Last year, my wife and I bought our boat and this year we decided to start getting used to living aboard with the intention of preparing for eventual cruising. After two attempts (two weeks apart) resulting in nearly sleepless nights, we are wondering how long it takes to get used to sleeping on a boat? Neither of us gets seasick and the water wasn't particularly rough. But even gentle rocking seemed to keep us awake. If anybody has any advice, tips, or just comments from experience, I sure would appreciate it.
Wannabe cruisers need sleep!
- Thread starter Stephen OBrien
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could be alot of things
A boat can be hot, humid, cramped, and noisy, I always keep Dramamine with me not for the seasickness but due to it making me very sleepy. Beer also works I hear. You may also be sleeping in the wrong area of the boat if you have a front and rear bunk try both one may rock less due to the angle of the bed. I happen to like the rocking but I cant stand the slapping of the waves hitting the back of my boat, it seems to be defining at night if the wind is blowing just right. The more you sail the more you will get use to the rocking try sleeping at the docks for a while this may also help. Last if the wind is what is rocking you, find a sheltered area by the evening the rocking usually stops where I live in Jacksonville and the boat stays still innless a gator tries to climb on board. Just kidding.
A boat can be hot, humid, cramped, and noisy, I always keep Dramamine with me not for the seasickness but due to it making me very sleepy. Beer also works I hear. You may also be sleeping in the wrong area of the boat if you have a front and rear bunk try both one may rock less due to the angle of the bed. I happen to like the rocking but I cant stand the slapping of the waves hitting the back of my boat, it seems to be defining at night if the wind is blowing just right. The more you sail the more you will get use to the rocking try sleeping at the docks for a while this may also help. Last if the wind is what is rocking you, find a sheltered area by the evening the rocking usually stops where I live in Jacksonville and the boat stays still innless a gator tries to climb on board. Just kidding.
More detail
We were trying to sleep on the settee berths. We even put the cushions on the sole to see if that would be better.
We were trying to sleep on the settee berths. We even put the cushions on the sole to see if that would be better.
Berth
When at the dock I sleep aft and when anchored, I sleep either fore or mid. The small waves slapping the boat makes too much noise aft. I hear there is a aft protector for that but it's low on my list of things to get. I don't have a problem with the heat or rocking.
When at the dock I sleep aft and when anchored, I sleep either fore or mid. The small waves slapping the boat makes too much noise aft. I hear there is a aft protector for that but it's low on my list of things to get. I don't have a problem with the heat or rocking.
Confidence
I checked my log, and I have spent 39 nights on my Catalina 22 this year. When I first started spending the night on my boat, the halyards banging kept me up at night. But now, I do not even notice them. I do not like to stay at the docks, unless the weather is calm. The wind and waves will bang and jerk your boat around. The storms will beat you to death at the docks. I always anchor when it is stormy. My boat rides the waves, with a rocking motion that induces sleep. I didn't feel comfortable doing this until I bought a depth instrument what has an anchor alarm. I usually try to set my hook in fifteen feet of water with my shall and deep alarm set at ten and twenty feet. I rode out one storm where my anchor dragged. I was anchored on a rock and hydrilla bottom, but I survived a sleepless night without moving too far. Someday, I would like to have both GPS and a depth anchor alarms. Last Friday night, it was stormy, and the wind instrument at the Club registered 56 MPH winds. The boat shuddered, but we didn't drag the anchor at all on a mud bottom. I slept like a baby. I think that I sleep better on my boat than at home. Now to respond to your question, "how long does it take to get used to sleeping on the boat?" It took me a year to become confident in my anchoring ability, to learn to ignore the normal boat noises, and the purchase of a depth alarm. Even though I sleep well, I do get up to be sure everything is alright several times a night. My biggest fear is "tanked up power boaters" going 60 MPH at night, so on holiday weekends, I tend to stay at the docks, unless it is stormy.
I checked my log, and I have spent 39 nights on my Catalina 22 this year. When I first started spending the night on my boat, the halyards banging kept me up at night. But now, I do not even notice them. I do not like to stay at the docks, unless the weather is calm. The wind and waves will bang and jerk your boat around. The storms will beat you to death at the docks. I always anchor when it is stormy. My boat rides the waves, with a rocking motion that induces sleep. I didn't feel comfortable doing this until I bought a depth instrument what has an anchor alarm. I usually try to set my hook in fifteen feet of water with my shall and deep alarm set at ten and twenty feet. I rode out one storm where my anchor dragged. I was anchored on a rock and hydrilla bottom, but I survived a sleepless night without moving too far. Someday, I would like to have both GPS and a depth anchor alarms. Last Friday night, it was stormy, and the wind instrument at the Club registered 56 MPH winds. The boat shuddered, but we didn't drag the anchor at all on a mud bottom. I slept like a baby. I think that I sleep better on my boat than at home. Now to respond to your question, "how long does it take to get used to sleeping on the boat?" It took me a year to become confident in my anchoring ability, to learn to ignore the normal boat noises, and the purchase of a depth alarm. Even though I sleep well, I do get up to be sure everything is alright several times a night. My biggest fear is "tanked up power boaters" going 60 MPH at night, so on holiday weekends, I tend to stay at the docks, unless it is stormy.
Mattress
Follow the advice of the other posts and find the best location in your boat to sleep. Then order a real mattress or at least very dense foam cushion. There is no reason to be uncomfortable in the boat you wouldn't be at home. At the slip we use a drop in air conditioner. The marina gets very hot. On the hook we use 12V fans. In addition to making you very cool they tend to drown out random backround noises and their constant drone is easy to get used to and sleep with. We have found it is much more comfortable anchored out. A wind scoop is another important device for comfortable life at anchor. It captures the lightest breeze and sends it below to cool the boat.
Follow the advice of the other posts and find the best location in your boat to sleep. Then order a real mattress or at least very dense foam cushion. There is no reason to be uncomfortable in the boat you wouldn't be at home. At the slip we use a drop in air conditioner. The marina gets very hot. On the hook we use 12V fans. In addition to making you very cool they tend to drown out random backround noises and their constant drone is easy to get used to and sleep with. We have found it is much more comfortable anchored out. A wind scoop is another important device for comfortable life at anchor. It captures the lightest breeze and sends it below to cool the boat.
GPS
David - Don't know whether you are interested in a hand-held GPS, but thought I'd mention that I have a Garmin GPSMAP 76CS. It includes basic marine maps, US maps, etc. and has an anchor drag alarm (not depth, though). Also includes most of the usual GPS functionality. BoatUS sells this unit for about $550, but you can find it online for much less. Try Amazon or Buy.com, if interested. Jack
David - Don't know whether you are interested in a hand-held GPS, but thought I'd mention that I have a Garmin GPSMAP 76CS. It includes basic marine maps, US maps, etc. and has an anchor drag alarm (not depth, though). Also includes most of the usual GPS functionality. BoatUS sells this unit for about $550, but you can find it online for much less. Try Amazon or Buy.com, if interested. Jack
Anchor Drag Alarm
I used our GPS with Anchor Drag alarm and kept increasing the distance until the false alarms stop before calling it a night. I think in the end, we had something like a 60ft drag in 12 ft of water. What is everyone else's experience. We had out a 5-1 scope that night and did swing 180 during the night. Our anchor held perfectly (in position with the other anchored boats) but 60 foot seemed a bit high.
I used our GPS with Anchor Drag alarm and kept increasing the distance until the false alarms stop before calling it a night. I think in the end, we had something like a 60ft drag in 12 ft of water. What is everyone else's experience. We had out a 5-1 scope that night and did swing 180 during the night. Our anchor held perfectly (in position with the other anchored boats) but 60 foot seemed a bit high.
Time aboard
Time aboard will solve the sleepless nights problem. You will learn the motions and noises that are harmless and sleep. When strange motions or noises are experienced you will hopefully awaken. A secure anchorage will build confidence. Fortunately we started out in lakes. In a snug cove with a rope tied to a tree and an anchor off of the stern it is hard not to feel safe. Plus a small snug cove doesn't get rocked by every passing boat. Another thing happens to me in that I wake up and look around and make sure all is well then fall right back to sleep. A GPS is helpful if you are in a place where you might drag anchor. I usually don't use the GPS but pick out a few landmarks preferablly with lights that I use to check my position. During a stormy night in an open anchorage we use the GPS. It saved our butt last summer!!!! A squall came through and both of our anchors dragged after a 180 degree wind shift. When my wife checked the GPS we had drug almost 1/2 mile!!!! We were stuck like a rock during the first part of the storm but when the wind changed in the early morning hours from NE to SW we apparently started dragging. My wife noticed the change in the boat's motion and when she checked she said that the other boats had left. Thinking that that was strange I suggested checking the GPS. When she said 0.48 miles I at first thought that she had a digit wrong. When she repeated the distance I was up on deck in record time. Fortunately we had been blown out into open water and not onto the beach. After a frantic 1/2 hour of starting the engine and pulling in the anchors we then reanchored and slept late the next morning. The plow was on top of the grass and hadn't reset and the danforth had a large conch stuck on the tip of the flukes so that it didn't reset. I now use a Bruce knockoff called a Claw that has always reset even during strong 180 degree wind/current shifts. Tom
Time aboard will solve the sleepless nights problem. You will learn the motions and noises that are harmless and sleep. When strange motions or noises are experienced you will hopefully awaken. A secure anchorage will build confidence. Fortunately we started out in lakes. In a snug cove with a rope tied to a tree and an anchor off of the stern it is hard not to feel safe. Plus a small snug cove doesn't get rocked by every passing boat. Another thing happens to me in that I wake up and look around and make sure all is well then fall right back to sleep. A GPS is helpful if you are in a place where you might drag anchor. I usually don't use the GPS but pick out a few landmarks preferablly with lights that I use to check my position. During a stormy night in an open anchorage we use the GPS. It saved our butt last summer!!!! A squall came through and both of our anchors dragged after a 180 degree wind shift. When my wife checked the GPS we had drug almost 1/2 mile!!!! We were stuck like a rock during the first part of the storm but when the wind changed in the early morning hours from NE to SW we apparently started dragging. My wife noticed the change in the boat's motion and when she checked she said that the other boats had left. Thinking that that was strange I suggested checking the GPS. When she said 0.48 miles I at first thought that she had a digit wrong. When she repeated the distance I was up on deck in record time. Fortunately we had been blown out into open water and not onto the beach. After a frantic 1/2 hour of starting the engine and pulling in the anchors we then reanchored and slept late the next morning. The plow was on top of the grass and hadn't reset and the danforth had a large conch stuck on the tip of the flukes so that it didn't reset. I now use a Bruce knockoff called a Claw that has always reset even during strong 180 degree wind/current shifts. Tom
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