I know those of us with "trailer" sailors tend not to go on long trips, but what's the best thing you've done to improve liveability on your trailer sailor? For me, and while it wasn't much work at all, it was the plastic storage bins that I keep under the cockpit seats, accessible from the cabin! Between the porta pot and the alch stove, I really don't need much.
Extended Weekend
- Thread starter Brian M H23
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I have just aquired a Hunter 20
As yet I have not put it in the water. The reason I bought it is for weekend camp/sail trips. This sounds like a very good topic. I have so far added a rail mount bbq grill and a forestar single burner gimbaled stove. The original stove is missing for this boat. Can't do without coffee in the morning
As yet I have not put it in the water. The reason I bought it is for weekend camp/sail trips. This sounds like a very good topic. I have so far added a rail mount bbq grill and a forestar single burner gimbaled stove. The original stove is missing for this boat. Can't do without coffee in the morning
I replaced the two inch thick cushions with three inches. Got rid of the old kerosene stove and have a handy single backpackable burner. May not be gimbled but steady enough for the harbor. Like Brianbob all we need is our coffee in the morning and tea at night. Anything that needs cooking goes on the barby. Replaced four track cartridge stereo (so hard to find new tapes) with new cd/tuner/mp3/ipod compatible stereo. Little things like the 4' net hammock that is hooked above the cabin table catches everythiing that would normally end up on the table and eventually on the floor in a good heel. Installed 12v cigarette lighter to charge cell phone. The solar panel is probably the most useful mod so far. I have not had to hook up the charger since installed last summer. Greaqt for Catalina where there are no hookups. After spending $20 round trip for the water taxi each time a good dink is valuable. Frank
Extended weekend !
Sounds like you guys have it pretty good. Any planning for a weekend for me and the wife = a hotel room, room service, and breakfast, lunch and dinner at some fancy place :-( My wifes idea of camping is two weeks in a condo on one of the many beaches of Hawaii.............. I'm lucky to get a full day sail in.
Sounds like you guys have it pretty good. Any planning for a weekend for me and the wife = a hotel room, room service, and breakfast, lunch and dinner at some fancy place :-( My wifes idea of camping is two weeks in a condo on one of the many beaches of Hawaii.............. I'm lucky to get a full day sail in.
Glenn, in the words of Bill Clinton, "I feel your pain."
Mine complains less after she sees the motel rates in Avalon. Suddenly the boat doesn't look so bad. If there is any place to eat within 50mi of the boat or tent we are there. Frank
Mine complains less after she sees the motel rates in Avalon. Suddenly the boat doesn't look so bad. If there is any place to eat within 50mi of the boat or tent we are there. Frank
more than extended weekends
We have owned our Hunter 260 for six years now. Over the years I have added the the folowing in the order of the most usefullness: Replaced thin cheap foam matresses with thicker higher quality foam.EZY steering connect from outboard to rudder. Canvas camper top enclosure with screens.This gives standing headroom in galley and eliminates the need to mess with hatchboards during the overnicht stay. Bimini (useful in hot sun or pouring rain)CD player with XM radio receiver, speakers below and in cockpit bulkhead. Flexible removable solar panel. 12V outlet near galley. We have spent several vacations living on the boat. Overnight usualy in some port but also on the hook.
We have owned our Hunter 260 for six years now. Over the years I have added the the folowing in the order of the most usefullness: Replaced thin cheap foam matresses with thicker higher quality foam.EZY steering connect from outboard to rudder. Canvas camper top enclosure with screens.This gives standing headroom in galley and eliminates the need to mess with hatchboards during the overnicht stay. Bimini (useful in hot sun or pouring rain)CD player with XM radio receiver, speakers below and in cockpit bulkhead. Flexible removable solar panel. 12V outlet near galley. We have spent several vacations living on the boat. Overnight usualy in some port but also on the hook.
added a few things..
Added a removeable bulkhead for head privacy while cruising, and open while daysailing. We added bed supports across the seats in the main salon to create a queen bed in the center of the boat as this allows access to the head, a moonroof for sleeping and solves my wife claustrophobic nature. I added a freestanding airconditioner next to the hatch ladder to cool the boat off to work on it in the summer. Added a 12 volt sink pump in line to the existing hand pump to have running water. Replaced the two group 24 batteries with two "jump start" type batteries. They are easily removed to be charged on my work bench at home, or can be recharged in the boat also. One powers the boat breaker panel which drives the lights, bilge, depth meter, and sink. The other battery powers VHF, GPS, IPOD, TV, DVD etc. They are interchangable and one or the other can power everything if needed. We do not waste a lot of power, so the two smaller batteries easily last 3 days or so, but we usually end up at a Marina every other night anyway to recharge things, shower, and eat out. Since we don't use the aft bed, I have those plastic storage bins that I use for back there to store gear. Keeps the forward areas clear.
Added a removeable bulkhead for head privacy while cruising, and open while daysailing. We added bed supports across the seats in the main salon to create a queen bed in the center of the boat as this allows access to the head, a moonroof for sleeping and solves my wife claustrophobic nature. I added a freestanding airconditioner next to the hatch ladder to cool the boat off to work on it in the summer. Added a 12 volt sink pump in line to the existing hand pump to have running water. Replaced the two group 24 batteries with two "jump start" type batteries. They are easily removed to be charged on my work bench at home, or can be recharged in the boat also. One powers the boat breaker panel which drives the lights, bilge, depth meter, and sink. The other battery powers VHF, GPS, IPOD, TV, DVD etc. They are interchangable and one or the other can power everything if needed. We do not waste a lot of power, so the two smaller batteries easily last 3 days or so, but we usually end up at a Marina every other night anyway to recharge things, shower, and eat out. Since we don't use the aft bed, I have those plastic storage bins that I use for back there to store gear. Keeps the forward areas clear.
best mod
My best mod was changing out the companionway washboards with a single smoked lexan panel. You can't see in during the day nor at night, yet the cabin has a huge view aft that makes it seem much larger than it is, and allows you to keep an eye on the outside while inside, especially in bad weather. In good weather a screen fits in the same opening. The next best mod for weekending was the burner come grill that can be used inside or out or on the beach. Closely following that would be the LED interior light that can burn for long hours without bothering me nor the battery. My next upcoming mod that should be most useful is a spreader light so that I can entertain in the cockpit after dark.
My best mod was changing out the companionway washboards with a single smoked lexan panel. You can't see in during the day nor at night, yet the cabin has a huge view aft that makes it seem much larger than it is, and allows you to keep an eye on the outside while inside, especially in bad weather. In good weather a screen fits in the same opening. The next best mod for weekending was the burner come grill that can be used inside or out or on the beach. Closely following that would be the LED interior light that can burn for long hours without bothering me nor the battery. My next upcoming mod that should be most useful is a spreader light so that I can entertain in the cockpit after dark.
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