Do you need to put your boat on a diet?

[jssailem]

Through the years I have learned not to state observations of ladies regarding their weight.

We all tend to put on what we refer to Winter weight. It is a biological survival thing.

But winter is the best time to take a look at that mistress, your boat, and ask the serious question… Is she sitting a little lower in the water now than when we first met.?

Assuming it is not water weight… as my girl attempted, which prompt surgery corrected.

It could be during the past summer sailing experience you brought on a few extra tools to enhance your adventures, toys for water play, food stuffs or passenger comforts. Why not take a look in the cabin cupboards, nooks, crannies and voids that all boats have and empty them. Take those extras and move them ashore, like into your garage. Or post them on our SBO classified. If you have not used it within the past 2 years perhaps it is time to let it go… Who knows you may build up a cruising kitty to let you sail next spring further and faster than before.

That brings up another good reason to lighten your boat weight. Lighter boats often ride better, dryer, and feel like they are more lively. You feel better power out of your sails. This may encourage you to sail more and give that iron genny a bit of a rest.

So try it. Put the girl on a diet and let her reward you. All references were about boats and no derogatory comments were intended to dismiss or malign ‘fat bottom girls’…

 

[Will Gilmore]

Assuming it is not water weight… as my girl attempted, which prompt surgery corrected.

Let me guess which one of you paid for said surgery?

-Will

 

[dLj]

I have found that at least once every couple years I need to take everything out of my boat. It's amazing what hides in corners and in stowed away places that really should no longer be on the boat... It also help me to remember where I've put things. It would be great to have a comprehensive list of where everything is, but that still remains more of an ideal that has not yet been achieved...

dj

 

[jssailem]

Not quite that bad.

But she was definitely off her lines.

 

[stickinthemud57]

Accumulating excessive ancillary gear on the boat happens almost effortlessly. A lot of this owes to a lack of adequate storage space at the slip. I am fortunate that I have space for a footlocker and that the south finger at my slip is not shared, which allows me room for stuff like my swim deck and bimini top without inconveniencing others. I am also fortunate to live only a few minutes from the marina, so I don't have to worry about not having the odd piece of gear on the boat.

I think the 2-year guideline is a good one. I am trying to come up with a modular solution for our rarely-used cooking gear, and also focus on making everything on board do double duty.

It does seem as though the some of the absolute essentials such as kicker, anchor, and batteries are the heaviest offenders, so you look at the collection of kitchen utensils, which weigh a fraction of these things, and ask what real advantage there is to removing them.

I think dLj has the right idea. Remove everything, assess its need, and deal with it accordingly.

 

[twodzusfittings]

But she was definitely off her lines.

Just paint fresh lines!

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Through the years I have learned not to state observations of ladies regarding their weight.

No, no, no. I've never found that to be a problem at all.
What REALLY gets the fur flying is when you ask when the little bundle of joy is due, and find out that's not the case at all.

 

[rgranger]

What REALLY gets the fur flying is when you ask when the little bundle of joy is due, and find out that's not the case at all.

Shouldn’t assume a capsize either

 

[capta]

When we unloaded Skipping Stone for sale, she rose at least 4" in the water, perhaps more. And we didn't strip her either, leaving plenty of gear aboard.
But, that is the nature of a cruising boat, isn't it?

 

[justsomeguy]

It would be great to have a comprehensive list of where everything is,

Performed an inventory a couple of years ago. Keeping it updated is the tough part.

 

[Roland5048]

Take those extras and move them ashore, like into your garage.

Tried that over the years. Stored everything in my house, (sans garage). Wash, rinse, and repeat. Well, just as nature abhors a vacuum, it appears that a boat does also. Me thinks I need psychiatric help.

 

[Tally Ho]

My shed has several anchors, fenders, etc that I wanted to get off the boat.

Tally Ho sits on her lines pretty well, but when I hauled out last fall, I asked the marina what she was weighing in the slings…she weighs 10,250 dry…I think he travel lift guy said she was weighing in around 14,000 pounds sans water, etc. Sails we’re still on board..

I will have to see what she weighs in this fall when I haul out…

Greg

 

[stickinthemud57]

This may be of interest to a very small fraction of sailors here, but if you have a water-ballasted boat (like I do) then every extra pound that is on the boat when you fill your ballast will add another pound of water to the ballast tank. So instead of just carrying an extra 200 lbs of gear, you are carrying an additional 200 lbs of water.

 

[RussC]

Does drinking the beer that's in the cooler qualify as removal?

 

[DArcy]

Well, just as nature abhors a vacuum, it appears that a boat does also.

Not at all, I have a vacuum on my boat (speaking of excess junk )

 

[stickinthemud57]

Does drinking the beer that's in the cooler qualify as removal?

Only if one can properly document the place and manner of disposal of this and similar "temporarily utilized resources".

 

[Project_Mayhem]

Does drinking the beer that's in the cooler qualify as removal?

Only if you empty the head or pee off the side of the boat!

 

[rgranger]

Does drinking the beer that's in the cooler qualify as removal?

 

[dLj]

Not at all, I have a vacuum on my boat (speaking of excess junk )

I actually really like my vacuum on my boat. I would definitely not classify it as excess junk.... I have a battery operated Dyson. it's really useful!

dj

 

[DArcy]

I actually really like my vacuum on my boat. I would definitely not classify it as excess junk.... I have a battery operated Dyson. it's really useful!

dj

I have a small DeWalt shop vac. I really do like it and it isn't all that heavy but it does take up space. I shouldn't classify it as excess junk, I use it fairly often.