Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

Powering and charging occasional AC devices aboard a yacht
Yachts typically operate on 12Volt DC Systems. This means that it is not possible to charge occasional personal user device that show up aboard such as mobile phones, iPods, digital cameras, laptop computers, camcorders, portable video game consoles, stereos etc.

Cockpit music
Drilling large holes to mount speakers in the cockpit is structurally not prudent. As a result most yachts use a portable stereo for cockpit music. Yet this is far from ideal as an active cockpit rarely affords a secure and solid place to set down a portable stereo system.

Keep the fan going without killing off the batteries
Sailing in tropical waters can at times get very hot. This is especially the case in equatorial regions with high humidity when the breeze dies. Moving a breath of cooling air becomes an imperative but fans typically consume enormous amounts of battery power.

Leeboard vs. leecloth
When sleeping at sea rest is imperative to function properly.

Making boarding easier
Coming alongside and climbing aboard in a highly unstable tender is not an easy task. It is made infinitely more difficult by having to clamber over the guard rails. For people who are more senior than others, slightly heavier or are not familiar with a world in motion it can prove prohibitive. Even for born yachters it is less than convenient, is very awkward when ferrying provisions back and forth and a struggle in a chop.

Convenient padlock
Most all yachts are secured somewhere by traditional padlocks, either at the main hatch or cockpit lockers. Keeping track of these and laying your hands upon them when required can become a bind and matching keys to locks can be time consuming.

Making washboard assembly easier
Washboard assembly is far from convenient. Assembling a set of washboards requires the correct washboard to be dropped in place the correct way round. The bottom washboard is normally distinguishable but its orientation may not be. The middle and top are easy to muddle.

Making dishwashing at sea much easier
Dishwashing is a less than pleasant daily chore at the best of times and a bane whilst making passage. Not alone is water typically restricted but there is no safe place to set the tableware down before drying.

A comfortable ships watch from the companionway
The companionway is a natural place on a vessel to sit and use as a watch point. This is particularly the case for the cruising couple where there is not too much comings and goings to obstruct plus the off-watch are typically resting below decks. With a good spray dodger the site offers protection from the elements and almost instant access to either the cockpit or the navigation table that typically resides below decks. Although the position has the occasional blind spot, depending upon the spray dodger visor locations, these may easily be overcome by some occasional leanings back and forth. The real issue with this location is you invariably sit upon the raised bottom frame slot for the washboards. This can be very uncomfortable after any length of time. Even when a bridge deck is available to physically sit upon, one’s legs still fall uncomfortably over the washboards frame into the cabin, tending to cut off circulation.

No tray or holder and you need a drink from sliding about?
If you have no secure seat for a drink whilst the boat is making passage, you will have to keep hold of it until it is consumed.