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Simple Things for the “Sailing Life”
Copyright © 2004, Kerry S. Mason
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Owning a boat has an oxymoronic quality to it. “The simple
life” can be pretty complex--I think of it as having a
plane, a car, and a house compressed into a very small
space. This specialized environment calls for specialized
equipment and tactics...sometimes. In spite of what marine
retailers would like us to think, there are a number of
"normal" (and inexpensive) items that we can put to very
efficient use aboard our boats. For example:
- For easy lighting that won't impair your night vision,
stock red cellophane (the kind you get in rolls in a
gift wrap store) and rubber bands. Cut squares to fit
over flashlights and rubber band them in to place.
- Forget buying purpose-made bag clips. Clothespins can
do double duty by securing laundry to the life lines
as well as keeping the bag of potato chips (or
whatever) closed. And only use rubber covered
clothespins--the metal hinges on the wooden ones rust
out in about five seconds in a marine environment.
- When the clothes dryer eats a sock, don't throw away
its mate. Save those unmatched socks to use as jar and
bottle covers aboard the boat. They provide good shock
absorbency.
- If you haven't completely switched over to a digital
camera, you should have plastic film canisters hanging
around. Reuse them for storage aboard the boat--small
fittings, pill boxes, herbs/spices, anything small
that needs a compact home.
- Have several plastic spray bottles on board. Besides
their use for cleaning solutions (e.g., a bleach/water
combination for controlling mildew), they are great
"hand showers". Douse yourself on hot days to
encourage evaporative cooling. And when you’re out on
the ocean and go over the side for a bath, use a
spray bottle to rinse yourself off with fresh water--
works great. Just make sure you keep your cleaning
solution bottles separate from your shower bottles!
- If you aren't already doing so, save your old
toothbrushes for cleaning and maintenance on the boat.
There are loads of tight places above and below decks
where a small brush works great. One overlooked spot:
Use a toothbrush to clean the inside of anchor chain
links.
- You can never have too many zip-locking bags. Keep
several sizes available, and use them for more than
just food storage. Spare parts, clothes, office
equipment, medicines, and lots of other stuff will
pack more compactly when transferred to zip locking
bags. And reuse the bags: invert, wash, and then hang
to dry with those double-duty clothespins.
These are just a few examples of the use of "non-marine"
things that have a place aboard a boat.
(c)Copyright 2004 Kerry S. Mason
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