stow it!

I know I used this photo before (we've got to get out sailing so we can get some new photos to put on the blog!!!) but I wanted to show it here so you can visual what Spartina looks like fully loaded with gear and supplies.  That is Bruce at the tiller, we were headed out for six days on the water but had supplies to last 9 or 10 days.

It was too cold and rainy to sail yesterday, so I spent the afternoon sorting food, putting it in bags and storage bins.  Then I started sorting through the clothes, hypothermia kit, sleeping bag, etc.  And then I started wondering where all this stuff would go.  That pile of stuff didn't even include Bruce's gear.  I know it will all fit since we have done it before, but to put my mind at ease I drew up a packing layout.  Here it is (excuse the handwriting please).

Basically I keep my personal gear on the starboard side of the boat and Bruce will keep his on the port side.  The rest of the gear, food, supplies is spread about the boat, neatly tucked away.  Here is a rundown.....

• Bungeed up under the foredeck will be the polytarp boom tent, two self-inflating sleeping pads, two Bivy's and maybe two camp pillows.
• On the starboard side up under the foredeck will be a hammock style net that holds onions, peppers and other veggies.
• On the port side up under the foredeck will be a hammock with bilge pump, sponges and cleaning supplies.
• On the bunk flat beneath the foredeck will be the porta pottie, anchor and rode (all in bucket tied to the mast), 2 and 1/2 gallon fuel tank.
• My duffel, with clothes, sleeping bag and hypothermia kit will be tuck under the coaming on the starboard side at the aft end of the foredeck.
• Camp stove, wrapped in a polytarp bag, is bungeed along the starboard side up against the hull planks and under the coaming.
• Aft of the stove is the cook kit with pots, utensils, olive oil and seasonings, tucked up against the hull under the coaming.
• Underneath the the bunk flat on the starboard side in the watertight storage area are 4+ gallons of water and the tool kit.
• Beneath the starboard coaming on top of the thwart will be my foul weather gear and a propane tank.
• In the starboard thwart watertight storage area will be three gallon jars of food, a few two gallon freezer bags of food and some extra clothes. 
• The forward storage area under the starboard cockpit seat will hold AA batteries, extra line and first aid kits.
• The aft storage area under the starboard cockpit seat will hold flares and other emergency gear.
• A 6 foot oar will be bungeed beneath the starboard coaming.  Tucked behind the oar will be an plastic envelope containing our charts and notebook.
• The day storage area at the aft end of the cockpit will hold the vhf radio, sunblock, knife, binoculars and rigging tools.
• Underneath the day storage area will be spare parts and tools for the outboard.
• Bruce's duffel will be tuck up under the coaming forward on the port side.
• Bungeed aft of that up against the hull and under the coaming port side will be a boat fender.
• Aft of that on the port side will be a box with candles, lights, notebooks and matches.
• Underneath the port side of the bunk flat will be 4+ gallons of water.
• Underneath the coaming and on top of the thwart on port side will be Bruce's foul weather gear and some extra bits and pieces of line.
• In the watertight storage under the thwart on the port side will be food, in jars and bags, and camera gear (in watertight bags).
• In the forward storage beneath the cockpit seat port side will be cleaning gear and toilet articles.
• In the aft area beneath the cockpit seat port side will be fishing tackle.
• Underneath the coaming aft on the port side will be the boat hook.
• On the transom will be two fishing poles.

Wow.  That seems like a lot of gear.  I still can't get over how much stuff fits just under the foredeck.  But I consider all of it necessary.  My feeling is that any piece of equipment must "earn" its way on to the boat.  Our one luxury is food - we could do more backpacking style food and save some space and weight.  But the Pathfinder can carry all this and more.  So why skimp?  The funny thing is that with all this gear, there is still room for more.  Lots of space in the Pathfinder (my thanks to John Welsford for that).

I'll laminate this drawing back to back with a sheet of info about marinas, hotels and some other material and tuck it in with our charts.

-Steve