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Tips for Living Aboard Catalina 27'

48K views 85 replies 43 participants last post by  Nancyleeny 
#1 ·
Hi, I will be moving on to a 27' Catalina in a few days and I have never done this! I am wondering if anyone has any tips for storing things on the boat, orginization systems etc. Much appreciated!
 
#39 ·
Ouch! I'm thinking of living on a boat. I lived on 3 of them in the Navy and enjoyed all 3. Yes, there are challenges but there are challenges to any type of living. Being tied to one neighborhood in one locale is not my idea of freedom but may be yours. Enjoy, just let me enjoy mine. I put my 20 in so others could enjoy their freedom.
 
#40 ·
Hummmm well here is a tip don't insult your fellow sailors. Simply because it could make the difference between getting help saving your boat in a emergency or having a overjoyed audience watch your home being destroyed or sink. A wise man once told me "son you may not care if that mangy mutt likes you or not but if you think about it you would rather him like you than to sneak up on you and bite you in the a$$." Liveaboards by and large are good generous and very smart creative people that look out for one another even if you are strangers. As far as setting the columbia up for living aboard I would build a cabinet to replace the vberth. Also the more stuff that you have that is multifunctional the better. Such as zip off pants or foul weather gear with removable linings. Also take stock of what you use the least and put those things in areas that are the most trouble to get to. Switch the coffee pot to a french press. No power draw very little room taken up for storage. bag your hangup clothes because chafing will be a issue in a hanging locker. Use a tower style space heater with a thermostat that ocilates to maximize heating ability. Leave it running during the colder months to help keep the boat dry. Get a cooler and store extra food outside in the colder months. A large pelican box makes a great outdoor storage locker for things such as out of season clothing. Just put a few silicone packets in the box if you are planning to store for long periods. A over door shoe rack can be easily modified to hang on a bulkhead to save space. Put skateboard tape on the lips of the companionway steps for those rainy days. Switch out the bulbs for leds. put rv antifreeze in water tanks during the winter months. mount a magnetic spice rack behind the stove in order to save cabinet space. Install snaps around companionway and on a heavy throw blanket to help insulate.
 
#42 ·
Smack's boat pics are obviously photoshopped. Who ever heard of a quarterberth that wasn't stuffed with old sails, old fenders, old pfds, various buckets full of old boat bits, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera????????;)

(I am so glad my boat doesn't have quarterberths, and a curtain to hide the clutter in the V-berth. :D)
 
#45 ·
Oh man, this thread had me rolling on the floor.

First was the OP- beyond rude, clueless. Hey, if you have all the answers, then why did you post in the first place? SA would have eaten this chick alive in the first 30 minutes.

Smack and the "Smacklings"..."Despotism"... I love it. I totally agree with Despositim. A clean boat is a happy boat, and a clear, peaceful mind.
 
#51 · (Edited)
Ive lived aboard my Tanzer 27 (Same as PS-26) for over a year now...and I'm 6"4". Getting rid of all my crap was actually really liberating. I would definitely not go back. I think its a lot like living in a camper on the back of a pickup....well, a pickup that can only move at walking speed. But, it is definitely worth it!!!! :)
 

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#52 ·
I've done a lot of backpacking and alpine mountaineering and it's amazing how you can go for a week or so with just what you have on your back. That makes the space and stuff I keep aboard seem down right luxurious.

Clothes and what not are easy to shove places... or even fashion a line somewhere off to the side as a clothesline. I'm sure there's room in a 27' for that stuff. I think the main area that warrants good organization is the galley. I'd make sure you have adequate space for whatever pots/utensils you have. Also, make sure you stow food in dry places and away from odors. I saw some video online where someone stuffed a loaf of bread in a lower hatch and it came out smelling and tasting like diesel fumes. oops.

I think if the galley is well thought out then the rest of the space falls in place. It's like in so many regular homes that seem centered around the kitchen. I've seen quite a few videos on youtube regarding galley modifications to maximize counter and storage space. Such as, if you really don't need two burners you could swap out for a one burner and open up space for keeping the pots/pans next to the stove.

It's also about your taste and the things important to you. I NEED my coffee but I'm not a fan of instant, so aboard I use something that I originally bought for backpacking. It's an H2Joe.. I'm sure you can google it or find it on REI or other such website. It's fits into a standard 1L nalgene bottle. Fill it with grounds, fill the bottle with hot water, pop it in, wait about 4 minutes, then take the H2joe out and you've got fresh coffee. I use it at home all the time too... It's light, takes up hardly any space, doesn't use filters or electricity. Just provide hot water. It's about $12 and a nalgene is about $10. There are other compact french presses out there too if you'd prefer.

At any rate... there are lots of ways to get around limited space. I often come back from the backcountry and realize there's a lot of stuff in the house I should probably put on craigslist...

Good luck!
 
#54 ·
Based on the tone and content of your last couple of posts, I can't for the life of me imagine why anyone would want to waste time trying to come up with helpful or creative solutions for you in the first place.

We're all dense? Really? You're the one who signed on here asking for help. Sounds like you already know more than everyone else on the board so why did you bother?
 
#56 ·
I'm in a similar, much more open-minded and enthusiastic situation, compared to the OP. I have the 3ft bigger sibling (Catalina 30). Difference being things like, I don't want to start installing too much storage shelves that may negate the reason that space was put there, or make my boat more of a closet rather than a functionial-sailing-island-of-enjoyment. Also, I have been saving for and looking forward to living aboard for the last 7 years. It's not a decision I was rushed into, or made for purely 'romantic ideas of sailing lifestyle' reasons either.

Anyway, another benefit and difference is that I've afforded about 2 months of still living on land, until the lease expires, while the boat is docked a mile downhill. I know.. pretty sweet deal. So I've been able to take my time and measure the storage bins I want, pack what I want to bring with me, and what I will be taking to family during Thanksgiving and leaving in a garage.

My suggestion regarding living on it, is to at least get a marine electrician in there to update wiring to be suitable for whatever appliances (Microwave?) and things you need (GFCI outlets?). Hopefully you have facilities on shore for showering, maybe a storage locker. My greatest fear is electrical- it's the only thing I don't know much about -that something will spark and create a fire, or draw too much power and screw up everything. Might be a couple hundred dollars but you'll learn a lot watching the person, and have a piece of mind. Get a small dehumidifier. It heats the boat, but not too much, and helps keep it dry.. they're like $40 and run 24/7.
Something I think I'll do is run a heavy-duty outdoor power cord (with circuit splitter at the end, like you see at computer desks) from my dock box, alongside my shorepower cable, and into the cabin and plug in extras into that. For example, my TV/DVD, charging my laptop, a fan while I sleep, etc., and thereby cancel out relying on my outlets as much as possible... just a thought.

As for storage, smaller bins are better, if you can work fitting your things in them, because when the time comes to move them out of an area -to work on something- it's nice to be able to spread the stuff out whether than have 2 or 3 enormous bins that need to be piled somewhere in the way. It the C27 has little nook/cranny storage space along the inside of the hull, I would definitely get water resistant/proof bags and store things that you don't need often in there. I bought these large zip-lock zipper bags that are meant for storing bedding, they're huge, they can be bent and stuffed into the oddest shaped storage areas.

I guess one important thing is whether you plan to sail often or not. That will dictate how much you keep on the boat and how you organize it. If you want to sail a lot, but don't want to spend an hour+ of time moving things around to get to safety items (life jackets, paddle?, docking pole, whatever) then it takes a lot of creativity. I am trying to keep the rear of my boat reserved for sailing-specific gear (cockpit cushions take up 30% of it, and my surfboards take 30% because it's the only place they fit) because it is easy to access when I go down below while sailing. Then the V-berth is where my personal items are in bins (a couple of shoe-box sizes, and a couple shallow, long ones that are designed to slide under beds). The dining table is going to be my bed, add a cushion across the isleway resting on properly-heighted storage containers, and laying sideways its beam-length it's larger than my queen bed. That's the plan, at least.

Living aboard successfully and functionally expresses the persons tolerance for small spaces (even on 40,50,60,70ft boats) as well as their creative intuition for solving problems that erupt from it. It's REALLY awesome to see people do it well. It's going to be hard to liveaboad cheaply, so I hope that's not why you're doing it, and to sustain that lifestyle that makes it fun to liveaboard, unless you're able to churn out an amount of money that is likely more than if you rented a studio on land.

I certainly hope you (the OP) are able to make it work, sounds like you're creative and a DIYer so the storage thing might just take trial and error until it's comfortable. Excited to start following your site about real liveaboards too, can't wait to join it.

I guess if none of this is helpful to you, at least other forum readers got to know me a little and reference how I'm approaching the liveaboard-space solutions, these posts stay on here for years don't they? Make your goal to make it appear as organized as smackdaddy's pictures, but still be able to be living on it every day.
 
#60 ·
Beautiful boat, Smack.

I was going to buy a Catalina 27 Tall Rig from a buddy who lived aboard her for years and has burned out on the liveaboard thing. Just too much to do to get her to look like Smack's boat. I'll stick with what I have. I do evenings and weekends very comfortably on my 23 footer. Like being in a submarine.
 
#61 ·
Thanks carl - but remember, boats ALWAYS look better in pics than they do in real life. I've just conveniently left the various stains, dings, etc. out of the frame.

That said, I'm pretty proud of her. She was seriously skanky when we opened that hatch for the first time. 1" of water over the sole, inside covered in mold, no cushions, no cubby covers, rusting crap all over the place, no functioning head or water, etc. She's come along way, but still has her wrinkles.
 
#62 ·
I think the people on here are just concerned that you havent thought anything through, as opposed to 'dense'. When thinking of living aboard, there are so MANY things to consider. You must consider all the things that you would if you were moving into a house, and more- Where are you going to get your power from? Your heat? how will you refrigerate food? Where will you go to the bathroom? How will you shower? Where will you get your drinking water? Ill tell you now it gets real old, real fast toting water and gas for a generator EVERY DAY, and that is how often you will need to do it. Have you found a marina that allows live a boards? I will also mention that a 27 footer does not allow much living space at all. Storage is the least of your concerns. I have a 26' with 6' headroom, but I would never consider living on it-based on size alone. Good luck regardless, if you have worked these issues out, are committed and think you will be happy, go for it.
 
#64 · (Edited)
Thanks carl - but remember, boats ALWAYS look better in pics than they do in real life. I've just conveniently left the various stains, dings, etc. out of the frame.

That said, I'm pretty proud of her. She was seriously skanky when we opened that hatch for the first time. 1" of water over the sole, inside covered in mold, no cushions, no cubby covers, rusting crap all over the place, no functioning head or water, etc. She's come along way, but still has her wrinkles.
You did a great job. The marks, stains add character. I've seen worse over the past couple years and most of the boats cleaned up quite well. There's one basket case that won't sell. My buddy owned it before the 27, living aboard. When I first met him, while he was living on it, I was wading in 4" of water. He fixed that, sold it, it sold again, then guy basically abandoned it.

OP, send us pics at your leisure.
 
#65 ·
I have a C27 myself and have lived aboard for a month at a time . It does not have as much storage capacity as some boats and a lot of the capacity it has is under seats/berths. There is lots of room there but it is not accessable without effort and time so I would not use it for every day or emergency items.
This summer coming my wife and I (and the cat) plan to spend the season cruising the coast of Nova Scotia and the Gulf of St. Lawerence. We won't be at sea for long periods so I am confident we can carry what we require.
Good luck to you and enjoy the boat.
 
#66 ·
My husband and I left all of our stuff behind for three weeks to sail on our San Juan 24 from Puget Sound to the Gulf Islands. Have you seen the inside of a San Juan 24? Small! But, what a glorious time we had. No stuff, just the essentials!

We recently bought a larger boat but not to put more stuff on it, just to have a head!

And, now, I'm getting rid of everything we don't use or want anymore at our home-sailing does that to you-it strips away the unimportant and allows us to refocus. It feels great!

I wish the OP luck and perseverance with a dash of humility thrown in for good measure.

Joy
 
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