Life On A Boat

Boat Electricity

Life Aboard a Boat (January 2, 2015)

Typically, boat electricity may be provide in three possible means: 1) 12V DC power using electrical outlets similar to the cigarette lighter that is in your car 2) an inverter which turns the 12V DC to 110V AC like the electrical power in your home or 3) 110V (or 220V) AC may be available when the boat is docked and connected to shore power. In some counties, the voltage will be 220VAC so you will need an adapter to plug in you electronics. If that country uses 220VAC, be sure that the power supply for your electronics can be ran on 220V, 50Hz. Other than when on shore power, all the electrical power is being provided by boat's on board batteries which are only charged when the engine is operating or in some rare cases, when an auxiliary generator, solar panels or wind generator is on board. Since battery power needs to be conserved, there is a priority of usage: 1) VHF radio, 2) bilge pumps, 3) engine starting, 4) lights, 5) refrigerator, and 6) personal electronics. If the engine is running, feel free to plug in or recharge personal electronics, but remove them from charging when the engine stops. In all other cases, ask the captain when you can use boat power for your personal electronics. Since the refrigerator uses the most power, it may be necessary to shut off the refrigerator at night or during long periods of sailing, so it is a good idea to keep your access brief and infrequent during these times. It is highly recommended bring a flash light as the power may sometimes be completely turn off at night to conserve critical battery power. Hair dryers may only be used when the boat is docked and plugged into shore power or at the marine restroom facilities which may require special adapters depending on the country. It is usually not worth packing a hair dryer since there may be very little opportunity to use and a cap works well to preserve vanity as an alternative.

There is an electrical panel for the boat that controls all the circuits. Check with the captain first before flipping switches as some training is required to operate it.

Cooking on a Boat

Most charted boats will use propane and in a few cases alcohol, or compressed natural gas ( CNG) as the cooking fuel. To light a propane or CNG stove there may be up to three valves needed to be turned on; 1) the valve on the gas bottle, 2) the breaker on the boat's electrical panel and/or a separate gas solenoid switch and 3) the valve on the stove. Turn the appropriate burner control a quarter of turn or to the light position to light with the built in stove igniter, a match or butane lighter. If you have difficulty in lighting a burner, try setting a pot on the burner and shut any open hatches that may be allowing wind to blow out the flame. There also may be air in the lines and time may be needed for the gas flow from the bottle to reach the stove. The oven lights in similar manner, but it may have a pilot light, in which case you will need to hold the knob in the pilot position for about 30 seconds before releasing and adjusting the flame. When finished with the stove, allow one burner to remain lit and turn off the gas valve at the bottle. When the flame is extinguished, turn the burner valve to off, turn off the gas solenoid and/or any breaker that was need for the stove located on the boat's electrical panel.

If cooking while under way, there are some brakes that can be released to allow the stove to swing with the boat, allowing the cooking surface to remain level as well as clamps that hold the pots in place.

If the stove should catch something on fire, immediately use one of the fire extinguishers as burning fiberglass tends to be difficult to extinguish and burns for a very, very long time producing very black toxic fumes. See Video Link

Showering on the Boat

There is no doubt that personnel hygiene is appreciated when sharing a boat with eight to ten individuals. Since fresh water is very precious, good discipline of water usage is required to conserve it. When at all possible, shower on shore at shower facilities. If you are in a warm climate such as the Caribbean or the southern part of the Mediterranean Sea, you may want to take a shower at the back of the boat in your bathing suit which saves fresh water and adds to your sailing experience. First, jump in the water to get wet and then climb back on the boat and soap down and suds up. Re-enter the water to rinse the soap and suds and then climb back on the boat to rinse off with fresh water hastily. Note that there will be fresh hot water from the shower when the boat engine is running or shortly after running. Video

If you decide to shower using the head, remember to use as little water as possible. First, step into the shower before turning on the water. Rinse quickly to wet your body and hair and then turn off the water. Soap and suds up and then turn the water back on and rinse the soap and suds very hastily. Step out of the shower and turn on the powered air vent. Look for the button that turns on the shower drain pump and depress and hold until all the water is pumped out of the floor. Note that there is a cavity below the shower grid that holds a good quantity of water, so continue pressing the button until the pumping sound changes. If the shower drain pump does not work, ask someone to turn on the breaker on the boat's electrical panel. When finished, turn off the powered air vent, turn off the lights, and leave the door open and securely fastened. Video

Using a Marine Head (Toilet)

• 1. Pump on the "Wet" bowl setting if you desire water in the toilet before you start.

  2. Use the sitting position always. This mostly applies to men at all times whether we are

     1. underway or not as there are most likely more than one person using this facility and no

     2. one will (including the captain) will be cleaning the heads during your cruise.

  3. Nothing should go in the toilet that has not gone through a person. This does not mean

• • 1. you have to eat toilet paper if you want to use it. Carefully fold the used toilet paper to conceal the contents and place in a disposal container (Plastic grocery sacks work well for this). Note that the toilet paper may be hidden away behind a cabinet door to remain dry, so you may need to hunt for it.

• 4. To evacuate the business, pump on the "Wet" bowl setting at least 12 times to fully evacuate the long lines. Do not worry about using too much water as it is seawater and not fresh water.

  5. Clean any residue from the bowl with the toilet bowl brush so that it is clean for the next person.

1. Flip the setting from "Wet" to "Dry" and pump again until the bowl is dry and leave the setting in the "Dry" position.

   1. Avoid flushing at night while people are sleeping: "If it is yellow, let it mellow. If it is brown, flush it down."

   2. If outside of US waters, avoid flushing when anchored or moored if people are swimming around the boat since many of the boats do not have a holding tank and the waste goes directly into the water under the boat. If the waste is routed to a holding tank as boats are required to be in the US waters, then this may not apply. However, be aware that the holding capacity may be limited. Lastly, someone may be designated the job to open/close the "Y" valve to empty the holding tank while under way if there is no facility on shore to pump out the waste.

   3. If docked, use the marina's restroom facility on shore. Do not pump waste overboard to the marina.

   4. Wash your hands with soap using as little water as possible and do not use the dish towel in the galley to dry your hands.

   5. Turn off lights and fans when finished.

   6. Leave the door open and securely fastened. Video Link (Advanced Video)

Crew Knowledge

There are no pre-requisites for participating as a crewmember on a sailing vacation adventure, only a joy for a sense of adventure and a tolerant personality. Do note that there are NO PASSENGERS on this cruise, which means everyone needs to help to the best of their ability when needed whether it is setting the sail, picking up a mooring ball, or doing the dishes in the galley. Ask how you can help and how to do things if you are not familiar with sailing or life on a boat. Every boat is different, so don't always assume that the way things work on your boat or the last boat you were on are the same. If you hear a term that you not understand, just ASK! To help get you started there are a few links below. And yes, please try to learn the knots! Please do not be intimated by what you think you have to learn. If this is your first experience, you will learn a new language, skills and knowledge as well as get hooked on bare boat cruising.

Knot Tying Skills (Do try to learn!)

Bowline - Very useful for a lot of things

Figure-Eight - Used as a stopper knot

Cleat Hitch - Please be very familiar with this one

Clove Hitch - Nice to know

Round Turn & Two Half Hitches - Used to tie fenders (big bumpers) to the boat

Square knot - Don't be embarrassed by tying a "granny" knot!

Useful Links

Checklist for Getting Underway

• • Prior to getting under way

    • o Cabins

      •  Close and secure all windows and hatches

      •  Check to insure all locker (cabinet) doors closed and latched

      •  Make sure there is nothing loose lying around that will shift or fly across the cabin while under way

      •  Occasionally the overhead hatches (windows) in the forward cabins leak, so for the first few days you may

        • want to remove the bedding before getting underway

      •  Turn off all lights and fans

      •  Latch the interior cabin doors open

        • o Heads

      •  Close and secure all windows and hatches

      •  Leave the marine toilet switch in the "Dry" bowl position

      •  Insure the shower sump is empty

      •  Everything should be placed in a cabinet

      •  Insure the shower door is securely latched

      •  Latch the head door securely open

        • o Galley

      •  All clean dishes stowed in the cabinets

      •  All dirty dishes stowed in the sink

      •  Insure all cabinet doors are securely latched shut

      •  Insure the refrigerator(s) are latched securely closed

      •  Clear the main table so that navigation charts can be placed there

      •  Navigation station should be cleared with the exception of the boat captain's

        • equipment

        • o On Deck

        •  Remove all clothing and clothes pins from the life lines  Clear the decks of all personal items and loose objects  Check and securely close any open hatches

        •  Secure any lines that may be trip hazard

  • Getting under way

    • o Be on deck ready to go with sunscreen applied, gloves, shoes, hats, sea sickness meds taken, etc