| A pocket cruiser is usually defined as a boat of 27' or
less LOA. This makes it rather difficult to fit a pool table,
Jacuzzi and dance hall in the small space!!! Seldom do you have
standing head room, making it a tad difficult to move around in. For
these reasons the modifications you add to a pocket cruiser can have a
huge impact on how well your cruise goes and how long you can comfortably
stay out there. To live successfully in tight quarters you should
strive for convenience and speed of use in your designs. This
usually means dual function for most everything, but don't overdo this. It wouldn't hurt if
things are stored at arms length so they are within reach while seated. Having to
walk around the cabin can be a nuisance if another person has to move for
you. If your guest
doesn't use the word "slick" when showing them around the cabin, you
haven't done enough.
A simple addition can have a huge impact. It usually requires a
lot of thought and time to fabricate. Many are inexpensive compared
to the cost of the item. The following ideas were submitted by
various SJ23 crew.
GALLEY
| 1 |
Clothes Hamper |
To hold personal gear or clothing. Easy to
move around. Buy them in different colours for easy
identification.
|
| 2 |
Vinyl Basin |
To store things inside the settee, keeping it cool,
dry and organized.
|
| 3 |
Zip lock storage
bags |
To keep cans or other steel from rusting. To keep
small parts stored together and keep things from rolling around.
Large bags are great for documents and can be used in the cockpit
while it is raining.
|
| 4 |
Pressure cooker |
Modern ones don't explode and don't leak when
sealed. They can sterilize dirty utensils which is important
when living in a confined space.
|
| 5 |
A good table |
To spread things out
on, prepare stuff, etc. Use an "earthquake proof" place mat to
keep things from rolling off the table when a power boat pushes a
wake through your anchorage.
|
| 6 |
Office document
rack |
To sort things.
|
| 7 |
Scrub brush |
For doing dishes.
You need bristles to clean tiny spaces quickly. A dish rag
doesn't cut it.
|
| 8 |
Vinyl step stool |
It can be very useful
as a small table, invert it to set parts in, or to park your butt on
for an extended job.
|
| 9 |
Butane lighter or
Mini Torch |
To seal the ends of a
line, start a camp fire, light the BBQ, cabin heater or stove.
You can solder with a mini torch.
|
WARMTH
| 1 |
Cabin heater. |
Essential on a rainy day or to extend your cruising
time into the shoulder season in northern latitudes. Also
great to burn off the morning chill. If its not too cold
outside a well secured candle
flame can minimize cabin humidity long into the evening; i.e.: when you return
from your shore party.
|
| 2 |
Hollow-Fill sleeping bag |
I keep 4 sleeping bags on board; two 2 lb and two 4
lb bags. I pack each 2 lb in a nylon bag and the 4 lb in a water
tight olive barrel. They are stuffed loosely to retain as much
loft as possible. The olive barrel also adds buoyancy.
Full length zippers in the bags allow ventilation during a warm
night. Used singly or in combination, they keep my tootsies
warm down to about freezing. Recovering body heat after being
cold for along time is important to revive oneself.
|
|
3 |
Tiny hammock |
To store a lot of easy to access stuff. I
hang one in the forward berth to keep pillows and other fabric fresh.
|
| 4 |
Olive barrel (air tight) |
To store clothing in that has to stay dry.
You can find these surplus (free) at most any Greek grocery store. Clean
the inside with hot water, soap, and bleach. Then let vent for at least a week. The wide mouth makes
it easy to access the inside.
|
PERSONAL
| 1 |
Water jug |
For virtually guaranteed fresh drinking water.
When empty, stuff them under the forward berth for buoyancy.
|
| 2 |
Water bottle |
To monitor your daily water intake. Stay
hydrated.
|
| 3 |
Pressure sprayer. |
The inexpensive garden sprayer that you pressurize
by hand can be very effective at cooling or rinsing yourself on a
hot day. If you attach a shower head it becomes a one person
cockpit shower.
|
| 4 |
Solar shower. |
Fill the bag with water and expose it to full sun
for 2 hours. This is long enough to provide you with hot water
for a cockpit shower. What a luxury.
|
| 5 |
Cockpit cushions. |
I seldom use them for day sailing but
they are a real luxury to soothe a sore back or a tired butt. Flat fenders
can also be used effectively if they are clean. Easy to move
around.
|
| 6 |
CO2 alarm |
To stay on the green side of the grass because of
something not vented properly or the generator fumes from next to you
are blowing directly to you.
|
| 7 |
Scissors |
Are always useful. I keep a very tough pair onboard
to cut things that are normally cut with a cleaver. This way my
hands don't get cut.
|
| 8 |
Folding camp chair |
For beach parties or camp fires.
You could use your vinyl stool but it may get tiring without a back
rest.
|
| 9 |
Wrap around sun glasses. |
It is amazing how much light is reflected off the
water to burn your eye balls from the side. You will appreciate this
protection in your waning years because that's when the damage shows up.
|
BOAT CARE
| 1 |
Turkey baster or large sponge |
For sucking bilge water out of a small space.
Much of this water comes from condensation.
|
| 2 |
Baking Soda |
To deal with bilge smell. Also works well
as a deck cleaner or to put out a grease fire.
|
| 3 |
Outboard engine that can be pull started |
Pull starting is very useful if the battery is dead or the electric starter fails. Although it may be possible to
sail the boat to a place where a charger is available or have another boat
boost your battery. I have rafted up with a boat with cables charging the dead battery. Fortunately there was sun for Panache's solar
panels and he had beer.
|
| 4 |
Sail tape |
To fix a ripped garment, seal a hole, protect
against chafing, or to repair a sail.
|
| 5 |
Leather man or Swiss army knife |
For a zillion reasons plus a cork screw or can
opener.
|
| 6 |
Snorkel gear |
To inspect things under water. You can't
see without a mask and you can move a whole lot further with less energy by
using fins!
|
| 7 |
Chart Guard |
To protect a chart while on deck. It also
allows you to write a quick note on the guard without ruining the chart.
The extra weight keeps the wind from blowing the chart away.
|
| 8 |
Teak Bungs, etc |
WidgetCo is a great source of difficult to find and well made cork, metal, plastic, rubber & wood products for your boat.
|
ELECTRICAL or ELECTRONIC
| 1 |
Shore Power. |
Very convenient for a pocket cruiser. A 15 amp
service should be plenty to charge a battery, run a few lights,
operate a laptop, portable electric heater, hair drier, etc.
Try not to run them all at once though! Keep the extension
cord in a bag to organize the cable or hang it with your lines.
|
| 2 |
Sealed Gell Battery. |
Storage space on a pocket cruiser is precious.
That is why things may be stuffed next to a sealed gell battery, provided
the terminals are insulated. Its nice not to worry about
battery acid. If the cruiser ever capsizes, gell batteries
still provide power. That isn't true of a liquid filled
battery. Gell batteries are not damaged by discharging them.
|
| 3 |
A garden light |
Hung from the boom it can double as a cockpit
light or night light in the cabin. A garden light is water proof, solar powered, contains its
own battery and usually has a power switch.
|
| 4 |
A smart cell phone |
To call for help, talk to family, internet
access, etc. If you use a smart phone it can eliminate so many
other devices; news, weather reports, coordinates, tide
and current, navigation, camera, flash light, hi-fi sound system, search
on the internet, email, text message, and you can actually "talk" to
somebody. 3G speed is usually good enough but 4G (LTE) is very fast.
With a large enough screen you can almost eliminate a laptop.
Connect a tablet to the cell phone via Bluetooth. Post your cell
number on the hull for emergency reasons. However, there is no open channel (VHF Chan 16) to communicate with other boaters.
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| 5 |
LED Head lamp or flashlight |
Stored next to the companionway.
I find a head lamp is most useful because it frees your hands.
|
| 6 |
White noise maker |
To deal with annoying sounds around you.
For some people "white noise" helps to settle their nerves. I
doubt it can deal with things at go bump night; floats,
lines whipping, party boat, or people snoring.
|
| 7 |
AM/FM radio |
An AM radio that is tuned off station is pretty good
as a lightning detector. It can also be used to point to the radio station tower for an assist in direction finding. And finally, its great for listening to your favourite
sport cast. Hoist your team flag.
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| 8 |
A good sound system |
May be needed to keep a marine mammal from
ramming you, playful as they may be. Music can be copied from a CD.
One of the great things about sailing is that it is quiet enough to
listen to quality music.
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