This for that
Last August I wrote about our Wonderwash unit, which we felt would be a great addition to our boat. Although the trial run worked well, in these days when every item must compete for its space on board, the washing machine isn’t making the cut. We have decided that we’ll just wear less clothing. 🙂
What will be taking up this reclaimed space? My new workbench. In some ships, which are much larger than ours, an entire area might be dedicated to a shop. On our boat most work of the construction variety will be done on deck or in the cockpit. This cut-down (folding legs were replaced with shaped 2x4s, padded with carpet) cheapy copy of a Workmate has earned its weight in gold. Best of all, it was free. Thanks Lyndsay!
Speaking of boat ideas, I have found a blog that has a bunch of them. Windborne in Puget Sound is run by Bob and Jane Salnick who live on their Downeast 45 ketch “Eolian” in Seattle, WA. They recently posted a short piece that I wrote, expanding on the issues we had moving our boat at the very beginning of the season. Please check it out.
Bob also recently started a “sister site” which hopes to become a compendium of small boat projects. It’s also worth a (regular) visit!
Smart trade off I’d say. Yes, less clothes just happen. And for our cruising experiences, we met many of our best friends in laundry rooms all over the place. It’s a pain to lug your laundry ashore, but it becomes a social thing. A friend suggested getting smaller bottles to pour your huge detergent into, just enough for 1-3 loads so you don’t have to lug all the soap too. Or a bunch of single us ones.
Thanks for the cool link!
You’re welcome Cindy! The small containers for detergent is also a good idea. Those large bottles are heavy.
you can never have enough funnels! 🙂
No doubt.
Wow!
Thanks for the shout out!
De nada.
Mike,
According to my close friend from Guatemala, a better reply is “con mucho gusto”. At least in Guatemala.
de nada: for nothing. (there is nothing to thank me for)
con mucho gusto: with much pleasure.
Your way does sound nicer.
Laundry?!
If you’re wearing more than t shirts and shorts,you’re sailin’ in the wrong direction!
Agreed.
Sorry to hear about the WW leaving the boat. Ours has been pretty good, just did 3 loads yesterday (clothes, sheets, towels, etc still need washing!) and laundromats suck (your money and time to name two).
Fair Winds,
Mike
The WW made its way to its new owner this morning. Right after that we ran into one of the experience sailors here and he told us that he has had a WW on board for years and used it extensively while cruising (cleaning diapers for their baby).
I like the modified Work Mate. Still, I typically take things to be sawed/drilled/sanded to the dock and c-clamp them to that. Pack some c-clamps.
But I’ll be keeping my eye’s open for a yard-sale mini Work Mate!
It certainly is a lot cleaner to do it off the boat, when it is possible. Our boat is such a mess right now that I can’t be bothered. I was drilling some holes in plywood on my workmate this afternoon.
I use a five gallon bucket when aboard. Has lots of other uses. I also have two cloth buckets which are very handy. Fill big bucket, put in soap and clothes. If at dock, agitate by hand or with plumber’s friend, otherwise, go sailing. When water is dirty and clothes are clean, fill small bucket, put in clothes, empty big bucket. refill it, put in clothes, agitate as before. Repeat until rinse water is clean. If filling buckets from salt water, use fresh water for one last rinse after salt water is clear of soapsuds, to get the salt out. If fresh rinse water is cloudy, rinse in fresh water again. Once the salt is gone, the water will be clear.
Sounds like what we’ll be doing.