My Favorite Things Aboard!

[rodney_k]

Originally Posted by Bash

works wet or dry

+1 on that vacuum!

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by Bash

works wet or dry

Thanks for the recommendation on that; I need to pick up a new vacuum cleaner and was trying to come up with a good one.

[rebel heart]

I think for my current list I'd go with:

- a tarp and shockcords. Sometimes you have projects that expose things that shouldn't get wet to rain, and that's a real bummer.

- flagship varnish. with the correct thinner; makes a world of difference if you thin it 10%.

- sponge brushes. bristle brushes are for the birds.

- fein multimaster for teak decks.

- using a type iv flotation cushion instead of knee pads.

- dickies long shorts.

- mp3 / radio player. i can listen to podcasts, music, or whatever else while working.

- latex gloves. dirty hands are for someone else.

- cast iron skillet. i can make a mean breakfast.

- gear hammocks for potatoes. keep them from rotting / turning into that putrid black liquid.

- my lavac toilet

[Arch Stanton]

Originally Posted by starfish62

the blue "shop towels" on a roll instead of paper towels.

Tip:

High-quality blue shop towels are available for "free" at most gas stations!

[Waterborn]

My survival gear:

A seat cushion, a cold beer, my Martin (guitar) and someone to sing with.

[MikeZ]

5. Narrow little baskets with handles. They fit perfectly in the cupboards. Likely the best find I have ever found for the boat in a mall.

Those look great. Where did you find them?

Thanks,
Mike

[Agility]

Call be lazy, but the Sport a Seat was to most sought after piece of equipment on our boat.

[Capt. Sailybird]

While at the hardware / feed store I found a dark green, heavy guage plastic feed bucket that is designed to hang over a fence. It is about the same size as a 5 gallon bucket, but is square shape with rounded corners. It also has a nice hand hold molded in.

I hang this over the life line or stern rail and use if for everything from catching trash while sailing to washing the boat. It's fantastic! The color green matches my canvas and bootstripe - and that's a plus!

I found it at an ACE hardware store.


My second favorite item - equally as useful - is a 2 gallon pressure sprayer (as used for yard chemicals). I purchased this at Lowe's and keep fresh water in it and have it attached near the boarding ladder with a bungee cord.

This makes a terrific rinse off shower when we come in from swimming. The fresh water is a real treat. It also conserves water instead of using the pressurized water system on the boat.

[DWT]

One of the last improvements I did was to install a knife holder. It is secure enough so no way will they come out during a rough sea. Also added a sissors holder to the outside of it. I find myself reaching for them all the time now, it is very handy at an easy reach!

[MarkJ]

Le Chic who started this thread noted a small tarp we have over the forward hatches.

Forward of the mast we have the double cabin we use in port, bed is a 'pullman' style to Port and forward, in the peak, is a Head incl shower.

There are 3 forward hatches in line, 1 in the head and two in the forward cabin.

The problem is that when there is a rain shower the hatches need to be closed suffocating us poor lil sleepers.

Problem: Keep rain out of open hatches so we still get air.

Nic kept naggin' me and I didnt like the look of the expense of a canvas cover with braid tie downs.

The Auto store had a cheap plastic tarpaulin 1 meter x 2 meters with brass (brassish) eyes. Cost $11 AU
Hardware store had 6mm elastic shock cord off the roll, and plastic adjustable hooks (see photo below)

The tarp is tied to the baby stay with shock cord. Then shock cord around the Genoa and hooked back to the brass eye.

4 corners with shockcord and plastic hooks to the toe rail.

Benifits:
Very adjustable.
Height adjustable on Genoa and Baby stay. Higher for light wind. Very low for strong wind.
Sides can be set high over the life lines or low straight to the tow rail.
Sides can be set further fore or aft with adjustable hooks.
Elastic shock cords stretch in wind gusts and the whole thing can flatten onto the deck in a strong gust.
Cheap - under $20 - So we really don't care if a mistake is made and the whole thing is shredded

Result: 2 hatches can be left open at all times, 1 in the head and the other giving a nice breeze to cabin.
Breeze flows right through boat.
Funnels wind into hatches if required.

Photos:
Photo during 25 kt wind gust. I put extra shock cords on for expected gale. Normally its just the corners clipped on.
Plastic clip is instantly adjustable. Very important.

[David M]

All of my favorite things have already been mentioned except one. I love the cabin heater that runs off of waste heat from the engine. It nothing more than a radiator, a fan and a switch.

[jwidahonurse]

Hello, I am going to change the thread a bit as I need some women's advice on a couple of things.....I have sort of long hair and don't want to cut it...but we are going on a very long cruise without a water maker.. I have oily hair..so what products are out there to clean hair that don't require water?
Also, has anyone used the kindle 2 out side of the USA? And how did it do?

[Hud3]

JW,

The Kindle works fine outside the US, but you can't use the cellular phone system for downloads. But, you can download books from Amazon over the Internet to your PC and then to the Kindle. This from a friend of ours who lives in Texas and has a place here on Nevis. We don't own one yet, but my wife is angling to get one.

There are quite a few soaps that lather in salt water. Check the camping stores. A minimal freshwater rinse is nice. Or wait until a rain squall comes by and collect some rain water for washing up.

[jwidahonurse]

Thank you Hud. We just purchased the kindle 2 yesterday...so you can download from the computer? Only books from Amazon?

[Hud3]

Yes, my understanding is that you have to go through Amazon. But there are options in addition to the Kindle-ready books that they sell. There are sources of free books out there, but I believe you still need to upload them to your Kindle account at Amazon via email, and then to your Kindle. There's a lot of discussion on the Kindle here http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...dle-19058.html including links to sites offering free books.