Living on a Sailboat - Choose and Use Your Anchor Windlass Wisely

Living on a Sailboat - Choose and Use Your Anchor Windlass Wisely

Living on a sailboat was something we did for 8 years, all in the Caribbean. Anchoring out for free was our favorite way of spending the night. The ability to come into an anchorage drop the hook, with no yelling, was the mark of the pros that had done it well many times.

Part of the necessary equipment was a good anchor windlass. Why?... because in the Caribbean, I do not cruise anywhere I cannot wear swim trunks, 200 feet of all chain rode, a 35 lb (minimum) CQR anchor, all handled by a motor driven windlass was a necessity. If you wanted to sleep well...anchor drill at 2AM is not fun...trust me.

We had a vertical Lewmar and were well pleased. About the only catch was occasionally the breaker would trip and the chain jamming in the locker...should not happen often if you are paying attention. We had hand signals, no yelling, me on the foredeck, the bride manning the helm.

The key to using the windlass as a back saver was not to abuse it. An anchor lock a few inches in front of the windlass is a necessity. Never ever install a windlass without one...it takes all the stress off the windlass. A lot easier to replace a bent pin than a windlass. A snubber, is a must have as well, it will provide a backup to the chain lock to relieve stress on the windlass...it will also mean better sleep as the rode can get noisy at night.

When using the windlass make sure you never use it on taut rode. The chain should always be slack as you are pulling it up. The exception is when you are breaking out the anchor. If it does not come up easily, put the chain lock on, give yourself some slack, and try to get it out using the engine... a few times back and forth and you can usually get it up easily. I had to dive on a fouled anchor once...no problem in 12 feet of water.

Living on a sailboat is a lot of fun...keep it that way with a good anchor windlass that you respect and take good care of... It will save your back. Enjoy.

Frugal Living - Living on a Sailboat - Choose and Use Your Anchor Windlass Wisely

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Living on a Sailboat - Choose the Right Dinghy

Living on a Sailboat - Choose the Right Dinghy

Living on a sailboat is a great way to travel and live. Choose your dinghy careful. Also learn from our mistakes, we made a bunch of them.

We cruised the Caribbean living aboard a sailboat for 8 years. It took us 3 years to get the right dinghy motor combination. Do not let this be you. Get a hard bottom dinghy, with a large tube diameter (16" minimum), a 15 horse motor, and install dinghy davits on your boat to handle this combo.

Our first dinghy was a rollup dinghy we brought from West Marine that could be stowed in a bag. It weighed a 100 lbs. We combined that with a 5 HP motor that had no auxiliary tank. Dumb...you don't want the hassle of blowing up the dinghy after a passage. Your buds are on their second beer while you are manning the pump.

The 5 HP motor was totally inadequate and with no auxiliary tank had a limited range. Not enough power to plane which makes for a wet ride and bad language if you are dressed for a night ashore. Really dumb...

We did buy a 10 foot Caribe hard bottom dinghy that weighed about 130 lbs. Much more stable than the rollup. But we were not through making mistakes. I increased our motor HP to 8, with an auxiliary tank that increased the range we could go. It would not plane with 2 people. Still wet, still caused bad language...dumb, really dumb.

The only good thing was dinghy davits which enabled us to haul the dinghy up at night and on passage. Towing the dinghy on passage slows you down a half a knot...do not do it... get davits. Since the davits were on the boat when we bought it I can take no responsibility for this situation.

After 3 years I finally bought a 15 horse Yamaha. All was well, we could plane, and it was dry...no more bad language.

All I would have had to do to start off right would have been to open my eyes and look at the dinghy docks in the islands. What do you see but Caribe hard bottom dinghys and 15 horse Yamaha motors. The answer was there all the time.

Living on a sailboat can a lot of fun, learn from our mistakes in dinghys and motors and start off right.

Frugal Living - Living on a Sailboat - Choose the Right Dinghy

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Kitchen Interior Design-how To Choose A New Kitchen Sink On A Budget

Your kitchen sink is crucial to the overall layout of your kitchen.  The rest of your kitchen can be designed exactly the way you want it, but if your sink doesn't match the overall theme, it just won't fly.  Should you decide to purchase a new sink, here are some tips on how to pick out the right one.

First of all, before you even begin redesigning your kitchen, set a budget and stick with it.  There is nothing worse than getting to the middle of your kitchen redesign project and realizing you won't have the funds to complete the job.

You need to shop around at all your local home improvement stores to find the right sink at an affordable price.  Be careful during this process-even thought you may find the perfect kitchen sink right off the bat, if it is out of your price range, don't even consider it. 

Also, another great source for finding the perfect kitchen sink is the internet.  Quite simply, you can find a lot of great deals on the internet that you simply won't find offline.  Be patient as you shop around, compare prices, and wait until you find the right sink within your budget.

Another very important consideration before you begin shopping around is the size of the sink you need.  Attempting to install a sink that is too large for your kitchen can be disastrous.  Again, it is extremely important that you determine this before you begin shopping.

You will also need to determine the style of sink you want.  The two popular options are one and two basin sinks.  The majority of sinks come with two basins, but there are some available with only one.  If you do not have a dishwasher, for instance, it is crucial that you get a two basin sink for doing your dishes by hand. 

However, if you do have a dishwasher, you may find that one basin sinks are more stylish and trendy.  Therefore, this decision is based on largely on your kitchen's overall design and needs. 

Another very important consideration is the color of your sink.  You absolutely need to make sure that this matches the rest of your kitchens interior, or else you won't get the affect you are looking for. 

While the kitchen sink may seem like a minor consideration compared to the cabinets, counter tops, or the walls, it still is a big contributor to the overall atmosphere of the kitchen.  Don't take this decision lightly-it could determine the overall success of your kitchen redesigning process.

These are just a few simple yet very effective tips to help you choose the right kitchen sink at an affordable price.  Remember, there are always going to be more sinks to choose from. Don't fall in love with the first one you see.  You may find, after just a little time spent searching, that you can find a very similar sink at a much better price. 

Again, determine the type of kitchen interior design you want, find the sink that will match that, and then make sure the price is right.  Follow these guidelines, and watch your kitchen blossom before your eyes.

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Remodelling Your Bathroom Do You Choose a Shower Or a Bathtub

Attempting any kind of home extensions can add value to your property. We all know that not many people are purchasing homes in the current climate, but are instead doing home improvements add to the value of their property. Many people choose to upgrade their bathrooms when they use it as a way to more value added. One of the areas that you might consider installing to a shower or bath.

In this fast-paced world in which we live is probably the most modernTrends are with shower, as it is fast, simple and effective a very good and inexpensive alternative in comparison to the choice of a bathtub. There are many practical reasons to install, would a shower. Many people see one, like a simple way to destress from the day-to-day pressures of life, the soothing effect of water pressure, massage can feel your body very useful Shower. Another fact that many houses are smaller and may have little space. It is also the factthat the order will take over in a bathtub in the house unnecessary extension for the installation.

For me, relaxing in a bathtub with warm bubble bath after them hard week at work is something that can not be easily replaced. The feeling like you're back and they de-stress and simply relax and close your eyes simply astonishing. You will receive a very therapeutic effect, which I'm not sure whether this can be replaced with a shower. I suspect this is a matter of personal choice if youFortunately, a large bathroom, you can of course also have these two that gives you the best of both worlds. Many people choose to install a tub and take a shower unit with these so that all choose depending on their mood, they can, they want to have.

It really comes down to cost and how much you have a budget. It also comes down to the amount of space that is available to you, have to upgrade your bathroom. Bathtubs can be expensive and will cost as much as $ 2500, includinghave no additional costs to consider you during the renovation and the other programs that need to be installed arise. If you make some necessary extension for your bathroom tub this also an issue that you need to apply make up carefully.

Give us some time in the future to plan your home need to make sure whatever decision you as a value you can not go home and make a decision, the problems may result in the future to sell. As long as the results will help,Boost your property market value is the most important.

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How To Choose A Shower Enclosure?

Are you planning to renovate your bathroom? A bathroom renovation project is not complete without a shower. Choosing a shower is not so simple. You should spend some time in choosing a shower room for the new laundry room. You can ask for the fa professional help while you accessories for your bathroom. It is a good idea, some informative articles go to the bathroom renovation and construction costs to be found. There are many types of enclosuresavailable on the market. You should choose the enclosure, depending on the size of your laundry. Some accessories are specifically designed for small bathrooms.

When someone adds a small laundry room, he can opt for an adjustable housing. It can be adapted to the space in the bathroom. It can help with plenty of room for housings with bi-fold doors to save. Modern furniture and accessories are specifically designed for small bathrooms. If a person has a spacious bathroom, he can buy a largeQuadrant shower. They can be placed in each corner of the toilet.

It is a good idea to provide on websites and blogs that provide information about washroom accessories and furniture, go. There are many websites that modern accessories and designer furniture to verify. A bathroom accessories should consist of light and strong material. Common materials used in the manufacture of accessories, are acrylic, ceramic, wood and stone. There are many stores, theSell bathroom related items. Your task is to select the best among them. Many online stores offer nice discounts on bulk orders.

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