Skip's Tips
Skip Randall is my skipper/husband, the man who puts up with me on a full time basis. He is a writer in his own right, and will be contributing to Take Her Sailing whenever his muse visits. This section contains the tips that accompany many of his articles.

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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The 9 Essentials for the On-Deck Grab & Run Kit
The story behind this list is provided by Skip in Issue #6 (9/15/03) of the Nuts & Boats newsletter. These are the items he stages when we are at anchor in case we need to deal with anything that goes bump (or clunk or whoosh) in the night. Everything gets put in the same spot every night so we can get at them quickly in the dark.

1. Halogen headlamp (we test the headlamp each night and have a spare one nearby) 

2. Flashlight (ditto test and spare!)

3. Gloves (cold weather)

4. Boots or shoes (slip on kind, not laced!)

5. Jacket (cold weather)

6. Shirt

7. Pants or shorts (drawstring or elastic waist)

8. Rigging knife on a lanyard

9. Multitool

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Dealing with the Seasons 

I really love the transition months of the year, those weeks in spring and fall that bracket each equinox.  Not too hot, not too cold, usually just right.  As a year around liveaboard, though, the extremes of midsummer and midwinter call for some coping techniques to stay comfy.  I'd like to share some of the ways that we have dealt with a frigid winter in Maryland, our nippy transit down the ICW last fall,  and a sweltering summer in Florida. 

I'll start with summer since that's freshest in my mind.  And believe me, there were a few stretches I'd like to block out of my mind.  It was hot in Florida, really hot, and humid, very humid.  Ditto last summer on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.  That decidedly uncomfy summer prompted our decision to buy an air conditioner for the boat.  We opted for a a Carry-On 7000 BTU unit by TaylorMade (around $900 through West Marine, Boat US or Defender) that fits into the forward hatch.  We've been pleased with it so far.  It draws a reasonable 7.5 amps, is fairly quiet, and is adequate for our 30-foot boat.  Stowage for it is an issue when making a passage, however, and if I had space for one, I would certainly consider an inboard permanently mounted unit. 

For comfort away from the marina, airflow is all we have going, and the more the better.  If we’re fortunate enough to have a breeze blowing, we open up all the hatches and maximize the flow.  Absent a genset, our windscoop takes the place of the A/C unit over the forward hatch.  And we keep the cabin covered with a partial boat cover that helps with keeping the living space (relatively) cool. 

When the air is still, or when rain threatens, we gotta close 'em up, and turn on those fans.  Our philosophy is that, along with bungee cord and Ziploc bags (but that’s another story), you can never have too many fans on a cruising boat.  We have six on Nehalennia, two in the V-berth, two in the salon, and two on moveable pedestals with 8-foot cords and cigarette lighter adaptor plugs.  We like the Hella turbo fans; they are quiet, efficient amp-wise, seem to last forever, and have two speeds (by the way, spring for the $60 turbo model, not the $30 cheapo, which doesn’t perform well).  We also have a Nicro solar vent with an integral exhaust fan (around $120) that helps expel warmer air from the cabin roof. 

Here are a few more summer tips. 

• Plan on cooking outdoors as much as possible.  We have a Magna propane grill that gets a lot of use in the summer.  In the slip we use our microwave a lot, and occasionally at anchor we run it off the inverter for short chores like baking a potato. 
• To reduce energy consumption for the refrigerator, try wrapping a cheap "space blanket" (sold as a first aid kit component) around a collision mat and hang it over the side adjacent to the refrigerator box (only helps if your box is next to or near the hull). 
• Use a spray bottle to get some evaporative cooling going. We each have our own sprayer, and Trish has even been known to wet down an entire T-shirt in the sink before putting it on (OVER her bathing suit!).

Last, a word about flying pests (no-seeums, mosquitos, flies, bees, wasps, ad nauseum).  With all those hatches wide open, at sundown those winged torturers will come and get you.  So cover all potential entries with netting, preferably no-seeum fine mesh netting.  It cuts down on the airflow, but you'll be glad it's there, trust me.

Let's move on to winter.  As with summer, your coping techniques will depend on whether you're in a slip or on the hook.  In a slip, it's a no-brainer:  Get a space heater or two.  We have a West Marine model (around $45) that has served us well for three seasons.  It's quiet, has multiple fan speeds and heat settings, and does well on our small boat.  If it's really cold, we bundle up and use our electric blanket. It has dual controls, so Trish can make her side as hot as she wants without turning my side into a sweatbox!

On the hook, it's more challenging to stay comfy.  We have a diesel cabin heater (Dickinson Newport, around $700) that works well.  It virtually sips fuel, about a tablespoon an hour, and we rarely move the metering needle off low.  It was a real lifesaver coming down the ICW last fall; Trish said that it qualified as another crew member!  In lieu of the electric blanket, we use a down comforter on the bunk plus a thick thermal blanket when away from the good old 110v.

We don't use the diesel heater underway, so our main defense against the cold while on the move is layered clothing.  Clothing strategies for thermoregulation could make up a whole article, but I’ll save that for another time. Here I'll just say that we favor synthetics like thermax and polartec.  They wick moisture away and you can dial in how much insulation you need by layering.  We both have down gloves, down booties, and Trish has a down hood.  In addition to the synthetic stuff, we have our venerable Aran island wool fisherman's sweaters; plush, very warm and beautiful to look at.  

A few comments on safety are in order.  We have a carbon monoxide alarm that we use when we run the diesel heater.  Some boats out there have propane cabin heaters.  The CO risk for these is significantly higher than the diesel units.  I have a friend who has a nearly new propane heater that he doesn't use because, even with a CO alarm, he's had incidents when he's felt woozy (he feels) due to CO toxicity.  With our diesel heater, we usually shut it down at bedtime because of fire hazard concerns.  Of course it's my morning duty to climb out of the bunk ahead of Trish and get that sucker fired up before she'll venture out from under the comforter.

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10 Essentials for Reluctant Single Handing

This list accompanies Skip's "Confessions of a Reluctant Single Hander" article in Nuts & Boats Issue #11 (Dec 1 2003).

I like to have these items within arm's reach in the cockpit whenever I start out on my own. I also have my “virtual crew member” in the autopilot, without which the job of single handing would be a lot harder for me.

1. Chart/Cruising Guide
I like Maptech's chartkits, spiral-bound, nicely organized and easy to use. I research the pertinent cruising guide ahead of time, and  earmark pertinent pages (anchorages, marinas, hazards, etc.) with plastic paper clips.

2. Needlenose Pliers
I lay the pointed end of the pliers on my position on the chart and move it as I go. This allows a quick glance to get my bearings, instead of having to take attention off my surroundings to concentrate on the chart’s small print in order to reorient myself.

3. Magnifying Glass
Invaluable for making out those tiny navigational aides on the chart.  I use a large (6 in.) 4X model (about $5 at office supply stores).

4. Binoculars
I use a Fujinon 10X50 pair with range-bearing feature 

5. GPS
I use a "hand-held" model that I almost never hand hold.  It's a Magellan 3000 that sits in a mount on the helm pedestal and runs on a 12V adaptor or batteries. I use this instead of my speed log to give me speed over ground, since it takes currents into account.

6. Handheld VHF Radio
My personal choice is a compact submersible actually unit made by Standard.  I have a backup fresh battery pack at the ready for a quick change if the batteries run low.

7. Airhorn
You gotta have one per USCG rules, and it's nice to have it at arm's length for signaling the brain-impaired boater on a collision course, or a bridge if your VHF fails.

8. Squirter Bottle/Pocket Hand Warmers
A summer time tool, the squirter bottle is a summertime essential. I spritz my face, hair, and neck off to cool down. The hand warmers are cold weather staples, and it’s amazing what a difference they make.

9. Sun Protection
Save on those dermatologist bills and use the moola for neat boat stuff.  So put that hat on (or have it ready to grab), put on the shades with side protectors, and have sunscreen handy to re-apply after sweating and spritzing.  I also like a towel to spread over my legs if they're getting too much sun, and another one to dab the sunscreen yuck out of my eyes as I sweat. Cold weather doesn’t eliminate this one; though the sweating may not be an issue, the sun can still get you.

10. Munchies
Pre-made lunch, snacks, power bars, trail mix and such, and LOTS of fluids if it's hot out.  I keep a small cooler in a shady part of the cockpit and delve into it as needed.  In the summertime in hot weather on an 8 to 10 hour run it's not unreasonable to go through a gallon of fluids. In cold weather, I have a vacuum pump thermal pot to store coffee or hot water that straps down in the cockpit.

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