What worked for us, what didn't...

When we first started to take on the idea of setting sail on the trip of a lifetime, we were like curious cats, wanting to know more and more.  We wanted to know what others had experienced, what worked for them and what had failed them. So we did A LOT of research. Even with all the great information we found, we had our own discoveries. Paying it forward, here are some of the things that worked for us and some that didn't.

What did work:

Precooked bacon - This stuff is fantastic! It's real bacon that is precooked and packaged so it doesn't need refrigeration. It stores away easily and is good for up to 6 months. We found it at Walmart ($2.50 for a package of 9-11 slices).

Hungry Jack Mashed Potatoes 100% real potatoes - Box potatoes have been given a bad rap in the past years, but as cruisers, we have found most store bought produce in the islands to be refrigerated, which means it has a short lifespan, a very short lifespan.  We do buy real potatoes, but have to use them quickly or they spoil and attract gnats.  At less than $2.00 a box (9 servings), it makes sense to prepare these for shepherd's pie or to dip chicken into the flakes for a crispy crust.

Processed milk - Who doesn't love a bowl of cereal once in a while? Well, living on a boat with limited access to stores and limited refrigeration, milk is a premium item.  This milk product stores away without needing to be refrigerated and will last about 6 months. And to be honest, it tastes pretty damn good. 

Red Feather Brand Pure Creamy Butter - I ordered this butter from an online company in New Zealand.  It has a 10 year shelf life and is REAL butter. Designate a container for butter and you are set...easy, easy, easy!

 

Kitchen Basics Dish Drying Mat - This thin layer of foam between absorbent microfiber not only is space efficient, but when washing dishes at a rolly anchorage, it keeps glasses from falling over and dishes from sliding. It hangs nicely to dry on an s-hook next to the stove and then folds up taking minimal space.

Glacier Stainless 6 Cup Percolator - As with many cruisers, West Marine is our second home.  This percolator is yet another West Marine find that has worked great for us.  Originally, we had a french press, which did not work for us as Jim and I both prefer 2 cups of coffee in the morning.  We found the french press to not keep the coffee warm for our second cup and left us stuck with a bitter lukewarm second cup of coffee.  Off the boat with the french press!  Although we thought this percolator a little pricey, it has been a charm.  It gives us 2 mugs of hot coffee each, sometimes a little more.  This makes for a great start to our day!

Wire Vegetable Bins - I found these at KMart, a set of 2 for less than $4.00. They are hung with cup hooks, which keeps them at a desirable angle allowing easy access to their contents. When underway, I simply stow them behind a lee cloth.  We have our departure routine down to less than 10 minutes, including stowing loose items, preparing the deck, closing hatches and lifting anchor...not bad!

West Marine Safety Tethers - I'm sure it annoys some, but I am a safety girl, can't help myself.  Our Number 1 rule (no exceptions) on Dulcinea is that EVERYONE wears a PFD and is tethered to the boat when they are in the cockpit on a passage. We found these awesome tethers and, as you can see, they have been used A LOT!

Zippered Fabric Bags (not Ziplock bags) - We found these bags at Walmart for a couple of bucks each and they have been GREAT! With a boat, there are few square walls or cubby holes, so the square plastic containers work only in limited areas. These bags are very sturdy and have helped keep things organized while easily molding into odd spaces.

  

Rechargable batteries - When we anchor, we normally set the anchor alarm on our hand held GPS. This works excellent for keeping a watch on things allowing us to sleep with less worry. However, the device uses a ton of batteries. Rechargable batteries have been a life saver for this device. We charge them up during the day when we are making energy and use them in the device at night.

What didn't work:

Electric Hair Dryers - When living on batteries, hair dryers will suck ALL the energy out in 5 minutes or less! A discovery made when I tried to defrost the freezer with it.  Less than amused, Jim expressed concern that maybe I wasn't quite ready for this adventure.  Finding myself unable to part with my favorite blow dryer, I found a nearly inaccessible compartment on the boat in which to stow it...you know, just in case.

Almost ANYTHING electric - We ended up giving away our electric water kettle/coffee pot, electric fry pan and electric fans. They are just so inefficient that it's easier to cook and cool with nature.  No pictures of these items as they quickly found new (but no doubt "temporary") homes when listed on the "buy/sell/trade" portion of the Cruiser's Net, in Marathon, Florida.

Watermaker (Katadyn 80e)- Now this works and works well, however, it only makes 3-1/2 gallons an hour.  This is fine for short term, but if we had it to do over again, we would choose one with a higher output.

Gill Championship Sailing Gloves -  For both Jim and I, the portions of these gloves that are not Kevlar have deteriorated much faster than we anticipated.  Our next gloves will be Gill, but something heavier duty. With that said, we do have a few thousand miles of sailing with them, but they still should have held up a bit longer than 7 months.