All that Stuff -

[Mike G.]

Sunday was spent scrubbing and organizing the cabin.

The first priority in organizing was to figure out what is really needed.

DISCARD--
CD's: Don't use them anymore. Ipod, Pandora, Sirius suit us fine. Gone
Koozies: 10 of them. Never use them. Gone
Sunscreen: 12 bottles. Should be replaced yearly. Gone
Books: Already read them. Gone
Two very old VHFs: Gone
Bag of Old Plumbing Fittings: Keep at home

KEEP:
PFD's: They take up the most space.
8 different shapes and sizes for kids. Need to keep them on board.
5 adult vests and 4 inflatables. Use them all. Some fit in the hanging locker but not all. They can't be stowed too deep. On day of sail with guests, I find the best fit for each and assign that PFD.
Fishing Gear: (My kids often use it)
First Aid Kits:
Flares: Lots of outdated ones stored in a bag.
Galley Ware:
Charts:
Tools and more tools:
Cleaning Supplies:
Spare Parts:
Sail Ties: There must be 20 of them! (A few extras do come in handy)
6 Fenders: I usually only use 3 (and very seldom since on a mooring).
Lines and more Lines:
Binoculars, Flashlights, Winch Handles, Boat Horns, Boat Hooks,............

I think that the PFD's and fishing gear are the hardest to store and make the most clutter.

What do you keep? What do you discard?

Mike

 

[Bill Roosa]

Try this for the fishing gear. If you have a long vertical wall put some hooks in it and then make a pendant (bit of string with loops on both ends) that can be use to secure the poles to the hooks. I use this method for my dingly sailing mast and oars and it works great.

 

[thinwater]

Try this for the fishing gear. If you have a long vertical wall put some hooks in it and then make a pendant (bit of string with loops on both ends) that can be use to secure the poles to the hooks. I use this method for my dingly sailing mast and oars and it works great.

I find that rod holders work well (the sort that are made of wood, have ~ 4 holes or hollows to take the rods, an screw to the wall), but I have to make my own to get the best fit on each boat. Along the side in the bow works for me; catamaran bows are skinny and best kept light. The trick is to put the holes (for the buts) all in one end and the hollows in the other. That way you only need to access one end of the rack.

I also find cuban yo-yos to be very space efficient.
http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2010/04/yo-yo-fishing.html

Anything that was not used the prior season gets VERY close examination.

Cleaning supplies don't need to stay on the boat, or rather only a little. The rest can come on cleaning days.

A combination of large an smaller fenders can save space; they don't all need to be full size, depending on the curves of the hull.