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As a new first-season X owner, I've concentrated my efforts so far on getting comfortable with sailing the boat. That's all going OK.

However, I've only so far spent a couple of nights on the boat, in both cases just myself. Even with just me it seems pretty crowded, 'cos of all the stuff. If I'm going to be able to sleep two I shall have to get better organised.

The thing is, I don't consider I'm carrying loads of junk, I've only got what to me is essentials to being on the water. So I'm curious as to how you seasoned Mac sailors manage to do things like family trips, and find space for everyone as well as the gear, both day and night time.

The PO had made a couple of GRP bins in the style of the one that holds the coolbox, they go under the port side seat and the forward dinette seat. One holds all various spares and bits, the other holds various miscellaneous electrical stuff. I don't use the cooler so the cooler bin is free for gear.

Shtuff I have yet to find a home for (currently under the table, in the aft berth, or on seats) in no particular order:

Spare prop in box
Tool bag
4 PFDs in holdall
Rode for stern anchor
Bag of spare ropes
Flush-muffs and hose
Bucket
Assorted flags & burgees
Signal shapes (anchor ball and power-sail cone)
Foghorn
Spare winch handle

While sailing:
Sail covers
Fenders (6)

At night:
Cockpit cushions

Plus if overnighting - bedding, clothes, and food.

I'm sure there's other things I've forgotten ...

So far I've slept in the V berth, with junk stashed in the aft berth. But for two the aft berth is probably going to be better, which means less space for the junk, as well as unsightly if just piled up at the bow.

Of course a full enclosure would make quite a difference, but I'm not into that kind of investment right now.

So how do you guys do it There must be a secret.

Cheers, Rick

Rick
Will be interested in this thread and the replies of those who take more than two on a trip.
Some of the items mentioned should fit in the storage compartments even your pfd's and other safety gear can go in the storage compartments, providing you mark where they are and they are readily accessible or out when needed.
The fenders (4) we store on deck in holders I fabricated but you can buy them and the same for mooring lines.
Bags of ropes and sails go on the vee berth (no cushions), we use two collapsible buckets, winch handle, knife, shackle key all hang on the pedastal in a pouch and everything else can be stored in lockers along with food etc.
We have never managed to use all the space provided and the front hatch is always accessible from inside, we are only two but we do carry enough for at least two weeks and this next trip at least four.
We do carry a 70litre fridge which takes up the space opposite the head

RickJ wrote:The thing is, I don't consider I'm carrying loads of junk, I've only got what to me is essentials to being on the water.

This may be where the problem lies, I started with very little on board for overnights and then only added what I needed not everything I thought I might need. Just keep notes of stuff on board (like too many clothes or shoes or cooking things) and edit as you go. One mans perk is another mans necessity.

RickJ wrote:Flush-muffs and hose

These could probably be left in the tow vehicle, unless you flush at your berth on a regular basis, even then you could retrieve them from the vehicle.

Check out Duane Dunn's website on how he stows his gear....and revel in his expertise....

If you load it like Duanne does, don't you need a 12" extension on the water retention ring for the air intake

1 st rule we have is - "something new comes onboard, something else has to leave."

Here is what we do:
Spare prop in box - (In bilge ender cooler box)
Tool bag - (in bilge port v-birth, easy access)
4 PFDs in holdall - (back of aft berth against transom)
Rode for stern anchor - (bilge under cooler box)
Bag of spare ropes - (bilge under cooler box)
Flush-muffs and hose (in tow vehicle with bucket and saop etc.)
Assorted flags & burgees (in port hanging sehlf just aft of sette)
Foghorn - (under cockpit seat beside 12 gal fuel tanks)
Spare winch handle (in rubber holder in cockpit at base of
companionway)

While sailing:
Sail covers - (in folding basket aft of port sette - easy toss)
Fenders (6) - (bow fender baskets)

At night:
Cockpit cushions - (cockpit if on board, afte berth when away)

Hope this helps.

Here is what we do:
Spare prop in box - Dont carry one, Still using stock 1997 prop
Tool bag - Hard side PVC tool box alongside porta potty
4 PFDs in holdall - In forward bilge compartment under v-berth or hanging from cleats on compression post and grab rail at nav station
Rode for stern anchor - Rope hangers under companionway behind head
Bag of spare ropes - Forward bilge storage to the right of PDF.s and more in same spot as rode
Flush-muffs and hose at home
Assorted flags & burgees Just old glory hanging from the backstay
Foghorn - in head door storage pocket
Spare winch handle in head door storage pocket

While sailing:
Sail covers - thrown down the forehatch onto v-berth
Fenders custom hangers naxt to sink in head

At night:
Cockpit cushions - (cockpit if on board, on table stood on end (mold) when away) Ii also stand all the cushions on end when away to prevent mold

Thanks for the ideas guys, I obviously need to spend more time getting organised. I've had a look at Duane's excellent site too, just need to set aside a few hours to study it properly.

I was going to leave the cockpit cushions out when onboard, but even by early evening it was obvious they were going to get saturated with dew by morning. So I felt they needed to come in. With just me in the V-berth I could stash them aft, but that will need a bit more thought if the aft berth will be used.

Cheers, Rick

Inorder to increase storage space on the boat I took out the unused cushions. I was supprised with the increase in room I had. Some extra large containers helped as well.

I got some of the place mats for the table and some small CD boxes to put some of the things that I needed every day and some of the pouches to stick on the walls. The rest I store, rated on the most needed, closest to the compainway. Way to much stuff on board when you set up to go cruising for months.

Our stowage strategy is built around 2 people on board, for extended trips, up to 10 weeks duration. We sleep in the V berth and use the aft berth for gear. For convenience accessing regularly used items, we've installed built-in storage (both wood construction and sewn fabric) wherever possible. These spaces include under counter galley system with drawers and pull out shelves, above galley counter dish storage rack, book shelves above V berth, either side of forward hatch, chart storage racks on inside ends of table seats, storage rack on table, net hammocks slung above table for fresh fruit & veggie storage, corner shelf on ledge in head, 2 sewn pocket organizers in head, hinged access door cut into aft overhead space in head, sewn pocket organizer mounted above battery box, pole holder racks mounted on port side of king berth (for fishing rods, extra boat hook, mast raising pole etc), fender storage rack on starboard side of king berth just aft of the head, and storage hooks for dock lines on back of head partition in king berth area. I re used the storage bins from the old galley front, mounting two in the cabin area, and one in the cockpit, below the seat on starboard side. It makes a great place for winch handle and other items. We also have a sewn pocket organizer for the steering pedestal. I've removed the hold down screws from the cover plate in the Vee berth area, just forward of the dinette seat back. This gives easier access to items in the front of that large storage space (I keep my extra mix oil and stove fuel there, up against the fiberglass partition).

We make extensive use of rectangular plastic lidded tubs for food supplies. We can fit 5 tubs (10"x14'x6" high) in the space beneath the forward dinette seat. We call these our working tubs, containing food supplies for immediate use. Extra food supplies are stored in larger rectangular tubs which get slid toward the rear of the king berth. I've attached numbered lines to them so I can pull them forward without having to crawl all the way back. Like James, I've removed the cushions from the king berth area for extra space and ease of sliding things around. 500 foot shore tie line reel, cockpit surround, extra lifejackets, tackle boxes, snorkel gear, and other miscellaneous gear get stored in the king berth area. Clothing goes into duffel bags which store on the Vee berth when underway, and under the table at night. My tools and spare part kits just fit in the space under the table, along side the water ballast tank, Spare prop and extra anchor get stored in bilge, under the frig which fits in the aft dinette seat space. Main anchor is carried on the anchor roller, with rode loosely flaked in the anchor locker. Spare anchor is mounted on a bracket attached to the pulpit, with rode coiled, bungeed, and also stored in the anchor locker.

It always seems like an impossible task to get everything on board when getting ready to go, and I'm surprised that the boat doesn't sit 3 inches below the waterline stripe, but we always manage to find places for everything, and we're even getting better at finding those oddball stowed items after we're underway.

The 26X's aft berth seems capacious for two, but I found it's not so comfy. And as already described, it can serve as a massive stowage 'garage.' But I avoid stowing any heavy stuff back there. It's mainly for spare PFDs, bedding, clothing, etc. Lose the aft berth cushions and replace with indoor-outdoor carpeting ... as pictured several times in the MacMods pages. Use a full-length water float as an 'occasional' backup bedding in the aft berth.

I didn't see it mentioned above, but the Vberth is much more amenable for two if you extend it. The dinette seat is the obvious extension on the starboard side, requiring only to pull out the seatback each evening. Mounting a small plywood (16"x32") serves to match that extension on port side. I store my heaviest gear, tools & such, on the cabin sole right under that plywood, close to center hull, and well-contained.

I've also mounted several of these hanging hooks for spare line, jackets, and whatnot.





These "hook boards" are available in many of our big-box stores, Home Depot, Walmart, etc., for about $15. I have 3 of them. The line hooks are mounted just aft of the galley, where a length of 1x2 serves as a backer for the wood screws. I removed a half-dozen of those CommandStrip plastic hooks (one shown above), which just cannot take the load.

Easier still is at the forward head wall (sorry, no pictures). I have one mounted high as possible over the PortaPotti, plus a matching one on the other side of that same head wall. Here, they both needed to be shortened by an inch on each end. The exterior board serves as a wooden backer for screws from the other side, with the head wall sandwiched between them.

Chinook - thanks for the detailed post, plenty of ideas to absorb there.

Frank - I have the plywood board mod for the V-berth port side (it took me quite a while after I got the boat to work out what that odd-shaped piece of board was for ). I like your use of hooks, I agree that plenty of hooks could probably take care of quite a bit of stuff. I like your use of backing timber, and esp. the back-to-back trick on the head wall - neat.

Still not entirely convinced of the V-berth for two in comfort, esp. both fairly tall - and prone to kick each other ...

Cheers, Rick

I seem to store my things in much the same way as others. The only thing I would add is I have a couple of big PVC containers in the v-berth that I store things for cooking, electronics when not in use, spare lines, etc. In front of these I keep the mainsail. On top of these I keep the hatch cover while under sail. If needed I can move these around when making room for sleeping. I've found this to be pretty helpful and hides any clutter.

These work great for hanging things inside the cabin -
RONSTAN

Shockcord Linehanger, Pair
Only $5.79 USD



Shockcord Linehanger

they also do not hurt when grabing for a handhold. I have 5.

RickJ'

You said this is extra gear you have yet to find a place for. That means you already have a lot of stuff successfully stored so these suggestions may be already taken by something else.

I put spare life jackets under the ice chest bin, under the after dinette seat. I only carry an extra, extra large (in case I get a rotund guest), a couple kid sizes, and a couple pet life jackets there now. At one time I had 14 life jackets, clearly to many. Leave the holdall at home. If that space is taken, slide them under the after berth deck, two on each side. You probably won't need them often. You normal PFDs will do most of the time.

The tool bag is probably to large. I only carry a small one I lay next to the compression post under the table. It is easy to tell anyone on board where it is and what to get me. I have used very few tools out on the water. I leave more home each time.

I carry two anchors, a claw and a danforth, on the bow. The Claw is in a PVC pipe holder and the danforth in the anchor locker. Both anchors are tied to either end of the same 250' rode. When I have to deploy a stern anchor, I do so from the bow and walk the rode back. I frequently use the stern anchor as the primary and only anchor. Retrieved rode goes right into the locker.

I have 200 ft of spare lines in the bottom of the battery compartment just behind the sink counter.

My hose is coiled and slipped under the dinette floor. I have a sting tied to it so I can retrieve it when needed. The wash muffs go in the port fuel tank compartment.

My buckets, I have three, are in the rear of the after berth compartment. They are full of cleaning and polishing supplies. They don't get used much while underway. I think they will go into the tow vehicle in the future. One bucket is useful and could store lines or signal shapes.

I only carry the flags I am going to use. The others are in the garage.

My foghorn goes in a shelf I made in the head. It is not used that often but still available if needed.

The spare winch handle lays on the after deck, under the mattress, next to the head.

The sail covers are just rolled up and placed in the Vee berth in a clothes basket.

I only use 4 fenders normally. They are tied to the after cleat and the three lifeline stantions. When underway I just pull them up and let them lay on the cabin top and the cockpit edge. They stay there fine and are ready for instant deployment. My spare 2 are with the extra life jackets. When trailering I tie the 4 together and hang them on the front of the pedestal. They are now in the garage, waiting to be cleaned from the last trip.

I leave the cockpit cushions out at night. They get wet but I wipe them off in the morning and then use the wet rag to wash down other things. It works okay. They will get wet in a hard rain and are very hard to dry. I may leave them home next trip.

I have only made one day trip so most trips we just make the bed and it stays made the whole trip. We sleep crossways at the front of the after berth. Thare is plenty of room and it leaves a lot of storage behind us.

Our clothes and towels, etc, go the in the ice chest bin. I figure it is drier than anyplace else.

We use two five day ice chests that sit on the aft end of the vee berth. The one forward of the dinette seat is full of frozen quart bottles of water, green tea, lemonade, and juice. The other, forward of the settee, has our food and drinks in it. As ice is needed we transfer quart bottles and when they melt we drink the contents. One thing I found the last trip. I wrapped the heavy winter coat I had taken around the food ice chest. I was amazed how much better the cooler performed and held ice. I will be making insulated covers for them soon.

Other food stuffs and supplies go in two, three drawer plastic cabinets under the table.

That covers everything you listed, I think. Boy, you should see my list

Ken