Galley . . . comforts of home?

Sep 26, 2008
658
Hunter 340 0 Wickford, RI
The microwave on our boat is used only during the winter while on it’s sitting on the stands. Thats when I have the electricity connect and I am working around inside. I’ll heat up a coffee or something to eat while I work. Other than that we’re on our mooring and it’s a storage unit for whatever my wife wants to store in it. It’s so overused it's only lasted 24 years and still going! For my needs and I’m the only one who uses it, its perfect.
While during the sailing season it’s the cooktop and oven. And definitely the grill out on the rail. If either of them go, now were talking a major problem.
Our Magma Grill does need to be replace this year for sure. I like the rectangle style Greg has (in post #10) over the round one I have now. Looks like it would save some space hanging over the outside locker vs the round version.
 
Feb 19, 2008
358
Catalina Capri 18 ann arbor
Thanks for all the input everyone!

yes, my wife and I both love to cook, and we love to eat good food.

Cruising on our Capri 18 tends to be cruising from bed and breakfast to motel, and eating out two meals per day. I kinda love sleeping onboard, but I can’t get my wife to remember how we used to pack when we went camping on our bicycles (of course even back then I used to tell her she was taking too much). She tends to think, “we can shove one more bag in there.”

I’m aware that ANY boat that has a head, and headroom, and any sort of galley will feel like the Queen Mary for a while, but I don’t want to buy the 27 this year and be looking at the 30 two years from now.
 

dLj

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Mar 23, 2017
3,881
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
Thanks for all the input everyone!

yes, my wife and I both love to cook, and we love to eat good food.

Cruising on our Capri 18 tends to be cruising from bed and breakfast to motel, and eating out two meals per day. I kinda love sleeping onboard, but I can’t get my wife to remember how we used to pack when we went camping on our bicycles (of course even back then I used to tell her she was taking too much). She tends to think, “we can shove one more bag in there.”

I’m aware that ANY boat that has a head, and headroom, and any sort of galley will feel like the Queen Mary for a while, but I don’t want to buy the 27 this year and be looking at the 30 two years from now.
I feel the 30 foot size to be about perfect. There seems to be almost a quantum leap from under 30 feet to 30 feet and over. I've never figured out why... But that's been my experience....

dj
 

dLj

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Mar 23, 2017
3,881
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
What!?!? You don't appreciate rail meat?
I must have forgotten about that function as I have no need for it on my boat.... But thinking back to the days where it was needed, agility, speed, and endurance seemed higher on my list....

dj
 
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dLj

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Mar 23, 2017
3,881
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
I quite like rye bread and have lost my recipe - this is great!

dj
 
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JBP-PA

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Apr 29, 2022
506
Jeanneau Tonic 23 Erie, PA
I quite like rye bread and have lost my recipe - this is great!

dj
Many Rye recipes call for a pre-ferment (aka preferment, aka pouliche, aka poolish), but I often skip it while on the boat. A tolerable alternative for a pre-ferment is to mix up the dough and keep it in the fridge overnight. It won't overproof in the fridge but it will take longer to rise the next day since it had to warm up first.

Adding rosemary & dill is awesome too.
 
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Apr 8, 2010
2,052
Ericson Yachts Olson 34 28400 Portland OR
I feel the 30 foot size to be about perfect. There seems to be almost a quantum leap from under 30 feet to 30 feet and over. I've never figured out why... But that's been my experience....
apropos of whatever.... back when we spent a year shopping for a move-up boat after sailing a 26 footer for ten years, we started out looking at 30 to 31 or 32 footers. And, yes we have seen a major change in systems and accommodations at about 29/30+ feet.

We realized, after looking at other boats for a while, that the key to what we needed was not length per se, but Displacement.
And that led us to a longer lighter hull with more interior space, and lots of speed (under sail or power).
Our Olson 34 weighs 10600# , and is 34 feet long. This brings sailing and motoring speeds at 7 kts. 9 kts on a reach with the 135.
Double digits under sail off the wind.
I sometimes do wonder if we all do not obsess a little too much about LOA when trying to compare boats. :cool:
Many years ago, I recall an article by Bob Perry (NA) where he advised buyers to buy all the waterline they could afford and focus on a minimum-but-adequate interior. That was because maximizing DWL gives you maximum speed for the $.

Perhaps quaint advice in an age of "RV's with masts" purporting to be sailboats. Oh Well, and It is what it Is.
 

dLj

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Mar 23, 2017
3,881
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
Baking cookies in the oven on a boat during cold nights is fantastic. Will that "warm up" the boat cabin (especially during the cold night)??
Define "warm up"... Will it add heat - sure. Will it make the cabin feel nice and warm? Probably not, but depending on a bunch of variables, it might take a bit of the edge off...

dj
 

BarryL

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May 21, 2004
1,043
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409 Mt. Sinai, NY
Hello,

Thanks to all for great comments and advice. Just a few comments from me.

I do day sails, weekend cruises, weeklong cruises, and long distance racing. For day sailing and even weekend cruises you don’t need mich in the galley. A cooler for cold cuts, milk, beer, etc is probably enough. A way of making coffee / tea would be nice but it’s easy enough to get that or go without for a weekend.

For longer trips I really want a real galley. This means pressure hot and cold running water, refrigeration and freezer, stove and oven. We don’t do much cooking when on a week sailing vacation, but having a hot breakfast with coffee adds a lot of comfort. I’ll make bacon and eggs on English muffins, that’s always a crew pleaser.

As mentioned, when doing distance racing, a frozen lasagna, baked ziti, etc is easy to store, and after an hour in the oven you have a happy crew.

A few more tidbits:
the 44’ boat I race on has a 3 burner stove, but you can’t fit 3 pots or pans on the stovetop at the same time!
i prefer two deep sinks, one for dirty dishes, and the other for clean dishes in a drying rack
propane is very efficient. A small bottle lasts more than 1 season with decent use

barry
 
Jan 25, 2007
322
Cal Cal 33-2 cape cod
Stove holds serving tray/cutting board, reheats food, and cooks. (used often) Few overnights & weekly races, (non-liveaboard) my 1988 Cal 33 has plenty of storage space left over, in fact, most shelves/storage are empty. Family of five plus dog are fine. Ice box works well, this is my ideal galley.
 

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dLj

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Mar 23, 2017
3,881
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
I usually go through 2x20 pounders per season but we cruise for three or four months per year.
At first I was thinking this was a lot, but then realized a 20 pounder is 5 gallons - I was thinking 20 gallons when I first read this.

However once I got my head on straight, I concur. That's pretty close to what I used living aboard full time and traveling with an Irishman that had to have tea 5 or 6 times a day plus all the cooking we did...

dj
 

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,290
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Will that "warm up" the boat cabin (especially during the cold night)??
I think more importantly it will put smiles on the boats crew.
One never knows where that may lead,;)
 
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