor space" in the cabinets they should be in.

I use tension shower rods installed in the upper area of whatever locker/cabinet. Hang the sprayer on the rod and all your bottles are lined up neatly and use zero floor space. Using vertical space is my biggest challenge in my boat.

Good luck to you - I've been following your adventures - sounds like you're going to have a ball!

[Mad Multi]

Originally Posted by rbk

Cooking crab only requires a small amount of boiling water (1/2 inch) and 7-10 min of steaming. Do not boil 2 gallons of water with crab for an hour it’s a total waste of time fuel and crab.

Haligonian here can confirm. Dont boil lobster or crab steam it... takes no time and little energy and tastes better

[mvmojo]

Originally Posted by ProteusRising

What is your favorite liveaboard hacks? We're especially interested in those focused towards sail boats. And if these hacks are for increasing organization -- double star!

Here's a few of our hacks that come to mind after 24 years of live-aboard cruising:

Clothes storage hack: Store your neatly folded clothing in vacuum bags like those found a WalMart, etc. Stuff half of a dryer sheet in each one. Your clothes will stay dry and mildew free and will smell like they just came out of the dryer when you take them out of the bag. You don't necessarily need to vacuum the bag down, just smash it down or roll it up to get as much air out as possible to reduce storage space.

Watering hack: Buy a water bladder that will fit in the bottom of your dinghy - ours holds 60 gallons. Rig up a 12v or 120v pump and hose to transfer water from the bag to the boat's deck fill. This lets you take the dinghy into the dock for water rather than taking the big boat in. Here's the bladder we use: https://www.bayteccontainers.com/waterbags.html When not in use, it folds up into a very small, flat package. Some marinas resent boats wanting to come in just to water up without buying fuel, etc., but we've never had a problem pulling up in a dinghy and asking, "Do you mind if we get a few gallons of water in our bladder?"

Hatches hack: It's rare to find a hatch that doesn't leak when the boat is slamming to windward for hours at a time. When offshore, seal all hatches with 2" vinyl tape all the way around - totally stops all the drips. We learned this from the big racing boats in Antigua that were getting ready to take the boats to the med for the season.

Roller Furling hack: A lot of people scoff at this racing tactic until they try it. When you want to roll up the headsail on the furler, turn downwind and sheet out rather than turning upwind and allowing the sail to flog. Even though the sail is full, there's not much pressure on it and it will easily roll in, staying nice and tight on the furler. Since this is somewhat counter-intuitive, you've got to try it to become a convert.

Ice Hack: If you have a freezer and want to make ice, buy the ice cube trays that have a sealing lid. We have 6 of them (ours are made by Rubbermaid) that we've been using for 18 years. No spills and ice for your drinks!

Battery Water filling Hack: To add water to your batteries without spilling it, buy a 2 gal garden sprayer. Remove the spray tip from the wand and slip on a short piece of vinyl tubing. Fill the sprayer with distilled water, pump up the pressure and you can use the on/off lever from the wand to add water directly to each cell without spilling any.

Deck Shower Hack: You can dual purpose your battery water garden sprayer with the spray wand for a deck shower. Let it sit in the sun for a few hours and you've got a warm pressurized shower with an easy to control on/off valve.

Dinghy Patch Hack: Inflatable dinghies invariably end up with puncture holes. Conventional wisdom says you have to deflate the dinghy, rough up the surface, apply a patch and wait 24 hours for the glue to cure. Who wants to be without a dinghy for 24 hours?? So, if you have a puncture, cut a patch about the size of a quarter. With the dinghy fully inflated, put a dab of super glue on the patch and press it over the hole. Hold it in place for a couple of minutes with thumb pressure (where a glove or you thumb might stick to the patch). Once the super glue sets, the leak will be fixed. However, super glue will crack over time and the leak will come back. So, over the top of the super glue patch, apply a larger conventional patch. I use "Goop" brand marine adhesive rather than the expensive special dinghy adhesives, but to each his own. The patch over the super glue patch has no pressure on it since the super glue patch totally stopped the leak so the large patch can cure without the dinghy needing to be deflated. If/when the super glue fails, the top patch will still prevent the leak from reoccurring. Can't tell you how many holes I've patched in my and other's dinghies using this method and have never had a patch failure.

Docking Hack: Lots of folks already know this one, but it's amazing how many either don't know it or don't use it. When coming alongside a dock (especially with a single engine boat), the first line on should be an aft leading midships spring line, i.e., from a midship cleat running aft to the dock. Once secure to a cleat or piling, you can slowly ease forward with your wheel slightly put over to steer away from the dock. The spring line will pull you in alongside the dock and by leaving the engine in gear at idle, you'll be held against the dock until you can get bow and stern lines secured. We employed this method on our sailboat and now use it with great success on our 80,000 lb steel trawler (just make sure the cleat and line can take the strain of the boat going ahead at idle).

These are just a few that come to mind. Maybe more later as I think of 'em...