Throughout our single and married lives, we have lived in many places – big cities; regional towns; the hinterland, and near the beach. We’ve also lived in many types of places – nurses’ quarters, military barracks, flats, share houses, small semi-detached and large detached houses. So in thinking about where we might want to live for this next phase of our lives, we wanted to downsize to something smaller and we wanted to live near the sea. Well, no doubt about it we got what we asked for!
It’s been just a tad over twelve months since we arrived back in Australia and settled into a live aboard lifestyle on our catamaran, Sea Goddess. In many respects the trip from France to Australia prepared us somewhat for this change i.e. downsizing from a five-bedroom home to what is essentially a small apartment albeit on the water. Living in close proximity with others both onboard and in marinas, changes to our food purchases and meal planning, storage challenges, using shared amenities, and surprisingly a sense of being isolated which at times is welcomed and other times not so much.
The change in accommodation and lifestyle was further complicated by a change in location, not once but twice, and all that that entails – changing address with a myriad of contacts and agencies, finding a doctor, dentist and hairdresser that we both felt comfortable with, supermarket, post office box and the like. And then there is acclimatising to living full time in a marina.
Boat storage
We have three storage options for our stuff:
Option 1 is immediate storage on the boat i.e. cupboards, lockers and shelving in the galley, cabins and so on.
Option 2 is short term storage on the boat – these items are stored externally, mainly in the bow lockers.
Option 3 is long term storage in a land based storage facility – houses some furniture that we couldn’t part with, sentimental family treasures, and a range of documents which we haven’t scanned yet.
Onboard boat storage
This is by far our greatest challenge, compounded somewhat by Sandra’s aversion to clutter and mess. So, we have arrived at a storage solution which is okay, not ideal, but okay. We also have several ideas as to how we can expand onboard storage options and make better use of space within the boat. These are on our wish list along with the myriad of other improvements we hope to make. Just waiting on the piggy bank to start rattling when we shake it.
Peter has already added an additional shelf to the two cupboards in the galley/saloon area, a quick and inexpensive fix with immediate effect. There are a number of cupboard’s in the head of the owner’s side (starboard) which we use as an extension of the galley, these house additional kitchen equipment and utensils, stuff we use regularly but not on a daily basis. There is also a large flat laminated ‘dead space’ adjacent to the galley which is just begging for something. Unfortunately, at this stage we are just not sure what that something is. We thought about installing a cupboard there but are concerned this might look too bulky or encroach on the window. Every now and again we look at it and toss around ideas, and that’s about as far as it gets. I guess we are reluctant to do anything permanent and then regret it. So, we’ll continue to mull it over, there is no rush.
We opted for a washer/dryer to be installed on the boat, and while it’s a great addition for full time live aboards, we lost one large cupboard on the owner’s side. We also opted to replace the standard sofa in the owner’s area with additional cabinetry (cupboards and shelving) and this was a good decision. Particularly the additional cupboards that came with that optional extra, the shelving is less useful. The shelving is high and narrow, with only a small lip to hold items in place and as such this limits what you can use the shelving for, particularly when we are sailing. Our plan is to install Perspex sliding doors which will allow us to use the full height of the shelving unit, again creating more storage options.
On the port side, the aft cabin with queen size bed and ensuite, we have allocated for visitors, that is no go zone for non-essential items (clutter). The port side forward cabin, which has a double bed, is our designated ‘store’ room at least until such time as we can come up with a better storage solution for the gear that is in there. We covered the mattress well, and all items are stored on the bed in large boxes. Selection of boxes were important to us, not too large and the bottom had to be smooth and flat (no wheels or ridges which could create indentations on the mattress). We also circulate the boxes every couple of weeks as an added precaution. The large cushions for the saloon table bed, additional pillows and clothing are also stored here. We use the cupboard in the port forward head for general internal boat cleaning gear, spare loo paper and so on.
Next up is Peter’s tools, which are growing! Every time we go to the storage shed, guess what, more tools come back with us. Just when you think there could not possibly be a need for anymore, there is! The main cockpit locker has tools, the port forward cabin has tools, each of the bow lockers have tools – in shopping bags, boxes, tool bags. And then there is all the little bitty bits of stuff – screws, nails, tapes, wire, half bits of credit cards (good for smoothing gelcoat), old rags and sponges, various bottles and tubs of goo all of which are absolutely necessary because you never know when you might need them! (And yes, it is Sandra writing this!). So, an ultimatum has been issued, the tools, the bits, the goo need to find an appropriate permanent home on the boat and be returned home after use. After much discussion, over a glass or two of wine, the port side bow locker will ostensibly become Peter’s tool shed. Original thoughts were to epoxy a framework of shelves in the port side bow locker, which would house all boat maintenance and repair equipment and materials in sturdy, suitably sized boxes. However, we agreed that the need for a storage solution was more immediate than this, so to fill the gap we would purchase the boxes, label them, and the boxes with tools inside would live in the bow locker. Now we are on the hunt for suitable boxes and tool rolls.
A couple of top tips for Boat Storage:
- Vacuum seal bags are invaluable for storing all sorts of stuff. We particularly use them for out of season clothing, bedding and other linen.
- Suitcases – old, new, large, medium or small it doesn’t matter. They are all really useful, even if the wheels no longer work or the handle is broken. Great for storage and they stack well. We use them for ‘short term’ storage in the starboard bow locker.
Boat Cleaning
Wow, I thought cleaning a five bedroom two bathroom house was huge, it was a walk in the park compared to a boat. Cleaning inside a boat is not much different to a house in terms of what is required, but there is less to clean which is just as well because the outside seems never ending. I am also much more aware of the products that I use for cleaning, opting for those which are free of harsh chemicals, ocean, grey water and/or septic safe. There are several such products readily available online and in supermarkets, and I have found that any additional cost is usually offset by using less product for the same outcome. (I also successfully use white vinegar and baking soda, also known as bicarbonate of soda for a range of cleaning tasks as well). Also note that marinas generally frown upon large amounts of soap suds flowing from your boat.
As a further aside, we did a deep inside clean of the boat following our return from France. This entailed taking everything, and I mean everything, out of each section of the boat and cleaning that section from top to bottom, every shelf, every nook and cranny. We started with our cabin, cupboards and shelving, then our head before moving onto the galley-saloon, and finally the port side cabins and heads. Apart from cleaning it gave us the opportunity to reassess the items we had on board and where they were stored. We plan to complete a deep clean at least once a year.
Whilst cleaning a boat inside is really not that much different to cleaning a small apartment, the outside of a boat is an entirely different matter. You just finish, and you go back and start at the beginning again. Added into the mix are a family/flock of swallows who have taken up residence on our neighbour’s boat. We appear to have ‘guards’ who constantly sit on our rails and sheets to keep look out. Naturally there is the usual collection of ‘poop’ to clean up, we’re just thankful they are not pelicans or cormorants!
Peter has recently commenced a major project of cleaning the external fibreglass of our boat with the following products: Star Brite Non- Skid Deck cleaner, Meguiar’s Ultimate Compound, and Star Brite Premium Marine Polish. The deck cleaner removes dirt from smooth and non-skid (dimpled) surfaces, the Ultimate compound removes dirt and grime that has eaten it’s way into the fibreglass, and the polish seals the fibreglass and makes ongoing cleaning much easier. But first he created a neat attachment for his Ryobi drill. He purchased a small circular brush head from a local hardware store along with a disk attachment for the drill and modified the brush to fit the disk attachment. The brush is used for the Ultimate compound and the polish on non-skid surfaces/dimpled surfaces. This process has worked really well. Now on the newly cleaned and polished surfaces the dirt easily washes off and water just beads on the surface.
Boat Cooking
On our return from overseas we quickly reinstated our four weekly recurring menu system. We have been doing this for years and it works well for us:
- no more ‘What’s for dinner?’, just check the weekly menu list;
- there is far less food wastage;
- we only purchase what we need from the menu list for that week and top up any staples (our food bill dropped by one third when we started this system and unless we are preparing a special dinner or have guests over the savings continue till today) ;
- weekdays tend to be simpler dishes with easier and quicker preparation than the weekends when we have more time;
- we include the occasional takeaway meal on the menu, as well as home made pizza or home made fish and chips,
- if we do have take away or go out for a meal the menu just shifts up by a day with one less meal we have to buy for the following week, and
- we have a summer and winter version as our preferences change, as does the seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables we can purchase.
That said we have had to make some modifications to our menu choices as a result of the cooking equipment we have available to us onboard. Currently we have an Eno three burner gas hob, an Eno gas oven and a microwave. The gas oven is a nightmare it either cremates everything or the food is under cooked. It came with a little temperature gauge which you are supposed to hang from a wire rack or place on a baking tray. You can hardly see the numbers when you look through the glass oven door, if you open the door to have a look you loose a substantial amount of heat, and depending on where it is placed it has a tendency to fall off or over. Ugh, in a word pathetic. The oven also chews through gas.
Thank goodness for our Weber Q which we use every day, its economical on gas usage and is fabulous. Whether it’s a roast, casserole, pasta bake, fish, vegies, home made pizza or a sausage sizzle we haven’t been disappointed. Along with the Weber Q we bought a large and small Weber ‘casserole’ dish which we haven’t tried out yet, but plan to get on YouTube to see what others are creating with them. Sandra is also on the hunt for an ‘on the bench oven’ for smaller, snack type meals and to supplement the Weber Q. Update: We have purchased a DeLonghi Bench Top Multi Oven – a great companion appliance to the Weber Q. We are currently tossing around the idea of going all electric – removing the Eno gas oven and replacing this with the DeLonghi oven, and replacing the Eno three burner gas hob with an induction cook top. Given that the range of cooking appliances we now have a working well, these changes are not on the high priority list. If we do decide to go ahead, we’ll upload the details and photos.
Marina Life – Living Aboard a Boat
We want to start this section with two main points. Firstly, not all marinas ‘accept’ long term live aboards. Those that do are often capped i.e. they only accept a certain number of long term live aboards and they do not accept any more once this number is reached. Unless its just short term, you can’t just rock up and get a berth on the spot. You usually have to apply in writing, most marinas have a form on their website for this purpose. Your application will be considered by …… well it varies. Sometimes the marina manager or it could be a management committee, but someone will have the authority to say Yay or Nay. Part of this decision making will be based on the size of your boat and berth availability as well. So the key is to submit your application as soon as possible, as the application process may take some days to be completed. Our top tip is to personally visit the marina office or ring and chat to office staff over the phone. It’s important to build rapport from the get go, it also provides an opportunity for marina staff to ‘check you out’, and for you to check the marina out as well.
Secondly, not all marinas are the same and this applies to cost, inclusions and exclusions, amenities, cleanliness, security and staffing.
Cost
Fees are calculated on the size of your boat and the corresponding size of berth required, that is the bigger the boat the greater the cost. Some marinas charge more for an outside finger berth, others charge less for an outside finger berth. How does that work? No idea, but we have found this to be so.
Where possible book ahead, and check if they have a suitable berth available. We did our homework by visiting and checking out a few marinas before we left for France to pick up our catamaran. Following this our application for a berth at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron (RQYS) was accepted and we were able to provide an estimated start date. When we arrived back from overseas the only berth available at RQYS for our sized catamaran was a long outside finger, way bigger than we needed and we were charged the full daily rate until a suitably sized less expensive berth became available.
Less common is the requirement to pay membership fees. In our search for a marina RQYS and Southport were the only marinas in Queensland that required membership of the squadron/yacht club as a mandatory requisite to obtaining a berth. Such membership attracts an annual fee which is in addition to berth fees. So as part of your research make sure you ask the question ‘Is there a required membership fee?’
Marina Amenities
The range of available amenities varies enormously, as does the cleanliness and maintenance of amenities. Its also important to remember that what you need and want from a marina will greatly differ depending on the duration of your stay. There is a different perspective when you are staying in a marina berth for a couple of nights while cruising compared to living aboard on a marina berth for a few months or years.
We started the process of checking out marinas in south east Queensland prior to leaving for France. We also created a ‘Marina Checklist’ which we completed following our visit to each marina. Our criteria included:
- Live aboard permitted.
- Fees and charges (including any requirement for club membership in order to secure a long term berth).
- Berth availability for our sized catamaran.
- Secure access.
- Secure parking.
- On site laundromat.
- Number, location and cleanliness of toilets and showers.
- Fuel Dock.
- Pump out facility.
- Onsite maintenance facilities and services.
- Wifi availability or coverage.
- Bike shed/storage/racks.
- Noise factor – depending on when you visit this can be difficult to assess.
- Presence and location of commercial boats such as trawlers.
- Evidence of vermin – feral cats, rats.
- Proximity to mangroves, ponds of static water.
- Proximity to shops, supermarket, public transport.
- Helpfulness of marina staff.
- Where possible we also chatted to other yachties while we walked around, and we were blown away by their willingness to share their experiences of each marina.
- We also took a short drive around each location just to get a feel for the local area.
- And finally, we checked out any online reviews.
Everyone is different – different needs, wants, priorities and expectations so this list is not exhaustive, but we highly recommend having a list that suits your needs and lifestyle. But be prepared to compromise on those things that are not deemed high priority.
Another consideration that may be important to you is social activities, some marinas are definitely more social than others. Activities may include regular club barbeques, Australia Day, Easter and Christmas parties and events, sailing clubs and the like. A number of marinas also have an onsite café and/or restaurant, and discounts often apply when you own or rent a berth.
Lastly, just a quick comment about neighbours. Having moved from a large house on a corner block we had forgotten how voices and other noises carry when living in close proximity to other people. Hmmm! You hear all sorts of voices – happy, angry, sad, singing, music from classical to rock. And noises associated with boat maintenance, cleaning, cooking, parties, and yes body functions. We are currently blessed with great neighbours, and we are respectful of each other’s privacy though there has been opportunity to get together for sundowners now and again. We also keep an overwatch of our neighbour’s boats when they go away for a length of time, knowing that the favour will be returned when we have some off-boat time. That said, if you happen to be in a part of the marina where there are no live aboards nearby some may find this quite isolating. So if this is you, then it would be useful to add social activities to the marina criteria list that you create.
For further information about marinas check out our specific marina blog pages http://seagoddessadventures.com/category/marinas-anchorages/
