Time to Brag on Your #liveaboard hacks

[RaymondR]

Mounting power boards in the back of a cupboard is a good way to store the plethora of battery chargers we need for our gadgets these days.

The plastic clips from the camping or boat store is a good way to keep all the little torches where you need and can find them.

[billdomb]

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.

Hmmm...could you shell the crab and take out the meat, put it in some lemon juice and consume without cooking?

[p435]

Originally Posted by ProteusRising

....because such an operation KILLS the cooking gas....

Put a lid on your pot, that reduces the amount of gas needed tremendously. It could go up to 90% of saving.


Using a small flame instead of big one reduces losses further.

[Captain Bucknut]

Originally Posted by Training Wheels

God I must be old. What’s a “hack”?

Maybe a Rube Goldberg...... a work around...... “rigging it” ........

[Sparx]

There should be a place for everything and everything should be in its place. After about a month aboard then seriously evaluate what is stored where. Move stuff to a better storage place. Get rid of stuff that is not needed. The best stuff can serve more than one purpose.

[SVMusic]

Originally Posted by 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!

As a woman, I had a big dilemma about packing. Here are a few of the hacks I used to save space. I hope they help!
How does a woman pack her most wanted things!

[p435]

Originally Posted by Sparx

There should be a place for everything and everything should be in its place ....

RIGHT!


I created at text file describing where I stored what.

It helps to find things you don't need that often but when you need them you don't have time to search the entire boat.

I have printed out version and a digital version. The later one makes searching pretty easy.

[SVMusic]

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.

Our favorite way to cook crab is to do it on the barbecue grill. First you chill the crab, remove the hard shell and "deadmeat", marinate in Italian dressing for an hour. When on the grill they only need 5 minutes on each side and DELISH! Moist and tasty crab that is WAY better than any boiling we may have done in Louisiana!

The Crabby Captain and the Sunny Sailor

[LooseGoose]

3 great foodie items we use:

1- a good set of Ceramic knives.......no rust, amazingly sharp, last surprisingly long time, easy to clean

2- Handheld tiny vacuum food bagging system....

https://www.walmart.com/ip/FoodSaver...ystem/15777783

keeps thing compact and freezer-ready.

3- nesting Fridge bins, where like items like cheese or lunch meats are kept together in vertical stacks.

[Freemind]

Originally Posted by p435

RIGHT!


I created at text file describing where I stored what.

It helps to find things you don't need that often but when you need them you don't have time to search the entire boat.

I have printed out version and a digital version. The later one makes searching pretty easy.

This has been a real problem for us. I'd love to see your text file for a starting point.

Disorganized newbie.

[p435]

Originally Posted by Freemind

... I'd love to see your text file for a starting point. ....

My file was once started in German and became in the meantime a horrible mixture of 3 languages.


However I can give you the structure.


I am on catamaran, thus have 2 hulls a middle storage room and a center storage room at the stern end of the cockpit.


In each hull I structure by storage room from bow to stern



My structure is:
- Port Hull
--- bow storage room
a bullet list of items stored there, if needed a little description for all storage rooms

--- forward cabin
------ bilge 1
------ bilge 2
--- hallway
----- inner side
and here I list the cabinets I have on the inner side
----- outer side
and here I list the cabinets I have on the outer side
------ bilge 1
------ bilge 2
------ bilge 3
------ bilge 4
--- aft cabin
------ bilge outside
------ bilge inside
--- engine room
I also have a self made storage shelf in the engine room
etc.


I hope it helps you for start. At the end you must write it for your boat.


Maybe an additional hint. My storage room at the stern side of the cockpit is rather deep. Estimated more than 1 m (3ft). I introduced "floors". 1st floor has 5 "rooms" with vertical walls and 2 are closed with lids. All things I don't need often are in the 1F under the lids and things (mainly ropes) are in the 2F, thus on the top and easy to get out and put in.


There is also FOC SW available which helps to organize things in a house. It should be possible to modify it for a boat. However I never looked at such an application.

[Lance Reynolds]

Not necessarily a Hack , but a good idea is to never take on board Cardboard Boxes especially from food suppliers .Baby cockroaches live inside the corrugations and if they ever get on board you can have a long term problem .

[hzcruiser]

Originally Posted by arsenelupiga

If you see their boat moving use very strong batteries and point to their bedroom windows, if they have them.

I pointed the biggest battery I had at my neighbours window but they sure didn't wake up. What did I do wrong?

[hzcruiser]

Originally Posted by Lance Reynolds

Not necessarily a Hack , but a good idea is to never take on board Cardboard Boxes especially from food suppliers .Baby cockroaches live inside the corrugations and if they ever get on board you can have a long term problem .

Good point, only it's the eggs that are in the cardboard crevices.

You can also take the paper labels off all the tin cans and mark the lids instead. This helps when they're stored in damp places or get flooded in the bilge at some point. Otherwise you end up with a lot of surprise dinners when trying to guess which one was the corn kernels.

[hzcruiser]

Originally Posted by p435

There is also FOC SW available which helps to organize things in a house. It should be possible to modify it for a boat. However I never looked at such an application.

Yes, like iPantry Manager and a few others.