Have you ever wondered what it is actually like to spend the night on a boat in Newport Harbor? Come along. This is a normal routine for us on No Plans, our 1992 Carver 28 here in Southern California. Not a crossing. Not a big weekend plan. Just a night in the slip.
We do not usually stay aboard on a weeknight. But, since we try to get down to the boat as often as we can this overnighter landed on a work night.
So, unfortunately, John has to wake up extra early in the morning and leave for work. Every stay on No Plans feels like a mini getaway and we always get a bit of stress relief when we are next to the water.
Watch the evening with us here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjHmVc4yZHI
Before we leave the house
We check our list before we walk out the door. The point is simple. Do not get to the slip and remember the one thing still sitting on the kitchen counter.
On this trip our boat bag had our pillowcases and my monk fruit for coffee ready to go. This is why having a designated boat bag is so helpful. During the week we have a special place for
all of our items & they are ready to go.
We try to pack light for an overnighter. A few things still ride along almost every time.
- Butter for coffee.
- Snacks.
- Clean towels.
One of our staple items we bring alot are boiled eggs, and bacon. We do our best to try to bring protein focused food items and stay on the healthier side, but sometime that just does not work.
When we get to the slip
The first thing we do is breathe a little easier as we step aboard No Plans.
Then we open the boat. Windows open. We unzip the Isinglass on the bridge. After that we usually sit up top for a few hours, watch the other boats go by, and take in the sunset. We play a few games while we are up there. Cards are the usual.
Then before we head to bed we go up to the showers, rinse off, and call it a night.
Coffee, then the day starts
The quiet morning hours when it is dark and the water is calm brings a definite peace to my senses. I take this all in and then it is coffee.
I fill our Berkey with water as soon as we get to the boat. So, by morning it is ready to fill up our coffee maker. Starting the morning slow is the best part of waking up on the water.
Once I have a cup, I answer a few emails and look at what the morning and afternoon have in store. Then, I start packing slowly. I begin my routine tasks: washing dishes, gathering dirty towels, emptying the refrigerator and tidying up the cabin. After the coffee, I start preparing my breakfast. My go to breakfast on the water is boiled eggs, some slices of bacon, and on this day I brought an avocado as well. When we are bringing meals from home we think of our friend who is a live aboard and we like to bring enough food to take a plate over to his boat. If you have a live aboard near your boat I highly recommend bringing them a home prepared meal every now & then. I am sure they would greatly appreciate it.
The cutting board in the video is one I have shown before. I like it because the knives live on the back. Fair warning from me to you. I left one on the burner and melted it. But, lucky for us we purchase two so the other one is still good to go. It is a very handy cutting board. Unfortunately, the exact board is not available anymore. The closest match I found is linked in the video description.
If you want the same checklist habit we use before we arrive and before we leave, here is the digital boat checklist that we created- https://www.etsy.com/listing/4570333252
Closing the boat
After breakfast, I utilize my checklist to ensure I have completed all my departure tasks. I am much calmer away from the boat when I know that I have completed all the necessary tasks needed.
Then I make one more walk through.
- Windows shut and locked.
- Curtains pulled closed.
- Power off.
Power is the last step in this routine. Then I step off and lock up.
It is never easy to say goodbye to No Plans. On this overnighter, it was time to head home.
Fair winds and following seas. John and Yvonne No Plans USA
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