[Cruisingdad]

TDW,

some of the other pans serve as lids. This might seem at first like a drawback... but since you probably only have 2-3 burners, it is not a problem. They also come with covers so you can just sit them in the fridge with you are done. I give them a 10 for a boat.

As far as the capalon, without getting too deep into all the benefits of different cookware, capalon is a good product as it heats all the way around. It can also brown items that you really cannot with a teflon/aluminum style pan. Their claim that it will not stick is false. If you keep it very clean, it is resistant to sticking... but still will. It does clean up pretty easy (since you can use metal utensils)... but you will be scrubbing it every time. Still, you really have no choice if you want to brown food items (unless you use a cast iron). However, my wife and I call it Stick-A-Lon... not Capalon... if that tells you anything.

If I were you, I would just forget the capalon and get a cast iron. THere are tricks to keeping up cast iron, but it is the best cooking material of ANY item on the market. Even Capalon will tell you that cast iron is better. It is vastly cheaper... but you have to keep the pan up and properly prepped.

THus, here is what I would but if I were you:

1) Nesting cookware set. You pick the size, depending upon # people and burners. 10 piece is a good average choice.

2) 1 cast iron skillet. If you can get grandmas, that is best. I guarantee you she knew how to keep it up.

3) A wal-mart teflon skillet. Don't go buy an expensive one... get one that when the teflon starts scratching off, you can just throw it away and get another $10 skillet.

4) Plates. Well, I have used both houseware type and the glitzy little nautical type with non-skid. If you do not eat on your boat much, just get the plastic wal-mart variety. If you eat on your boat pretty regularly, well I hate to say it, the non-skid "nautical" stuff really is nice and you will love it. The prices are rediculous though.

5) Silverware. Good stainless steel walmart variety.

6) Knives. I cannot imagine being without a nice set of knives... but that is just me. I keep a nice set on my boat and at home. Not your wal-mart variety. You would need to buy these at a commercial supply store or online. You may not want to spend hundreds of dollars on knives though... so just go to Walmart I guess.

7) Glassware. All plastic. Walmart stuff is fine, so is Target. We do keep 2 crystal wine glasses and 2 crystal high-balls for drinks. I reccomend all "glass" that comes on the boat be crystal because when it breaks it does not shatter into splinters. I would not have those on there, but it is just very tough for me to drink a nice glass of wine from a nice bottle out of plastic stemware. That is just me. Maybe others could care less.

Take care.

- CD