Thinking about taking your boat cruising? either your plans are finite or open-ended, coastal or transoceanic, here is a range of proven tips to apply to your onboard life.
Clothes on hangers will chafe amazingly fast. They rub against each other as they move with the boat, and the cloth will wear through. If you take on the cruising life permanently, you won't be needing hanging clothes anyway! So consider converting hanging lockers to shelved storage. You will be able to stow a lot of stuff in the space at one time taken up by dress shirts!
Demand manifold functions in your gear as much as possible. For example, a up-to-date model computer can double as Dvd viewer, and possibly even as a sound system. Needlenose pinchers make a great pointing tool for using a chart in the cockpit; use it to point at your location so you don't have to keep trying to find your place every time you look down. And your cordless drill might be able to double as a transportable mixer!
If you are a certified diver, keep a small Scuba tank strapped to one of the old time backpacks lashed on deck. Keep a mask/snorkel, weight belt, and regulator within easy reach (and out of the elements), and you can be over the side in minutes.
Put understanding into entertainment and provision accordingly. Are you a music lover? setup a good sound law (inside and out) and stock up on your popular Cds. Music player? Bring along your instrument(s). Dvds stow easier than video tapes (and last better); stock your popular movies, and you will find folks who will swap with you for the evening. Bring a store of recreational reading, and you can swap as you go with other cruisers and at marina lending libraries.
For tropical and summer cruising, mount one or more 12-volt fans on teak pads and rig with 12-volt plugs so that you can have unquestionably transportable air!
Have some special stuff on board. Do you have special pair of wine glasses, some nice throw pillows, or a handmade throw rug or quilt? contain meaningful furnishings on the boat to unquestionably make it Your living space.
Keep key tools within easy reach. Is there one or more resident of the toolbox that you find you use a lot? If so, give it a home in the cabin where it can be accessed easily. My most frequent tools are a small crescent wrench and medium size Phillips screwdriver. These two items are now bungeed to the bulkhead in the nav area, where they are easy to grab and easy to stow.
Bypass the jeans. Denim cloth doesn't like a maritime environment. It takes ages to dry, and, if washed in sea water, tends to keep salt crystals in the cloth which can accelerate mildewing and be uncomfortable against the skin. Stick with slacks and shorts made of cotton or lightweight blends.
Have some form of 110v power on board, no matter how easy your electrical law is. Even if you don't have a big built-in inverter/charger to provide 110v power, stock at least a small inverter unit with 12-volt plug. Do this even if you don't initially start out with 110v gear - chances are you will either buy or borrow something in the course of your cruise that needs the 110v power.
Finally, you can never have too many zip lock bags, electrical ties or bungee cords. It's spectacular, how many uses these three things can be put to. Take separate sizes of zip locking bags, and recycle them by washing and hanging out to dry. All sizes of electrical ties come in handy for more than just electrical wire; they can be used to acquire a lot of separate things colse to the boat. And bungee cords-pre-made lengths with hooks on the end as well as rolls of cord that can be "cut to order-have applications all over the boat. Take hog rings, hooks, and hog ring pinchers along so you can make your own as you go.
First Mate Tips All nearby the Boat