When we look at the various types and styles of boats, it's easy to over look something critical to living aboard a boat - storage. Now if your chosen boat is only to be used on the weekends or for summer vacations, it might not be all that important. But if you're contemplating living afloat or cruising full/part time, make it part of your priorities while shopping.
When Mike and I moved onto the Patricia Ann, we had yard sales and gave away a lot of our things. We kept only the basic tools, clothes, pots and pans and a few plates to eat on. We recognized we no longer had walk in closets and garages.
When you start to look at boats, make a mental note of what you can't live without before you board your first boat. Mike loves to play with his lady customers with this one. He always uses the number of shoes than can be stored aboard. All kidding aside, it does really matter. I have only 7 pair.
The price of a boat does not indicate it will have all of the storage you wish to have. Don't assume that it will because of price.
Food is a staple. Does that trawler have enough room to keep enough dry goods on board? How about storage for seldom used cooking utensils.
On our trawler we have nine lockers for food storage in the galley alone; pot and pans and seldom used appliances are stored beneath the oven and dinette seating. The galley food storage area is designated as the "day locker" where opened packages and containers are stored until their contents are depleted.
Forward in the guest stateroom, we have designated 3 additional lockers for long-term storage. It serves as a pantry but we fondly call it our hurricane stash. It also doubles as a cruising stash too. We rotate the stock routinely. It contains canned goods, pasta, soups, ketchup, etc.
Last week we took it all out to do some minor housekeeping and organizing.
Before placing it all back into the lockers, we took an inventory and made a written list of what was in there and how many of each. You can't see into the back of a locker easily so you do not know much of something you have. Now when we remove an item for use, it goes on the next shopping list to be replaced. This way we'll never be out of essential stores while out. It will also keep us from accumulating 3 large jars of pickles because we didn't know we already had 2 on hand.
The list is in the first cabinet with the contents listed by cabinet.
This weekend is forecast to be a rainout with stormy weather. Oh well, we'll try to go out the next one..:)
Happy Cruising,
Mary
