It’s a shame that more girls aren’t trained as marine mechanics because, frankly, with the tiny spaces one has to maneuver in to work on  a boat, most men, with their big, cumbersome frames, just aren’t built for it.

The job we tackled on Monday, after putting off boat work to celebrate my birthday all weekend, was to figure out why our fuel gauge wasn’t working.

I’d gotten on the Catalina 34 site and Cruiser’s Forum  to ask how I could figure out whether the problem was with the fuel gauge on the instrument panel or the sender float in the fuel tank. I got a lot of advice on how to figure this out, along with the guess that  we had a bad sender float, and if that was the case, it was more trouble than it was worth to replace it.

Advice: Replacing the fuel float is more trouble than it is worth

I relayed this to Ryan and he looked at me like I’d just suggested we  live without a fridge because that would be easier than fixing it.  “That’s ridiculous!” he said. “It can’t be that hard to fix. Besides, we’ll learn something.” Which is Ryan’s motto for everything we tackle on the boat: “We’ll learn something.” And, granted, this has been true for everything so far. It’s just that it often conflicts with my motto, which is: “Don’t work too hard.”

Since Ryan wasn’t happy to settle for living with a broken fuel gauge, we set to work pulling off the instrument panel in the cockpit to  access the wires behind it.

The plan was to test the wire connections and work out which item was broken. And once we worked out it was, indeed, the sender float, the next job  was to empty out the back berth (our junk room/food pantry) and take  off the panels exposing the tank so we could get to the sender float and  the wires running back to our instrument panel.

Now, this is where I come in.

Because, like the time we had to remove  the heat exchanger from the engine, and the time we ran wires from our  solar panel to our battery monitor through the back of a small hanging  locker, we’ve found that Ryan — with his broad, rugby player’s shoulders  — just isn’t able to squeeze his upper body into tight spaces and  use both hands to tackle an intricate job. I, on the other hand, can  shimmy my small frame into just about any space on the boat.

Ryan — with his broad, rugby player’s shoulders — just isn’t able to squeeze his upper body into tight spaces and use both hands to tackle an intricate job.

For example, removing the heat exchanger required me to hang half  upside down in a hole under the back berth so that my shoulders and neck  sat on the the hull while my legs and hips were above my head on the  berth. In this position, with a flashlight in my mouth, I could use both  hands and a screw driver to remove the heat exchanger.

And when we wired the solar panel, though Ryan was able to reach the  wires in the back of our hanging locker with one hand, he was unable to
also get his other hand in to crimp the wire connector. I, on the other  hand, could shimmy my shoulders almost completely into the locker and
use both hands to do the job.

Accessing the fuel tank, by comparison, was a piece of cake.

I simply  squeezed myself into the 3-foot-high space at the foot of the back  berth, under the cockpit, where our fuel tank sits behind a removable  panel. With a flashlight in my mouth, and my arms squeezed into the  space above the tank, I removed the screws on the sender float. The only  problem was that, being inexperienced at mechanical work, I hadn’t yet  worked out that the five screws around the edge of the fitting held the  gasket in place, while the center screw held the float to the fitting…  and also kept it from falling into the tank.

I worked this out quickly, though, when I unscrewed the center nut  and then shouted, “Noooooo!” as the sender float slipped away from the gasket and kerplunked into the tank. I looked at Ryan sheepishly, and  could tell he was trying really hard not to say, “That was really  stupid.” Luckily, I saved the day with some electrical wire and a fish hook.  Though our fish hook has yet to snag us a fish, it’s now revered for  having retrieved our sender float from the fuel tank.

And once we had the sender float in our hands, we could wire it up  directly to the instrument panel and indeed confirm that when we moved  the float up and down, the needle on the instrument panel didn’t move.  Which meant the sender float was definitely the problem.

Within an hour, though, Ryan had returned from a nearby marine store  in Nassau with a new sender float. So we wired it up to our instrument
panel and voila! The needle moved!

Now all I had to do was crawl back down to the fuel tank and install the new float without dropping it in the tank this time.

Installing the new fuel tank sender float

Note to self: Don’t remove the center screw. If I do say so myself, my installation job was much quicker and more  professional than my removal job. Which I think means I’m improving my  skills. And thanks to having small shoulders, I only got a small crick  in my neck and no major bruises.

I’m trying to take more of an interest in the mechanical workings of  our boat, even though I feel that some things are beyond my comprehension. Like AC and DC electrics. But then again, Ryan has no  more training in this area than I do, so it would be unfair to assume he  should do all the mechanical work just because he’s a man.

I’d be wiling to venture, though, if more women were trained as  marine mechanics, the male mechanics of the world would find themselves  up against some tough competition. We ladies are just better built for  it!

This article was published on February 5, 2013 in Tasha Hacker’s blog: www.TurfToSurf.com

About Tasha Hacker

Tasha is a Traveler who became an English Teacher and then a School Owner but really wanted to be a Ski Bum and instead became a Sailor.

When her husband Ryan blurted out in 2005, “It’s my dream to sail around the world,” her response was, “That’s ridiculous. Who lives on a boat?!” Which resulted in them not speaking.

But the idea festered. So in October 2012, Tasha found herself sailing out of New York City with Ryan and their two cats aboard a Catalina 34 sailboat with an appetite for adventure and a blog url: www.TurfToSurf.com

More on this website

• Your disability is your opportunity, by Teresa Carey
• How we learn: All posts

Anyone else have canvas on her boat? Yes?! I do. Lots of it. Big and small. Canvas is important protective covering for your boat. It saves you money and time by protecting teak from the sun, keeping dirt out of your winches and instruments, and keeping you cool at anchor.

Can you guess how many different canvas items you have on board? Quick without looking. I counted at least 20 unique items with some items having multiples in use at any given time on our Morgan sailboat, Magnolia.

That doesn’t count functional and decorative fabrics below. And I have plans to add more canvas on my growing sewing projects list!

If you are like me, a Seamless Sailor, you don’t want to rely on a canvas maker for all your canvas projects.  We are self-reliant sailors, right? We can figure out how to make much of what we need and for less money.  You want your canvas to last for maximum use and value.  But whether you sew or not, we all need to take care of our canvas so it can provide long service for our boat and it’s equipment.

How many unique canvas items can you find on Magnolia’s stern?

Here are five tips that I’ve gleaned from my research and experience to keep your canvas serving you and your boat well for several years.

1. Wash, rinse, repeat

These three words from the shampoo bottle apply to acrylic Sunbrella canvas too.

• When you see dirty canvas, about once a month or at a minimum once a season, wash the item or hose it down with cool water. Removing dirt can reduce the chance of mildew.  Use a lot of water if you have it available.  Use a bathtub or large bucket or sink to soak any smaller removable items.
• It can take awhile to soak Sunbrella that is in good condition.  That’s ok.  It’s supposed to be waterproof!  Water should bead on Sunbrella.
• Don’t use detergent or harsh cleaners which could strip the waterproofing finish.  Use a light cleaner like Woolite or other hand washing or dish washing solution. The manufacturer says you can use diluted bleach on Sunbrella.
• Avoid any rough rubbing or stiff brushes on stains.  Be gentle. Use a sponge or soft brush.
• Air dry. No machine drying needed. The goal is to keep the impregnated waterproofing protection on.

(Note:  I’ve focused on Sunbrella since it is seems to be the most popular outdoor canvas.)

2. Bimini care

If you have a bimini or enclosure it is likely the most expensive canvas item aboard.

• Hose it down when you have plenty of water to spare, as above – monthly if possible, and before you store it for the season if you are putting your boat up.  Be sure it dries completely before you store it.
• When you reinstall a bimini adjust it so it fits tight and water will run off.
• Try and remove environmental dirt and bird droppings as often as possible.
• Lubricate zippers as needed or once a season to keep them running smoothly. We use Boeshield T-9 on Magnolia. Try not to force zippers.

2a. Eisenglass

The “sunroom” on Magnolia

While we’re talking about biminis…take extra care of your soft plastic dodger and side enclosure curtains. This plastic is coated with UV protectants that we need to preserve to extent its life.

• In my research I’m finding a wide array of advice from use nothing but vinegar and water and a microfiber cloth after rinsing off salt and dirt to recommendations to use expensive products recommended by Strataglass, like IMAR.  We are using Plexus on our old plastic curtains and like the results. We may reevaluate that for our next enclosure.
• Again no detergents nor sunscreen from your hands.
• Store the curtains flat between sheets or felt for longer term storage or you can roll them, but never fold.
• I see some boats have snap on covers for their dodger and side curtains.  A great idea to reduce sun exposure.

Most important is that this plastic is expensive, so treat it with TLC on a regular basis.

3. Waterproofing

Don’t forget to condition aging or leaking biminis with a waterproofing solution. If water isn’t beading or pooling on the canvas, it’s time.

Jan Irons of Commuter Cruiser says that dirt may be the culprit of leaking biminis.  If there is dirt on the fabric when you apply waterproofing you may not get a good adhesion.  The waterproofing washes off in the next rain. What a waste of time and money.  Be sure to hose the bimini down and let it dry before applying a waterproofing solution.

Again my research is that there are all level of waterproofing solutions and varying admiration of each.  Some swear by less expensive Scotchguard.  We use Marykate and have found that it worked well, but our current bimini is of unknown age. With newer fabric I’d go with what Sunbrella recommends – 303 Fabric Guard.  Practical Sailor magazine (June 2004) testing agrees.

4. Stains

Get them off as fast as reasonably possible with as minimal abrasion as possible.  Check out the stain removal chart on the Sunbrella website for advice on specific stain types.

There are homemade solutions with products aboard to try before spending money on stain removers creating one more bottle to store.

5. Keep up with repairs

If you have an area that rubs against something hard like my aging companionway cover does over the ring for the hatch board lock, add chafe guard such as Shelter-Rite (available from Sailrite) before it becomes a hole that is completely chafed through.  Or add patches on both sides with additional Sunbrella.

Trim any seams that show fraying.  Better yet use an electric hot knife or soldering tool to seal any raw edges that appear.

Secret tip:  When I get out my hot knife I use it on a safe surface like a marble cutting board slab. My safety surface on the boat is a square of plywood. I tell my husband that it is on so he doesn’t come up and surprise me while I’m using it.  I also say my mantra “Fear the Tool!” to remind myself to use it safely every time.  I don’t even want to think about getting burned by it.

Parts to replace old shock cord on a hatch cover. No sewing machine needed!

A word about the sun…

We ask a lot of canvas and the thread that holds our projects together to protect us from the  one thing that degrades it the most – the sun.

You will likely find that the thread is the first to go.  Use high quality UV resistant thread for your  repairs and projects.  Teflon thread is very expensive, but will be well worth it for major projects.  Otherwise use as heavy a Dacron polyester UV  resistant thread your machine can handle with the right size needle.

And I’ve decided to forgo any decorative  topstitching in contrasting colors for outdoor items. They look ratty when the  topstitching deteriorates making more repairs to keep up with. (Did you see the  ratty topstitching on the grill cover in the earlier picture?)

With these tips and the following resources, you should have a good base of information to help keep your canvas in working order for several years.

Have other valuable canvas care tips?

Feel free to leave a comment on the
Seamless Sailor blog: www.seamlesssailor.com
or email kathy@forcruisers.com.

The Seamless Sailor

A Seamless Sailor takes pride in being self-sufficient when it comes to making canvas or other soft goods for function or design on her (or his) boat.

There are lots of pre-made items on the market and many excellent custom canvas shops. But having custom items made can be expensive and buying items can be a challenge if you can’t find exactly what you want, the color, or the size for which you are looking.

The Seamless Sailor blog is a place to gather information, and share ideas and resources with other cruisers.  Check it out at www.seamlesssailor.com.

About  Annette Baker

Annette and her husband, Anthony, caught the sailing bug in 2009 after sailing with Suzanne and Ty Giesemann on S/V Liberty. (Suzanne is an author of several books, including It’s Your Boat Too.)

Following ASA sailing lessons from the Pentagon Sailing Club and Sistership in Tortola, BVI and help from wonderful sailing friends, they bought their 1990 44′ Morgan, Magnolia, in 2010.

They currently sail the Chesapeake Bay as weekend cruisers, but plan to head south in fall 2013. They would love to hear from other “Class of 2013” first-time cruisers.

Read also on this website

• Plan ahead to make lemonade from lemons, by Jan Irons
• Resources on Boat Maintenance
• Resources on Laundry & Cleaning

Suddenly you notice the _____________ (fill in the blank … refrigerator, watermaker, etc) isn’t working.   Aw crap. What do you do now?

1. Immediately head to your home marina, curse “that damned boat,” tie it up and head home;
2. See if you can find a repairman at the nearest marina, hoping he can fix it in time to salvage part of your vacation; OR
3. Have you planned ahead, with alternatives or parts for most onboard systems, so you can continue to enjoy the well-deserved vacation you’ve been waiting for?

The saying goes, “when life hands you lemons, make lemonade“.  But this assumes that you have water and sugar, necessary ingredients for lemonade.

Similarly, aboard a boat, if you think through alternative systems or potential extra parts ahead of time, when something breaks, you already know what you’re going to do.  Once aboard, we don’t want to give up a single day of our precious cruising time.

Over the years, my husband David and I have spent time thinking through critical systems to have back up plans so that we don’t have to run for civilization after just anchoring in paradise.

Here are a few examples:

Refrigeration is perhaps the most common system causing cruisers to cut short time aboard.

What a shame if you only have a month’s vacation and the refrigeration goes out after the first week. You could be the hit of the anchorage and host a beach bbq so the unfreezing meat doesn’t spoil.

Or you may be able to use your well-insulated refrigerator as an ice box for the rest of your vacation if ice is available.

Plus we always carry at least two weeks of canned provisions just in case. Our upcoming book, The Boat Galley Cookbook, Summer 2012, International Marine Publishing, devotes an entire chapter to making edible meals with canned food.

Generators cause cruisers to spend a lot of time waiting for parts at marinas rather than cruising in paradise.

Like a diesel engine, if there are parts that are prone to failure, you may want to carry spares.

Other than spare parts, if a generator fails, have a backup plan for all of the functions it serves … how can we charge the batteries (diesel, solar or wind?), loss of ac current?, and so on.  With the right pre-planning, it is possible to continue your cruise without a generator.

Watermaker

… once upon a time cruisers cruised without watermakers, now over and over I hear boats heading back because the watermaker quit working.

Most boats carry enough water to get by for a few days – especially by conserving water more than normal.  You can always do it the old fashioned way and fill up with water at a nearby marina.

If you have a watermaker, you should be familiar with what could go wrong … with spares on hand so that you can fix it yourself.

Out of Propane?

Most cruisers have a spare propane bottle aboard.  Of course, it’s only useful if it’s full.

Or you can use your grill if it has a separate camping propane canister – the exact reason our boat is rigged with the grill separate from the stove’s propane system. Aboard Winterlude, a tiny microwave functions primarily as a bread box, but in an emergency, we could fire up the inverter, and have dinner.

Also consider what happens if something fails in the propane system  – like the solenoid.  Luckily when our propane solenoid failed, we were finishing our six month cruise and back at the marina.  Now we carry a spare, just in case.

Diesel Sputters or Dies?

Check the filters and strainer first.  Be sure to carry a complete selection of replacement filters, the more the better, never take just one.

Beyond clogged filters, know your diesel. Carry spare parts for the most common failings – we’ve replaced a salt water pump, two alternators, a SmartRegulator and many other “marinized” parts with the assistance of other cruisers and Nigel Calder.

Since our diesel is a 1985 Nanni Kubota 4 cyl 30 hp, not a common engine, we asked our diesel mechanic to recommend a spare parts inventory which has come in handy.

Navigation Equipment/Electronics/Communications

… carry backups or spares for all critical navigation equipment – GPS, laptops, chartplotter etc.  We have paper charts and know how to use them. With 4 GPS’s, one should work at any given time. We also have a sextant, but have never had to use it except for fun.

SSB and VHF provide our primary communications, morning nets, boat to boat contact as well as weather charts, NOAA text forecasts and Chris Parker weather. We  carry an Iridium satellite phone as  backup for weather or e-mail, but have never had to use it except for calls home in an emergency. With two handheld VHF’s and one built in, we’ve always been able to talk to other boats.

Someone gets sick?

Bummer!  But if you’ve planned ahead, it might not mean abandoning the cruise.

My husband, David, has an annual bout with bronchitis.  His doctor was happy to provide an “insurance” prescription so we carry antibiotics aboard.  A couple of times we’ve had to use it – once literally the next day after we finally left the Rio Dulce, Guatemala.  But we didn’t have to return to civilization for meds.  If you are susceptible to any routine illnesses, you may be able to save a cruise by talking to your doctor ahead of time.

Of course, there are some systems that the strategy simply won’t work for  – breaking a mast might be an example.  But for everything else, think it through, improvise and enjoy your cruise!

About Jan Irons

Jan Irons and her husband David spent 6 years cruising the Western Caribbean from Isla Mujeres, Mexico to Cartagena, Columbia aboard their Passport 37, Winterlude.  Most recently, they completed a mini-refit of the boat in Southwest Florida and explored the Exumas, returning to the US in May 2012.

Jan and David are commuter cruisers for six months a year – they quickly figured out that returning to their home base in Florida would never allow them to reach the San Blas Islands or the coastal Columbian islands in their allotted time frame.  Sailing over 11,000 miles, six months at a time, they gained experience with leaving the boat in the Rio Dulce, Guatemala, Bocas Del Toro, Panama and Shelter Bay, Panama.

Jan’s website, CommuterCruiser.com focuses on useful tips and free downloadable checklists for everything from leaving the country to leaving the dock.  With over 300 posts, the site also contains useful information for women, such as “My Greatest Cruising Fear” and “7 Things We Wished We Had Known Before Leaving the US to Go Cruising.” You may have seen Jan’s articles in Cruising World, SAIL Magazine, Blue Water Sailing and Latitudes & Attitudes.

Her book, The Boat Galley Cookbook: 800 Everyday Recipes and Essential Tips for Cooking Aboard(written with Carolyn Shearlock) will be published in October 2012 and is available for pre-order now on Amazon.com.

Read also on this website

• Tell us what you would do differently: Ruth Allen
• Boat Maintenance Tip: Download User and Service Manuals, by Kathy Parsons

What suggestions do you have for being prepared?

Let us know.

Email kathy@forcruisers.com or leave a comment below.

We love these seminars and all the new friends we have made doing them. In fact, I love the seminars so much I am packing up my bags and leaving the boat in beautiful Eleuthera, Bahamas (with sand in my shoes) to fly to the Oakland show.  When we’re not giving seminars we will be hanging out at the Author’s Corner. I will be selling my French for Cruisers and Spanish for Cruisers books plus a new audio. Come by and talk cruising! We look forward to seeing you there!

Blue Water Sailing is the Presenting Sponsor of the Seminar Series.  The one-hour seminars are FREE with your paid show admission. Attendees will receive two issues of Blue Water Sailing and a complimentary subscription to Cruising Compass.

Women and Cruising

by Kathy Parsons, Pam Wall, Gwen Hamlin

Kathy Parsons, Pam Wall and Gwen Hamlin  team up to share experiences and answer all your questions about preparing for cruising and life aboard: from the skills you need to cruise, to outfitting and provisioning, to seasickness, staying healthy, finances, long passages, safety and the fears and the rewards of cruising.

Attendees will receive a Women and Cruising Resource List to supplement the information covered in the seminar.

Dates:

• Friday, April 15, 2011 – 11:45am
• Saturday, April 16, 2011 – 4:45pm

What Works: Tips and techniques for long-distance cruising.

by Kathy Parsons, Pam Wall, Gwen Hamlin

Sometimes it is the little things that make all the difference. With decades of cruising and tens of thousands of miles under their keels, cruisers Pam Wall, Gwen Hamlin and Kathy Parsons have learned lots of little things that make cruising safer, more comfortable, more successful.

In this quick-paced seminar, they will share some of their favorite tips, techniques and gear. They will cover the full gamut of cruising: from passage-making, boat-handling, anchoring, line-handling, provisioning, stowage and boat systems, safety, communications, finances. You are bound to learn new ideas to improve your cruising.

Dates:

• Thursday, April 14, 2011 – 11:45am
• Sunday, April 17, 2011 – 10:30am

Cruising the French and Spanish-speaking Caribbean

by Kathy Parsons

The French and Spanish-speaking countries of the Caribbean provide rich and varied cruising opportunities: from Martinique and Guadeloupe’s French creole cuisines, to inland travel through Central and South America, to the music and beauty of Cuba. Yet boaters often hesitate, faced with language and cultural differences.

With photos, hand-outs and personal stories from over a decade of travel throughout the Caribbean, author and cruiser Kathy Parsons shows how and why to fully explore these areas. You will leave this seminar with a list of Caribbean destinations that you won’t want to miss and practical tips that will reduce cultural misunderstandings and make your travel more safe and enjoyable.

Date:

• Thursday, April 14, 2011 – 03:30pm

Spanish for Cruising Mexico

by Kathy Parsons

To make the most of your cruise to Mexico, you’ll want to be able to communicate with the people you meet – from port officials to repairmen, market vendors and fishermen.

In this seminar, Kathy Parsons, will give you techniques and strategies that help you communicate with everyone you meet ashore and on the water. Participants will learn techniques that ease communication, will learn to avoid common cultural mistakes and receive hand-outs covering Spanish for provisioning, clearing in, conversation, and other essentials of Mexican cruising.”

Date:

• Saturday, April 16, 2011 – 11:45am

Outfitting Part One – On Deck

by Pam Wall

Pam Wall will give sensible and practical ideas on how to make your boat more seaworthy, safer, more efficient, and more fun. The systems and equipment that she and her husband, Andy, have on their boat came from years of practical sailing.

From bow to stern Pam will show you what she found made her boat a better blue water cruising boat. Be ready to take notes on what works and what does not work in this informative seminar on proper deck hardware and systems. All this leads to having a better time aboard your boat.

Date:

• Thursday, April 14, 2011 – 1:00pm

Outfitting Part Two – Below Deck

by Pam Wall

Once again Pam Wall will show you ideas on how to make your boat more comfortable and more efficient down below where your living quarters make all the difference to your comfort and safety! See the many ideas Pam has put into use to make the interior of her boat functional and safe. Again, be prepared to take a lot of notes on the good ideas presented in this seminar.

Date:

• Thursday, April 14, 2011 – 2:15pm

Cruising the Bahamas

by Pam Wall

I don’t have to sail around the world to be in Paradise! Pam Wall has sailed around the world, but her most favorite place of all is in her back yard!

The Bahamas are Pam’s favorite cruising grounds, and she takes you there with a flair! See the beauty of these magnificent islands, so near, yet so far. This slide presentation will have you jumping into the clear water before you know it.

Date:

• Friday, April 15, 2011 – 3:30pm

How to be your own Maintenance Captain

by Pam Wall

Pam Wall will take you from bow to stern, on deck and down below, to help you check out what you need to know to maintain your vessel without the help of trained professionals. This type of basic knowledge of maintenance and how to keep everything in good running order will give you the confidence to know your own boat and all its systems. Pam will suggest easy programs to keep all you have aboard in good condition making your cruising more successful without any breakdowns. Learn from Pam how a woman can contribute to the maintenance schedule to keep your boat in top condition. All this will allow you to have a happy time aboard and give you the basic knowledge of how to eliminate most annoying failures!

Date:

• Saturday, April 16, 2011 – 1:00pm

Cool Products No One Knows About

by Pam Wall

Pam Wall has been working for West Marine for twenty years. She sees and tries many new and lots of old products that are available to the yachtsmen around the world. Let her show you many really great products that very few people know about. The secrets of great things will be revealed so you can take advantage of a lifetime of finding cool products that few have ever tried. Pam has her favorites that she will share with you, and you will come away with many great ideas for your own boat.

Date:

• Sunday, April 17, 2011 – 1:00pm

Severe Weather Preparation

by Pam Wall

Many of you may have attended Pam’s Hurricane Preparation seminars in the past. This year Pam will take you through the steps to be prepared for severe weather while at sea! The list of what you should have aboard, how you should prepare yourself, and how you should handle your boat are all given to you by someone who has lived through many a severe weather situation in her years of sailing. This is a seminar everyone should attend to be prepared and therefore be able to handle any situation with severe weather

Date:

• Sunday, April 17, 2011 – 3:30pm

More info

• About Kathy Parsons, Pam Wall and Gwen Hamlin
• Visit the Strictly Sail Pacific website
• Download the complete seminars schedule

The first day we met, on a beach in the Bahamas, Doris said “I wish I’d understood when we moved aboard how uneven the tasks would seem.  I wish I’d understood that my husband’s skills carried more weight than mine.”

That got us talking about how we divvy up chores aboard.  Another friend, equally competent, joined us.

Neither Doris, nor Maj-Lis, nor I change the oil.  We don’t know how; frankly none of us want to learn.  Yet we do our share of chores.

Boat chores, like home chores, fall into categories:

• domestic (laundry, cooking, remembering to send birthday cards);
• running the boat (navigating, sail trim, helm, anchoring);
• ordinary maintenance (polish the fiberglass, teak, brass, etc., clean the bilge, annual inspection of standing rigging, sheets, ground tackle, sails, etc.);
• and extraordinary maintenance when something’s going wrong (steering cable replacement, unclog head, fix/replace water pump).

Who does these jobs on your boat?  I’d like to report that I can do all those things and that I do them.  But I’d be lying. 

Many women I know do them routinely.

I asked some cruising friends this winter, sailing in the Bahamas on my Gulfstar 39 Salsa, and wrote an article on the subject for SAIL Magazine.  The article’s called “Pink or Blue?“  It’s in the May issue on the last page in the section called Wind Shifts.

Take a look and let us all know your thoughts on the subject.

Monty emerges from untangling a line from the prop (blue job?)

Betsy sewing canvas in the cockpit (pink job?)

From Betsy’s article “Pink or Blue?” in SAIL Magazine, May 2010:

“Do you change the oil?” she asked.

I sensed a gurgling in my brain, not unlike static; it was the same feeling I’d get as a little girl when my mother asked if I’d brushed my teeth, and I lied, “Yes, Mom.” I remembered my promise to myself in 1992 when our plans gelled to retire from our jobs and sail off the edge. I would learn to do every single thing on the boat that Monty could do…

About Betsy Morris

In 1993 I retired from banking, and with my husband, Monty, took off from our home port of Marblehead, Massachusetts, for the Caribbean. But first we turned left out of the harbor instead of right, and spent the first summer in the remote ports of Newfoundland.  Eventually we sorted ourselves out and pointed Salsa, our 39′ Gulfstar, in the right direction, and spent five consecutive years in the Caribbean.

Now we’re land lubbers again, only cruising on Salsa for three months each winter.  In the meantime we’ve done boat swaps in Wales and Brazil and will do another this summer in Scotland.  We keep a Quickstep 21 in Marblehead, since you can’t live in coastal New England and not sail in the summer.  I write for SAIL, Points East, Southwinds, and even a couple of motorboating magazines.  In my spare time I write fiction, give writing workshops, and am a mediator, mostly in the Salem, Massachusetts, courts.

Related articles (on this website)

• Boat jobs: Pink or Blue? Marcie Lynn comments
• Boat jobs: Pink or Blue? …Violet, Meri says
• The Need to Know: Sheri Schneider is on her own in the Pacific after her husband is evacuated (Admiral’s Angle column #17)
• Joint Effort (Admiral’s Angle column #5)
• The Engine Room (Admiral’s Angle column #22)
• Women and Cruising’s List of Maintenance-related Resources

How do you divvy up the boat chores?
Does it fall along pink and blue lines?
Let us know.
Email kathy@forcruisers.com or leave a comment below.