As mentioned earlier there will be many areas under the sole where you are able to arrange additional stowage  lockers; this area is ideally suited for stowage of those items you wish to keep cool.

   Under the berths you can arrange lockers in the outward facing areas plus additional stowage accessed through the top of the berth; the latter is most suitable for stowing items that may be bulky and/or less often required. Often it will be possible to arrange lockers or shelving above and outboard of the berths; the choice will depend on the space available in the particular area. When arranging lockers and shelves remember that it is always wise to stow heavier items as low in the boat as is practical. The first rough weather you encounter will surely concentrate your mind when it comes to good and bad stowage practices. The saying 'a place for everything and everything in its place' must surely have been coined by a sailor.

   Unless you have a very large boat you should keep hanging lockers to a minimum. Over the past 30 years that I have been designing cruising boats I have seen the 'dress code' of the general population change from a standard where every occasion required a set form of dress to the modern norm where almost anything can be worn at any event. These changes along with easy-care fabrics used in modern clothing make the hanging locker almost obsolete. A 'wet locker' is still a necessity; it this can be arranged adjacent to the engine room or other area where heat is generated then the wet to dry process will be suitable enhanced.

   A well thought out boat will have numerous spaces where lockers and shelves are installed; a careful assessment of your boat may reveal additional possibilities in areas overlooked by the designer or builder.

HANDHOLDS AND CORNERS

Check around the interior of your boat and see if you have a satisfactory number of grab points; the larger the interior spaces the more important it is to have grab points to hand. Vertical posts not only help to support the cabin top, they are great for using as handholds as you move about the boat in a seaway; you may find it useful to add one or two of these to any existing boat. Check for sharp corners; our previous boat K*I*S*S had many of these bruise causing features. My wife Gwenda commented on these corners to the owner/builder Hal Stufft. Hal told me he delayed launching his new boat because his wife Dorothy insisted that he change the interior to incorporate ‘Gwenda corners’ thus eliminating the problem on his new boat.

SAIL LOCKER

We should include a sizable sail locker in any cruising sail boat. This item has shrunk in size over the years because of the following habits; when not in use mainsails are usually covered and left on the boom,  where  roller furling is fitted these sails are left up for months on end. Other jibs are often stowed flaked down and roped to the pulpit. Only the extras such are cruising spinnakers, storm sails and the like are stowed below; hence the smaller sail lockers. All of this is bad news for the longevity of the sails; if the sails that are left on deck do not get washed overboard, then unnecessary exposure to the sun will greatly shorten the life of the sails. Anchor lockers which are sometimes adjacent to the sail locker are covered in chapter 10.

THE GALLEY

The galley is an area that needs careful consideration. Apart from having a galley that is practical it is well known that ‘keeping the cook happy’ goes a long way to a providing a congenial atmosphere aboard any cruising boat. The location is important and consideration should be given to placing the galley where, the motion is least, adjacent to the eating area and out of the way of through traffic. The cook should have a comfortable working environment so they will want to be able to see out and not feel isolated from the rest of the crew and their activities. Placing the galley adjacent the companionway helps keep the cook in touch with the rest of the crew and also helps with the ventilation of the cooking smells, steam etc. There will need to be adequate counter space and specific allocated stowage space for stores, cooking utensils and crockery.

   Traditionally the galley was placed to port, the idea being that when a vessel was on the starboard tack this places the galley on the low side and provides a more comfortable location for the cook. A sail boat has the right of way when on the starboard tack so the cook would not be disturbed  by the necessity of the vessel having to tack to avoid another. In the real world it is wise to keep out of the way of any large vessel so you can happily place the galley on either side of the hull. 

   Placing the galley out of the way of through traffic usually results in an L or U shaped arrangement. Either layout works well but the U shape lends itself to arranging the perfect working area. The sides of U usually run across the vessel and should not be more than 2'-6" [762 mm] apart as this allows the cook to move about without being thrown about when the going gets rough. Suitable anchor points for a restraining sling can easily be arranged in the U shaped galley. A suitable hand hold is often arranged by the location of a pole extending from the half bulkhead  that divides the galley from the accommodation, to the deck head. Other handholds should be provided not only in the galley but throughout the entire cabin areas.

    Needless to say there should be as many galley storage lockers as possible. There will need to be dedicated spaces for various sized plates, mugs and glassware. Do not forget to include a garbage locker; if this is on one side of the open end of the U then it can hinge outwards from the bottom. It is  important to provide adequate ventilation in all lockers especially those containing perishable foods. Louvre doors, mesh grills and other devices can be used to ensure that fresh air is able to circulate freely.

    Make sure that the locker doors and drawers will stay shut in a seaway. For drawers the most often used closure method is a notch in the drawer runners so that the drawer has to be raised before sliding outwards. For locker doors the recommended method is to have a finger hole with a catch located inside and accessed through the hole. This latter closure method is also widely used as a positive method of securing drawers. Push pull tongue and ball bearing catches are often used for locker doors, these are usually noisy to close and can come open if the contents of the locker is thrown against the door. The most attractive catch that can be used on both doors and drawers consists of a cast brass flush fitting catch that fits flush with the front and has a pull out and twist handle; this is the most attractive and positive solution to an age old problem. If buying a new or used boat examine the construction of these items and be prepared to modify them if they are not up to the job.

GALLEY STOVES

The stove is usually placed at the bottom of the U so that it can be gimballed to stay level as the vessel heels; a system of rails and pot restrainers is essential. The type of fuel used to power the stove will depend on the cook’s  personal preference and the main choices are, gas usually butane, or propane (in USA compressed natural gas is the optimum), paraffin (kerosene), methylated spirits (alcohol) and diesel oil. It may be possible to use electricity for cooking however this is unusual except in the largest of cruising yachts. Microwave's are now often seen on all types of boats and many are designed to work well on 12 volt systems as well as shore power.

   Each fuel has its own advantages and disadvantages. For instance, gas is clean and easy to use and probably the most popular choice at the present time. The one disadvantage of gas is that it is heavier than air and when mixed with the latter can cause violent explosions. A carefully installed gas system with safety cut out sensors backed up by a gas detector can be a wonderful shipmate. Needless to say the gas bottles should be in separate self draining lockers. Although the fittings used to connect gas bottles to the system do vary in various countries, propane or butane gas is readily obtainable in most locations throughout the world.  If you are cruising in an area where compressed natural gas is available then that would be my first choice as it is lighter than air and is much safer than either butane or propane.

   Paraffin (kerosene) is probably the next most popular cooking stove fuel and is obtainable throughout the world, however anything but the cleanest and purest material will soon clog the burners of your stove and give you untold problems. Although there are supposedly no-odour varieties available, many people can not stand the smell of  burning paraffin. Best check with the cook before installing this type of stove. If you have a paraffin stove this will need to be preheated with methylated spirit so that is another volatile liquid to be purchased and stored.