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13 Creature Comforts for a Liveaboard Life

You just have to pick and choose the frills and adapt them to boat life.  These suggestions are all things that I've incorporated in my life aboard Nehalennia.  They may not apply to you, or they may seem obvious, but I put them up as examples of what has enhanced my quality of life aboard.  Please note that most of this is geared toward liveaboard life in a marina, as is the case for me most of the time lately.  Cruising at anchor is another bag, especially from the standpoint of energy management. I'll revisit the list when I'm living on the hook more often than at the dock.

1. Power for all the goodies.
   I'm talking amp-hours here.  We have two 8D AGM batteries and a Heart Interface inverter.  Our appliances are mostly 110-volt AC household variety, and everything can run off the inverter when we're off the grid.  If you don't have a large battery bank and the goodies I'll describe seem attractive, consider increasing your house battery capacity and adding an inverter.
    

2. Galley gadgets. 
   First, the very handy microwave. We have a compact 400-watt unit, and we use it frequently when on shore power.  Although it will work on the inverter when we're on the hook, we tend not to use it as it really sucks up the juice. We have an Adler-Barbour Cold Machine that we've found fairly energy-efficient after beefing up the insulation in the reefer box.  It has a small partitioned freezer and it sure is nice to have ice for my rum and cokes in the summer. We have 110-volt coffeemaker, coffee grinder, blender, and a mini food processor.  All work well on the inverter, as the loads are brief.  On the hook we usually make filter coffee with water boiled on the stove to save juice.
    

3. Sights and sounds. 
   Gotta have my music! It's as vital to me as my morning coffee.  We installed a mid-range Sony automotive CD deck (50 watts/channel) and have small bookshelf speakers mounted to the bulkhead.  For space considerations, we took our CDs out of their jewel cases, kept the covers, and filed disc and covers in cloth-backed albums with plastic sleeves.  We now have over 300 CDs in four 100-CD albums. 
   
   For viewing pleasure we have a 13-inch color TV with built-in VCR player (about $100 at Circuit City) plus a small no-frills DVD player (about $50 at Circuit City).  Airwaves are pulled down via a hoop antenna (about $70 at West Marine) and reception is remarkably good where we are at the moment.  I've found that the TV, VCR, DVD and stereo use up surprisingly little juice, and we use them a lot when at anchor.
    

4. Bargain books. 
   I love to read.  On board our permanent library is limited mainly to reference books on sailing, boat maintenance, weather, navigation, medical guides, etc.  So what's a book lover to do?  Go seek out a library!  I've found excellent ones in Annapolis, Charleston, and here in Tarpon Springs, Florida, and I now make it a policy to get a library card when I know I will be staying somewhere for a while.  Besides books, they often have a rich supply of videotapes, DVDs, books on tape, and music CDs.  Then there's always the marina book exchange shelf or swapping with other cruisers.
    

5. Gigabytes.
   Having a computer has become almost as vital as my music and coffee (well, not  quite).  We have a Toshiba laptop on board which lives on the nav station under a splash guard.  A complete discussion of computers and their many onboard applications, such as e-charts, wireless internet connections, e-mail, and interfacing to navigation equipment, could easily go many pages, so I'll save that topic for another time and place.
    

6. Thermoregulation. 
   For warm weather comfort, we have five Hella fans (about $60 at West Marine), three mounted and two portable with 12-volt plugs.  We've found them to be quiet, efficient and long-lived, though other cruisers have had bad experiences with them.  We recently added a Carry-On A/C for our survival here in Florida ($800 through Defender).  For cold weather comfort, we rely on one space heater ($45 at West Marine), an electric blanket, and Polartec clothing.  This has been sufficient even in the chilly Annapolis winter.  On the hook we use our Dickenson Newport diesel heater, which Trish (who gets cold far sooner than I do) has mastered lighting in no time flat.
    

7. Staying in touch. 
   I love my cell phone.  I never had one until we moved the boat from the U.S. West Coast to the Atlantic Seaboard, when we quit the hard-wired phone line stuff.  Now my cell phone is up there on par with my coffee, music and computer.  I have a Sprint PCS nationwide plan that gives me ample airtime for a flat rate of $35 per month.  Can't be beat.
    

8. Let the sun shine in. 
   Natural light brightens up our traditional teak boat interior and often our attitude as well.  Boats can often feel like gloomy caves without enough natural light.  Our Baba has ample portholes and hatches, and I've added flip-up shades for privacy.  I've been on boats that are dark and claustrophobic down below, and although it's a lot of work, this can be remedied by adding well-bedded deck prisms or even an opening hatch (or enlarging an existing one).
    

9. Cockpit as porch. 
   On Nehalennia, the cockpit is like another room. We have a full dodger and bimini, and two sets of removable windows/screens to provide (when needed) an all-around enclosure.  We also have a front window that can be unzipped and rolled down for flow-through ventilation, a small cockpit table, a "porch light," and plugs for outdoor speakers and portable fans.  Cushioning is provided by nifty closed cell foam pads.  In the warm weather, and even in winter if it's not too cold, the cockpit is our main venue for happy hour and most meals.
    

10. Home sweet home. 
    One of the things I like about life in a real house is wall and shelf space for pictures and knickknacks. On a small boat I just downsize...a lot. When I look around our saloon, I see special stuff we've collected on past trips, like a pair of tiny framed sailboat prints from Ireland, a prized framed mola from the San Blas Islands, a pewter dolphin, and a carved wood gecko from a trip to Hawaii.  Small knickknacks can be secured with velcro (use the heavy duty stuff) to prevent them from becoming airborne when sailing.  So don't do without, just be innovative and dress up the place.
     

11. Putting on the Ritz. 
    I like to have a few items on board that most salty mariners would scoff at.  I consider this my nod to the "more refined life" I've mostly left behind.  On our boat we have a pair of beautiful cut crystal goblets we got in Kinsale, Ireland.  We dig these out (literally) on special occasions, pour the fine wine or bubbly, and toast each other.  It feels elegant, and makes the event seem more special.  Storing those suckers in a foam-lined plastic box is a hassle, but it's worth it.  Other possibilities might include a nice tablecloth, linen napkins, real silverware, real china, or a special silver candlestick.  You get the idea.
     

12. Diversions. 
    It's good to get off the boat regularly, to explore, stretch your legs, and have fun outside.  I like an early morning kayak paddle.  Some folks have a sailing kit for their dinghy and get out there when the wind is nice and they don't want to sail the family homestead.  I like to ride a bicycle for exercise and for errands.  I usually buy a $50 cheapie when I'm going to be in a marina for more than three months or so, then give it away or donate it when I move on.  Other folks go the folding bike route, which is another option, especially if you have a larger boat.  Look around for public transportation, like a shuttle, trolley or bus, or consider renting a car for a day or two to get away.  I've done all these things when I've been in a marina without my own wheels. Consider nurturing a hobby. I like photography and writing.  Other boaters I've known have taken up a musical instrument, or have gotten into painting or woodcarving.  The potential list goes on and on: macrame, needlepoint, stamp collecting, shelling, etc.
     

13. Nonhuman boat companions. 
    We've had Buddy, our mitred conure (a small parrot) aboard for six years now.  We used to have a cat (bad experience, long story).  I was slow to warm up to Buddy at first, but he really is a great boat companion and has been relatively hassle free.  I've known boating folks, on crafts big and small, with a variety of birds, dogs and cats, big and small.  There are certainly good arguments both pro and con.  My thinking is this:  If you're considering an onboard pet, talk to folks who have them, ask lots of questions, get lots of data (including regulations in countries you may cruise to), talk it over with your significant other(s), and consider a potential owner's responsibilities as well as quality of life issues from the pet's perspective.  Then if it's something you really, really want to do; go for it.  You only do this life thing once, so why deny yourself something you really want to do just because you live on a boat?

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