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hellosailor · 19-09-2006, 09:26

"The" miracle unbreakable almost good enough for everyday plastic plates in the 60's were Melamine, which don't seem to be around much except for the thrift stores (dirt cheap if they have 'em) or the marine stores. You probably can find them non-marine if you hunt, and they are the moist durable solution.

I like Corelle because it isn't plastic, it's "real dishes" but as cole said, if you DO manage to break one, it literally EXPLODES. And yes, if you drop one four feet to a hardwood floor and it simply lands the wrong way--it can and will explode. Surprised the hell out of me when it did.

Stainless steel mugs (double wall) are a nice durable way to keep things hot or cold, that was my choice too.

Stoneware? Hmmm....too heavy, slows the boat down.<G> Try a camping store, they've got some really nice titanium dinnerware these days. Pricey, but fast.<G>

**Pblais** · 19-09-2006, 10:15

My wife found great Corelle at WalMart. It had cute lighthouses on them and everything. have not seen them since. You want real plates. Sure you can eat on plastic just fine, but they end up looking terrible in a short amount of time. We keep a few platic platters and large bowls for serving in but use real plates when we dine.

Hop on eBay and pick up a nice set of china cheap. Get really good stuff. So what if you break a few. You can find partial services so you can end up with a nice setting for 4 or 6 where the original set may have had 8 and save some spares. Get really nice stuff. Live well. When you spend what it costs to own a boat it's nice to treat yourself to a few shore pleasures like fine dining! I'ld throw in some crystal too amd some nice 18/10 stainless utensils too. Think about the best anchorage you ever put a hook in and then think about a great meal.

Eating on the boat should be as enjoyable as possible. It's nice to have something to look forward to on a tough day. Setting a good table makes it taste better.

Vasco · 19-09-2006, 11:04

On our first boat (a few years ago) we bought good plastic dinnerware. It cost more than decent china and we hated it. Somehow eating off plastic plates just doesn't cut it. We now use Corelle which stands up well. We also use only glass tumblers and wine glasses. We might break one or two each year but they're easily replaced and fairly cheap and we do have a couple of plastic ones that are used for beach parties. Your boat is you home, if you use plastic at home it'll be fine on your boat.

Canibul · 19-09-2006, 12:26

But isnt real china heavy?

Vasco · 19-09-2006, 12:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canibul

But isnt real china heavy?

Canibul,

Ah yes, you're going to get a cat. Us monohull guys load em right up to the gunwales.

**Pblais** · 19-09-2006, 12:51

Quote:

But isnt real china heavy?

Only the cheap stuff is heavy.

rsn48 · 19-09-2006, 13:07

Here is a link to the Corelle I bought, sort of nautical:

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html...sin=B000BV4QK8

You will notice this is a link from Target.

Canibul · 19-09-2006, 13:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vasco

Canibul,

Ah yes, you're going to get a cat. Us monohull guys load em right up to the gunwales.

So, why dont you fill your bilge with china?

By the way, I can show you at least three stone ballast piles down here from European monohulls...but never found a ballast pile yet from a sunken cat...
I think boats are actually SUPPOSED to float. A dozen polynesians cant ALL be wrong...

Oh, I thought of something you guys probably already know about. Few years back I was working off a dive boat doing oceanographic work, and one night after a big spaghetti dinner it was my turn to do dishes. I loaded them all up in my mesh dive bag and lowered them over the stern while we were on the hook. Snuck out and picked up before breakfast, and they were squeaky clean. Every scrap of cheese, sauce, grease, all scarfed up by little fishies...
Just gave em a quick rinse and back in the rack.

hellosailor · 19-09-2006, 13:21

"But isnt real china heavy? "
See now, that's what happens when you don't get a degree in Art History.<G>

China can mean many things but if someone said "real china" I'd guess they might want fine bone china, which is literally so thin you can see your hand through it. Canibul, you gotta get youself to the Duty Free section and start looking at the Good Stuff.

I will freely confess that even coffee tastes better in a fine china coffee cup.<G>

The "china" you get in the local diner or chinese restaurant? Uhuh, no, not the same thing at all.

Canibul · 19-09-2006, 14:01

The coffee I make would eat a plastic cup.

So, if I read this right, "real" china doesnt mean you have to use sticks to eat off it...

19-09-2006, 14:30

Pans and hands. Plates are for polite company

Somehow, even on a multi, I do not see and extra 5 or 10 pounds being an issue. The real bottom line is that there is no real need for specialized dinnerware on a boat. My experience has been no more plates broken aboard the boat than on land. How you store them is the key.

Canibul · 19-09-2006, 14:55

"My experience has been no more plates broken aboard the boat than on land. How you store them is the key."

I wish that I had enjoyed the benefit of that advice with my second wife.. I should have stored the plates locked on the boat!!

I tried paper plates, but she took a course in paper cuts...