Sloop-D-Doo on More Moving Aboard Transistions

We just moved aboard Jan. 8th 2013 we had no plans no experience and my wife is scared of the water. Well she doesn't know how to swim, that's why shes scared. We lived in an RV until a week before Christmas 2012. Our RV burned to the ground. While I was looking for a new RV on RVtrader she said why don't we turn this bad into something good and go for my dream. Who am I to argue with the wife, so I turned my search to Google. (Boat auctions) up came Chesapeake bay Maritime museum, I looked down their list of boats for sale and saw a 31' Columbia, 68 model, loved the looks of her, sexy lines. I started to research them, found out they are pretty darn good boats. This one had a new 3 cyl. diesel, new wiring, new plumbing, and was very clean. Told the man I wanted her and left Pensacola Fl for Md. We arrived while the man was on Christmas vacation. We went to the museum that Monday he returned and saw her insides and the wife said lets do it. We checked out of the motel on the 8th and started to provision & complete as much of the restoration as we could in the one week the museum gave us at their dock, We cast of the lines on a foggy Jan 15th and headed down the Chesapeake Bay towards the ICW. Well, I'll wait to tell more, and more I've got to tell. What a journey it has been. I have done a video log every day of our trip. We arrived in Fernandina Bch., Fl last Saturday and have been anchored out here waiting for my income tax ck so we can go further south. I'll be looking for a way to earn a little income here and there. Oh ya did I mention we home school our 8yo boy. He is learning so much from this adventure. Book to follow.

The Crew of
Sloop-D-Doo

Steve, Trisa & Gabriel

An RV as Preparation for Living on a Boat

Just some basic input here. We are planning a live aboard this June.

This has been a two year prep and we started preparing before we ever purchased our sailboat.

We sold everything purchased a used 32 foot 5th wheel and lived in it for one year. I figured if I could master small spaces it would help prepare us for boat living.

We loved the 5th wheel and now that it has served it's purpose we are going to sell it.

We are excited about the live aboard and already downsized for less than 300 square feet of living space. I have learned where to skimp, and where not to. We definitely will use ceramic plates and as silver ware. The pressure cooker was a must in the 5th wheel so will be used on the boat. Another thing that is a must have is a bullet for juicing. Great meal supplements and small storage space. You can pick them up at Bed Bath and Beyond. We have learned to make coffee with a ceramic one cup dropper that takes cone filters. Saves space and works just as well as a coffee maker. I roast my own coffee from green beans so I have a grinder too. Will not be roasting on the boat due to smoke unless on open water. Moored at the marina would cause too much smoke for my neighbors. a good casserole dish with a lid that is not to big but will fit your stove oven works great.

any kind of kitchen item you like to use surprisingly comes in many collapsible forms like strainers, measuring cups and the such. Kitchen speciality stores carry many small collapsible space saving cooking gadgets that will take up less space than a household draw size of most items. Try and get "no-sweat" drinking glasses....makes for a nicer item in humidity without soaking your interior table with water rings.

Save small glass containers with lids for breaking down cold storage items in the frig without taking up tons of room as space is at a premium.

If I can think of any more suggestions I will share. Most of this is coming from the adapted 5th wheel living where we learned to do more with much less space. :0)