Best Boat Toilet

Ahoy Maties! Welcome Liveaboards, I know it's a funny subject but deserves much consideration. I have found a great discussion in a forum that I found extremely helpful in my toilet buying  decision. They discuss models, installs etc.

Here is what I gained from reading in the forum:

It appears that many people still prefer the old pump models because of ease of maintenance reasons. Some even spoke of the old plank with a hole in it hanging over the bow (I wouldn't recommend that model  :)  ). It looks as though the most reliable toilet they speak of is the Sealand Traveler. Ease of install and performance also wins it some praise.Sealand is known to be one of the most costly of the marine toilets, but many would say, well worth the price!
Some believe that the easiest install, and needing less pumpouts is the Sealand RV style toilet which has it's holding tank directly below which causes it to use much less water.
Here are two other models that got Kudos for sailboats: Crittenden Skipper for normal sized sailboats, Groco Model K-H, and groko.There was also some discussion on composting toilets but that didn't make it to far. I think we can all see the problems there....
There are still those that believe that the old "Bucket and Chuck it" is the way to go but I think I will be looking into a vaccu flush for myself  :)
Have a great day living aboard your boat!

Applying Boat Decals

Is it time for new decals on your boat? Is your boat still nameless? If you are looking to apply your own decals I found this great How To Video that shows just how it's done.

Boating Safety-Review for Summer!

This site has one of the easiest and fun formats to re learn the rules of safe boating. It is set up as an old leather bound book with very easily clickable links to go to the page you need.
The sections include:
Tips
Rules of the Waterway
Look and Listen
Safety  Courses
and more....

I think you will really enjoy this site

Click Here to Go

Had to Share, More Funny Boaters

Last summer in the San Juans

Beautiful Friday Harbor

I wanrted to share on eof my favorite vacation places to take the boat.
Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. If you've been there, you know it's wonderful, if you haven't ...it's time to find out.

There is a 500 slip marina in Friday Harbor so there is plenty of room for everyone. Just be sure during the summer months to call ahead as they do get very busy.  Their peak season is July and August so their rates are also higher at that time for moorage.

They are also very specific in the steps to docking. I will include below so you can see for yourself:

Slip Assignment Station located on breakwater “A” our northern most breakwater. Please call us on VHF channel 66US upon arrival or motor right up to this station. G-Dock Check-in Station is at the base of G-Dock. Staff here can help grab your lines or check you in for overnight moorage. Main Pier Check-in Station, located just below the port office serves as concierge central. Here you can also check-in, get maps, directions, phone numbers,or we can hail you a cab. Main station is also a great place to pick up your Port of Friday harbor logoed memories in the form of T-shirts, hats, bags, or blankets. Come check us out! Breakwater Station, located just over the bridge from the main float to the breakwater is there to make your docking needs easier. Our experienced staff can help you tie-up, push off & plug-in. Look for us in red!

Like they say, their staff is dressed in red so you can spot them easily as you pull in.   For more info on Friday Harbor I have posted their link here:Friday Harbor Marina Click Here

De-Winterize Your Boat Spring Boat Prep to Get Your Boat Ready for Spring Commissioning From Ericka Watson

Get ready for the spring commissioning of your boat by following these simple tips to de-winterize it after a long, hard winter. If you did winterize your boat, you saved yourself some spring boat prep time and possible headaches now, which means the road between your boat and the water is shorter! Although it is always best to winterize a boat before putting it into storage, if you didn't, don't worry. You can perform those tasks now for the spring commissioning. Here's how:

1. Have Your Manufacturer's Manual Handy

If you have a copy, great. If you don't, it would be a good idea to get one. You'll need it to replace fluids and parts properly. Never take apart anything without consulting the manual first.

 

2. De-winterizing Your Engine

The engine is the heart of the boat, and since it will most like take the greatest amount of time and be the messiest, start here. If you didn't change the oil at the end of last season, do so now. After running your boat all summer, it's likely that water, acids and other byproducts have built up. It's important to change the oil to prevent corrosion and excessive wear which can lead to loss of power, poor fuel economy or engine failure. At the same time you change the oil, be sure to change the oil filter. Change the oil in transmission or the outboard's lower unit as well.
Next, flush the cooling system and replace the antifreeze with a 50/50 ratio of water to coolant.
Finally, replace the batteries and perform a thorough engine test.

3. Inspect the Canvas & Vinyl

Check your bimini top, seats, covers, and other vinyl and canvas items for tears, mildew and dirt. Repairs tears and holes, and then clean with the proper cleaner for canvas and vinyl.

4. Inspect the Hull

Carefully inspect the hull for blisters or other chips and cracks as well as for chalky residue. If you find blisters, repair them. If the boat's hull is chalky, it could indicate oxidation. Determine the level of oxidation, and then restore the boat's gelcoat to its original luster. Then, throughout the summer, follow the gelcoat maintenance plan to keep oxidation at bay.

5. Clean and Wax the Hull

First clean your boat's exterior using a marine safe cleaner from a marine supply store. Then, apply a fresh coat of wax according to the instructions in the gelcoat maintenance plan.

6. Inspect the Windshield Wipers

Inspect and replace windshield wipers if necessary. If the wipers are in good condition, apply a rubber lubricant to protect them from the harsh marine environment. Some experts recommend stowing wipers until you need them to keep them in good condition longer.

7. Polish the Metal and Teak

Known as brightwork, metal and teak enhance the look of your boat. If it's dull, your boat will not have the same visual appeal as it might otherwise have. Also, prolonged neglect of metal and teak can result in pitting and eventually compromise the integrity of the materials and their intended use. To protect the metal, use metal polisher like Never Dull. For teak, it is usually recommended that you sand it and then apply stain and varnish.

8. Replace and Test all Electronics

Bring all the electronics back on board and do a thorough test to be sure they are working properly. Test the radio, GPS, compass, depth finder, and any other marine electronics.

 

9. Clean the Interior

Whether you have an open deck or cabin with full galley, clean the area thoroughly to remove dirt and debris.

 

How to Do Food Storage in an RV or Other Small Living Space By Terria Fleming

Many people live in RV's and other small living spaces like boats, studio apartments, dorm rooms, and tiny cabins or houses. There isn't a large amount of space to put anything, let alone that all-important food storage we are all being encouraged to have right now, so what can a person do who wants their own emergency food storage but doesn't have a huge home to put it in?

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• An RV or other small living space
• a plan
• emergency food to store

1. 1
   
   tiny kitchen
   Most of us are aware of the need for storing a certain amount of extra food in our homes, in case of disasters, emergencies, a financial crisis such as an unexpected job loss, and any other possible emergency situations that could arise at any time, for anyone.
   
   This means, at a minimum, storing a two-week supply of emergency foods, although a three month to a year supply is even better. Still do what you can, with the money you have. Store at least two weeks worth of food and other emergency supplies like water, medications and first aid supplies, candles, emergency cooking equipment, flashlights and things of this nature.
   
2. 2
   
   boat galley
   I have lived in a studio apartment and know firsthand how challenging it can be to make the place a home that is capable of storing things like extra food, not to mention all the furniture, household gear, etc. for your daily needs, and yet still have room enough to breathe. It is a challenge but it can be done.
   
   Especially in a small living space you need to plan carefully. Knowing just what you need to store for emergency preparedness is helpful in determining where to put it once you've bought it.
   
   People have lived on small boats for months at a time with just the food supplies they can get aboard, supplemented by fresh foods and fish, etc. when they stop some place long enough to shop at a grocery store or market. Boats don't have a lot of storage space for food as a rule, so if these folks can do it, so can people who live in RV's or dorm rooms or tiny studio apartments.
   
   Planning is key. Each tiny living space is different and each family has different food needs and likes, so this must be taken into consideration when purchasing your food storage. During an emergency situation is not the time to begin eating a lot of food you dislike, or even foods you've never tried to cook with before. You are under enough stress already without adding to it by eating unusual (for you and your family anyway) foods.
   
   Remember to focus on dehydrated foods if your storage space is really tiny. Then you can supplement the dehydrated foods with buckets of beans, rice, pasta, etc. and some canned foods. Canned foods take up much more room than dehydrated or dried foods do, but have their place in your food storage program too and properly stored will last a long time.
   
3. 3
   
   food storage buckets
   If you have a bookcase or two anywhere in your house, pull the books out and then put some of your food storage behind the books. After replacing the books on the shelves, no one will even see the food storage. Most bookcases are wide so there is usually some space behind books for storing other items. Put a row or two of canned foods behind your books for example, and top with more cans if the shelves are far enough apart to do that. This works particularly well if you have room for a bookcase in or near your kitchen, because you can put cookbooks and small appliances on it too, in front of the food storage.
   
   Another suggestion is to combine all the stuff you now store in your hall closet and your kitchen closet if you have them, and use the kitchen closet just for food storage. With some shelves and wall hanging units and pockets you can get a lot of emergency food storage in one closet.
   
   On the floor in front of the shelves place five gallon plastic food buckets full of beans, rice, wheat, etc. Put another row of plastic buckets on top of the first row if there is room and you will have many buckets of food stored.
   
   Remove extra kitchen tools and appliances from your kitchen, especially those you never use. Get rid of them or store them somewhere else so that you can use all the kitchen cupboards that you have for your food storage.
   
4. 4
   
   food storage in a corner
   Declutter your studio apartment, RV, dorm room, or boat often. Get rid of things you don't need. Donate to friends, family, women's shelters and other places. Don't just put things in the trash, recycle everything.
   
   Try moving your furniture around in different configurations, you might find out, if you do this, that you can make room behind your couch, for example, for a lot of food storage, either by itself or stored under a table that you place behind your couch.
   
   New metal garbage cans can be filled with food storage, then covered with a round piece of wood, a bit bigger than the top of the can, to hide the food. Then treat it as a small table and cover the whole thing with a round tablecloth. No one will know that there is a bunch of food storage inside your new "table".
   
   Other storage ideas for small spaces include under bed storage, adding shelves over doors and windows, placing your food storage in chests and other storage units all over the place.
   
   Use your ingenuity and store the extra food wherever you can. There is no rule that extra emergency food supplies has to be stored in the kitchen.
   

Read more: How to Do Food Storage in an RV or Other Small Living Space | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4490276_rv-other-small-living-space.html#ixzz1FUvGrvIC

Storage Ideas for Onboard

Storage Ideas for Onboard

Storage is the one thing we just can't seem to get enough of on board our boats. This becomes especially true for those of us that live aboard. I have put together some easy ideas to create a little more storage on that boat of yours.

When buying for the galley, be sure to always think vertical, stack stack stack. Keep in mind when you are picking out containers. Make sure they stack together well. This will help to save as much space as possible on those very minimal counter tops. Think of all that unused air space around the galley, this is when screw hooks and storage nets come in very handy. Get yourself a storage net or basket and store your fruits and veggies in those. Maybe your kitchen towels or items you use often, such as bread.
Buy a clear shoe organizer and hang on the inside of the galley pantry or a wall in or near the galley. This can be used for canned goods, boxed goods, coffee or spices. In fact, these shoe organizers are great in the head also, hung on the back of the door to hold toiletry items.

In the cabin or bedroom, there are many options for extra storage. Here using a storage net or two is great for clothing, bedding, towels and even shoes. Use the new 3m hooks on the walls so they will be easily removable if you would like to re arrange them. You van hang coats, towels, hats and more from these hooks. They are also great for things like hair dryers and curling/flattening irons. If you need more clothing storage, buy the large compartment hanging shoe organizers for your closet. These are great for clothing that has been rolled up and can accommodate a few shirts in each compartment and a couple pairs of pants.

Storage in the Helm area. A great storage piece would be over the seat car organizers. Keep the items you use often in these organizers and never again search around for hours looking for the navigational tools. You can also use a velcro type tape and adhere it to the dash or walls adjacent. Then apply the opposite piece to things such as flashlights and navigational tools and they will stay nice and tidy and easily accessible.

Another Item I want to mention because I find them so useful on our boat. Storage bags. The kind that uses a vacuum to pull all the air out. these are great for linens, coats etc. and saves a ton of space and no worries about mildew and mold due to all the moisture that accumulates on board.

I would like to point out a warning tip: Never store heavy items such as cans etc in storage nets overhead as these can be thrust about in a little storm or the friendly wake of another.

Have a great day all and enjoy your life aboard!

So cold this past weekend

It was sooo cold at the marina this weekend the water froze and snow was accumulating on top.

 We had every heater pumping out as hard as they could. I have found that when it gets very cold our best heating combo is 1 Caframo in each bedroom and a 1 radiator style in the salon. This combo keeps us a pretty toasty 65 degrees  :)   I know it doesn't sound warm enough for the house dweller, but on a boat, this is high heat in the middle of winter  :)
Stay warm maties! And enjoy the winter living aboard your boat!

 I have included a link here to the Caframo Heaters so you can see the heaters that we swear by on our boat
http://www.caframo.com/marine/marine_products_heaters.php