NKOTB (New Kids On The Boat) ... A Weekly Series Sharing Our Thoughts and Questions as Beginner Sailors and Future Cruisers. NKOTB or Experienced Cruiser ... Tell Us Your Thoughts!
While writing a recent NKOTB post about comfort on a boat, I also started thinking about storage on a boat. After all, if we don't have proper storage on a boat and everything is a mess, there's no way we'll be comfortable.
Our Catalina 30 does not have a lot of storage space. In fact, not only is the space under the v-berth taken up by a water tank, but so is the space under the starboard settee. So, basically the only storage space that we currently have on Nirvana is in the aft cabin and under the opposite settee, which is partially taken up by a holding tank. (For those who don't know what a holding tank is ... it holds the toilet "stuff"). We also have a little "closet" outside of our master bedroom (v-berth) that we can use for clothing or other items. Part of the "closet" has shelves and part has hanging space. We wonder if we'd be better off eliminating the hanging space and installing more shelves.
We plan on purchasing some little "hammocks" that we can hang on the sides of the v-berth for storage, as well as perhaps in a few other places. An over-the-door shoe holder will make a great storage place for smaller bathroom items, and Ken plans on building a plate and cup holder like the newer Catalinas have.
After reading other cruiser's sites, we've learned that we don't need to fill Nirvana up with tons of food. We will stock up on some favorites, but it's good to know that we can use some of our precious space for other items. Also, thanks to our "Nook" that our daughter gave us we won't need a lot of space for books. We'll have some sailing guides, but other books will be all in one little tablet! The same goes for music and movies, which can be easily stored on our computer and iPod. I've been learning the hard way about this! (NKOTB - Memories n Melodies)
Since our settee can turn into another double bed for guests, we plan on turning our aft cabin into a storage area. We need a place to store some small tools, as well as spare parts, snorkel gear, etc. We'd love some folding bikes or an inflatable kayak, but it's doubtful we'll have room for these things. In fact, we're wondering how we're going to fit the essentials!
We realize that organization and perhaps a list of where items are stored are crucial. I'm pretty organized and I'm sure we'll find a place for what we really need. Our main concern is about weight distribution. Since our boat is smaller, we plan on storing a lot of items in the aft cabin (back of boat), and we also plan on installing davits on the stern for a dinghy, we wonder if we'll have too much weight near the back of Nirvana.
There are a lot of smaller boats out there cruising, so we know there must be a solution. Storing the dinghy on the bow and not having davits may be an option, but it's not an option for us! We're wondering how crucial the extra water tank is. We probably won't have a watermaker, so we're thinking the extra tank is pretty important.
Under the navigation station, we have a few shelves, but they're pretty much taken up with two batteries. Also, we have a lot to learn about batteries and energy but it seems we may need even more batteries?!
What little tricks or tips can you share regarding storage and weight distribution on a 30 foot sailboat? We'd love to hear your suggestions and ideas!
Here are a couple of pics of our sailboat's interior, so feel free to tell us what you think about storage.
Settees and "closet" in front of v-berth
Aft Cabin and Nav Station
Hasta luego ... until then. Mid-Life Cruising!
Note: Here are the previous posts from this series. Check them out and feel free to give us your advice. We've really enjoyed reading your comments!
- NKOTB - Bad Weather! NKOTB- The Anchor!
- NKOTB - Sailing Experience Required?! NKOTB - The Right Boat!
- NKOTB - How Much Will Cruising Cost? NKOTB - Cruising ... The Guilt Trip
- NKOTB - Private Space NKOTB - Overnight Passages
- NKOTB - Hygiene! NKOTB - "Down Under"!
- NKOTB - Sea Creatures! NKOTB - Comfort!
- NKOTB - Memories n Melodies!
Posts
13 comments:
Yep storage is always going to be an issue, but you'll figure it out as you go along. We sure have learned what to keep and not keep on the boat in the past 8 years.
Have a terrific day and weekend. :)
Cheryl : 1) Put a magazine rack behind where your calves are when you're sitting on the settee...do the same in the aft cabin.
2) Put a shelf above your heads in the highest part of the aft cabin.
3) Put a shelf (all the way across) above the V'berth cushion.
4) Build a rack to hold the dishes, mugs, cups & paper towels so they are no longer in the cupboards.
5) Put your full trash bags out on the bow in one of these things until you get to port to dispose of it... http://www.blueperformance.com/pages/product_details.html?../images/products/storage-rail-bags.jpg
6) These are very handy too.. http://www.blueperformance.com/pages/product_details.html?../images/products/foldable-storage-box.jpg
7) These are another great idea... http://store.seafaring.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=43&products_id=11770
8) And this too... http://store.seafaring.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=43&products_id=11769
i will be watching this thread with a lot of interest... i recently moved onto my 25 foot Tanzer, and i am finding space ( or the lack of )to be more difficult to deal with than i thought it would be .. So it's time to get all inventive and stuff ...
Cozy and comfortable and practical: make bolsters from pretty fabric. Stuff them with spare sheets and towels and off-season clothing. --Jaye, posting from a different computer
We have so much storage space I feel like we should be ashamed, and yet today I told Hans we need to come up with some more clever ideas or get rid of some 'stuff'. Needless to say, I really can't help you but I am thinking about investing in some of those 3M adhesive hooks that supposedly can hold quite a bit of weight, and even if they don't work we at least didn't drill any unnecessary holes in the boat. It's a thought.
1. Make a stowage list, one that you change as needed. I hate lists, but this is one place where it can make sense, particularly for seldom-used parts that are buried. The list doesn't create more space, but it allows you to pack some lockers more densely. It also allows your partner to find the thing you stashed.
2. I found that lift-out trays help, by reducing the depth of the stash:
http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2009/12/under-seat-storage.html
http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2009/11/under-bunk-stoarage-on-pdq-32.html
3. Clean to the bottom of each locker at least every 6 months. Chase out the crap!
Regarding the 3M hooks; they do very well on smooth gelcoat, so long as the load is not more than ~ 1 pound. Over that, they eventually fail, though it might be many years. Yes, they come off without a mark, with a little mineral spirits.
As far as weight aft, keep in mind that you will have your anchor, chain and rode forward, so that should help balance your waterline. Look at your water line and you will have a good idea about your boat balance.
Thanks for all the great advice! Thanks for the links! I like the idea of storing our full trash bags on the bow, so we'll have to look into that a little more. I'm sure we'll be using quite a few 3M hooks! Linda, great point about the weight of the anchors and such near the bow. We're really concerned about balancing the weight! Drew ... love your posts about the storage bins, especially for under the settee! Jay, thanks for such a great tip regarding storing linens inside of a pretty pillow case or bolster ... so simple! Thanks again and keep the tips coming!
This is a great site for storage in the galley but covers other areas as well. Enjoy your site. Thanks for the recommendation about Spotify and Replay software. Huge additions to my music collecting.
http://theboatgalley.com/
Think I forgot to post the link. Sorry
The Boat Galley .. a great site indeed! Glad you checked out Spotify and Replay Music .. they're awesome together!
Those drawers up by the v-berth.... we replaced the ones on Siempre Sabado, our 28' Westsail, with shelves and a door. Drawers are inherently space wasters. You're right to eliminate the hanging space by installing shelves in the hanging locker, something we also did. Install a composting head, chuck the holding tank in the dumpster and gain that space for storage. Check out some of our early posts, mostly from spring of 2009, to see some of the other stuff we've done that might apply to you as well.
-Steve
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