Preparing For Passage: Pack, Lash And Stow

Preparing For Passage: Pack, Lash And Stow

- Pat Mundus

Many of us don’t cruise in large trawlers with stabilizers, vast stowage lockers and workshops, yet we do cruise with provisions, spare parts, gear, tools and consumables. And when we add a dinghy (or paddleboard or surfboard) on deck, there is potential for chafing, shifting or breakage during a passage. Thus, when preparing a modest boat for sea, it’s best to anticipate Murphy’s Law: Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.

A superior seaman uses superior intelligence to avoid superior circumstances, which means we can outsmart Mr. Murphy by imagining the worst-case scenarios. We can address any void or empty space to maximize capacity and prevent damage while underway.

Packing properly is certainly easier said than done, but avoiding last-minute preparations before departure is a good place to start. Make nonperishable purchases and assemble gear early. Keep an accurate inventory list. A good stowage plan, uniformly executed by the whole crew, not only will help to prevent broken items but also will mitigate those annoying underway queries, such as Where’s the *&%$#! hidden?!

A good supply of low-stretch lashings, stowage containers, chafing gear and padding should be on hand from the start. Group all of the provisions, spares, gear and tools into smaller stowage units; this helps to avoid having to disassemble a whole kit if something is needed quickly.