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| Selections from "Sail Away" | ||
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Part 3 - Outfitting |
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| Offshore Being in the cabin of a yacht in a storm has been likened to being inside a washing machine -- but not everything comes out clean! Even on a fairly pleasant sailing day the larger ocean swells can occasionally group together and give the hull a slap that will send an unwary crew member flying if they're not holding on. Handholds When on passage we often find that there are days on end when we go from place to place in the boat always holding on to something. We added handholds below decks as well as above so we could more easily brace ourselves. I installed one long handrail beneath the coach house windows that runs the length of the saloon. Since Two-Step is fairly narrow this has been all we needed. Wider boats might need some handholds on the ceiling as well. We have also tried to round off all corners that might catch someone below decks. The edge of the icebox and the galley and companionway were areas where I sanded some corners down a little. Nevertheless Sheryl still seems to get bruises from being jostled around by the motion of the boat at sea. Lee Cloths or Bunk-boards  Leecloths or leeboards are essential for safe and secure sleeping at sea. Some form of protection must be provided for crew in their bunks. On Two-Step the saloon settees are the most comfortable place when the boat is pitching since there is the least motion near the centre of the boat. We use these as pilot berths. To prevent rolling off when the boat heels, we made lee clothes to keep the sleeping crew member in place. These are made from a piece of canvas 18" high that is fastened down on the outside edge of the bunk. We run them most of the length of the bunk, leaving 1 foot open at each end so you have a place to breathe and look out from whichever way you sleep in them. The canvas is fastened down to the bunk under a piece of aluminum (sanded smooth to prevent chafe) and attached up to the bulkhead at each end by lines tied in the upper corners. When not in use these fold neatly under the settee cushions. Securing Hatches and Lockers Gear must also be stowed well. In some cases, designs that work well for everyday sailing conditions will not be sufficient for a rough offshore passage. We put sturdy twist latches on all the settee lockers so they couldn't be opened by gear banging against them from the inside. The worst nightmare is for the boat to be knocked down, or even pitchpoled. In this case, the mess of gear that would empty out of lockers and from under floorboards doesn't bear thinking about. For an accurate and chilling first-hand description of this, I recommend Miles and Beryl Smeeton's tale of being pitchpoled near Cape Horn (Once is Enough). It should be enough to get anyone to purchase a few strong latches and to think about securing floorboards. Nothing will be proof against all disasters of course, but anything that helps is worth doing. I find that projects like this tend to help me keep Two-Step tidier below as well. Summary 
Good ventilation will be especially important in hot climates. Consider rain protection so hatches can remain open on a damp day. Install bug screens on dorade vents as well as for hatches. Condensation can ruin gear and upholstery. Insulation added to lockers will reduce this problem. Plan enough handholds below decks. Consider lee cloths to make pilot bunks secure if offshore sailing is planned |
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