Storage Tips

A place for everything and everything in its place, always. (Sorry kids.)

Best advice is not to cram so much stuff into the boat in the first place. As a previous blow boat owner, I have learned to live by "less is more" What do you really need aboard to enjoy the boat? People tend to clutter up their lives; thus the proliferation of Storage Facilities. People have so much "crap" they can't even fit it in their houses (including garage, which no longer can fit the car). Take an inventory of what you need against what you bought.

It took us a few years to understand how and what to provision with, both food and living goods, comfort items. Start with this: Bring *ONLY* what you find is absolutely CRITICAL and you know with 100% certainty you will use it regularly. Once you have all of that aboard, get rid of half of it. you've over packed!

This is always been and will likely always be the biggest point of contention between my Wife and I. I can pretty much live out of a small backpack for a week or so. My Wife, somehow requires something that resembles a shipping container for a weekend trip. Then there's the kids. That's a whole new can of worms.

This obviously doesn't apply to spare parts.

Your post reminded me of when my wife and I first got together and we were going to a motorcycle rally upstate where we'd be sleeping on the ground next to the bike in a park. She packed her hair drier. Kids are fine on a boat with a PFD, a bit of line and a hook. But when a mom's involved the entire beach play set somehow end's up on board and never leaves.

Hear hear!
But when women adopt the "Pack Light" mentality, they apply it with extreme devotion that even your favorite coffee mug will be left ashore because you have to use the "Space saver stackable set!". I think it will take each one time to know his comfort zone and limits as a previous post states.

Cheers.

It sounds silly, but we tell the kids they can't bring anything that doesn't fit in their backpacks. Enough room for a game tablet, gameboy, teddy bear, a few books, etc.

I got the idea from another friend who tells his kids "nothing you can't fit in a coffee can".

There is very little they leave on the boat if anything. We leave clothes, etc. through the season. But not a ton of other stuff. Again, it's a WIP and takes several trips to get it right. You also get creative on where to store what in your boat.

I can't imagine, or perhaps I endlessly admire how Liveaboard's and Cruisers pack and live in the ultra of minimalist lifestyle.

Better a group of less deep, stackables than deeper bins where you have to empty the entire bin whenever looking for anything. Fortunately today there is a wide variety available. Always label bins with contents being as specific as possible so there's no need to search in vain. (Learned from my OCD wife.) Also, line the bottom with paper towels to absorb moisture.

And a dryer sheet for that smell good later.