Joanne Wilshin - Writer. Teacher. Explorer. - 1st Mate\'s Blog

Build Your Own Meals with What You Have on Hand

Sun, 29 Mar 2020 07:14:06 GMT

NEW! Boat Notebook Printable Pages on Etsy.

What to make for dinner when there's no grocery store around for 50 nm?

Here's an idea: First, see what's in your larder. Even better, check out what you've got in your Boat Notebook provisioning pages.

Then, use one of the 13 Build-Your-Own-Meals recipes in the our Boat Notebook Printable Pages. Build your own meals are basically using what you have on hand. You'll find loose instructions for making:
Cream of Anything Soup
Pizza
Foil-Packet Fish

Rustic Fruit Tart
Rustic Savory Tart
Salad Dressing
Buddha Bowl
Stir Fry
Stir Fry Sauces
Grilling Sauce
Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Salsa
Tacos

The beauty of these recipes is they give you a loose idea of what you need to make a delicious meal using what you have on hand. They tell you:

types of ingredients you'll need, but not specifics
order of combining
baking time, if any

For example, the Cream of Anything Soup says:

Sauté 2-5 aromatics (onion, carrot, celery family).
Add a spice.
Simmer veggies in broth. Add some meat if you like.
Add a tart liquid (wine, cider, etc.)
Add cream mix (leGout, your own made from recipe*).
Add a little acid (lemon, vinegar, etc.)

* 2 C nonfat dry milk, 3/4 cornstarch, 1/4 C chicken bouillon granules, 1 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp dried thyme and basil, 1/4 tsp pepper

Pretty simple, huh!

Using the above loose recipe, I planned to make a 2-cup pot of soup.

I chopped up some carrots, red onion, and celery. I could have use peppers, garlic, or some other aromatic vegetables.

I sauteed them in a combination of butter and olive oil. If you like to saute your veggies in something else, please do that.

Then I added a spice. Instead of a spice, I added some tarragon. I could have added pepper, turmeric, cardamom, etc., but I making the soup with what I have on hand. A book I use to help me add the best flavors to food is The Flavor Bible.

Then I simmered the veggies in broth. I used 2 cups of water (remember, I'm making a 2-cup pot of soup) and some chicken bouillon.

Then I added some pre-cooked chicken.

I added a little wine to it, also.

Then I add LeGout cream soup mix. If you want to make your own, this one works well:
2 C nonfat dry milk, 3/4 cornstarch, 1/4 C chicken bouillon granules, 1 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp dried thyme and basil, 1/4 tsp pepper

Or do a Google search for one you like better.

According to the LeGout package, the ratio of water to LeGout is 3:1. So I put in two 1/3 cups of powder into the soup.

Then I added a little chardonnay vinegar from Trader Joe's.

It was a little lumpy, so I whisked the soup while cooking on low.

It ended up being kind of thick. I could have watered it down a bit, but Davy said it looked good to him, so we ended up eating it thick. It was yummy and satisfying. Perfect with a grilled cheese sandwich on a chilly PNW day.

The reasons I love these Build Your Own Meals are that:

nothing has to be exact
there's plenty of room for experimentation
I can be surprised by what I've created
I can make a meal with what I have on hand
making them has given me confidence to be a more creative cook

I hope you find this helpful for your cruising life!

Another name for
Build Your Own is
Use What You Have on Hand!

Printables designed to make you feel safe and organized on extended boat cruises.

Feel safe and organized on your next long cruise.
Use the printable Boat Notebook Pages.
A5, Half Page, Happy Planner Classic, and Letter

"Along the way to Alaska, both Gary and I read through The First Mate's Guide and believe you should add a sub-title: A Guide for All Boaters in the Northwest, British Colombia and Alaska. It is the most complete and comprehensive collection of information of any book on the subject. You covered topics we were sure we knew but didn't. Topics we forgot but we're unaware they had forgotten. And, most importantly, it makes you review all the procedures and plans necessary for a safe and comfortable cruise. It contains a wealth of important information and is a serious work of great breadth. Well done and many thanks, Bill Healy.”

The First Mate's Guide to Cruising the Inside Passage
Buy on Amazon ($11.99)
Kindle ($2.99)

How I Use the Provisioning Map To Keep Our Boat Organized

Fri, 27 Mar 2020 20:20:32 GMT

Provisioning for a long cruise can be overwhelming. At first glance, you might think it's like stocking a kitchen. All the baking supplies go here, and all the spices and rubs go there.

On a boat? Nope. I've spent enough time on power and sail boats to know how limited and quirky storage space can be. Ultimately, finding storage space at all becomes my biggest win. Keeping track of and being able to find what I've got then becomes my next priority.

Sound familiar? If so, keep reading, because I found a solution to my problem. I now use a Provisioning Map and a Provisions Inventory. Here's why and how:

Note: I've created a batch of more than 34 unique printables from which you can make your Boat Notebook, that's described in The First Mate's Guide to Cruising the Inside Passage. These valuable provisioning pages are included.

I developed a method where I:

store all my provisions first
create a provisions inventory second
update the inventory as new provisions are added and subtracted.

Provisioning Map from the Boat Notebook Printables.

First, get all your provisions stored.

That means everything. Galley supplies. Food in the fridge and freezer. Medicines and body care. Batteries and impellers. Everything. Make it so when you turn to leave, you don't feel haunted by something left out. At least try to do that.

Worried that the peanut butter isn't with the jelly? That the syrup and honey aren't standing shoulder to shoulder? No worries. All will be found.

Note: Hopefully you've been pretty creative in finding spaces below decks, inside weirdly shaped hatches. To keep thinks from flying around in these places, you've found study boxes and/or zippered bags (I usethese).

Second, make drawings of your boat's layout and number each storage area.

Depending on your boat's size, make at least one drawing of your boat's layout. I make a total of three:

Forward spaces (see right)
Galley and stern spaces
Captain's spaces

I then give a unique number to each storage area. For example, in my freezers, I used numbered bins to keep the food from moving all over the place and to make it easy to find what I want.

So everything gets numbered. Drawers, cupboards, bags, bins, etc. I end up with like fifty specific storage areas. Which is one of the reasons it's hard to remember where you put things on a boat!

As you can see, it doesn't have to be a gorgeous map. It's not hanging in the L'Ouvre.

Third, get enough paper to deal with each storage area.

This is why I'm an advocate for having a Boat Notebook! It can be a ring or a disc-bound binder. (I really like the disc-bound binders because pages are easy to refill or toss, Plus they open flat. And I can make it myself in the measurement I like.)

Keep one area of your Boat Notebook for provisions:

Put your Provisioning Maps in your notebook.
Put your inventory lists in your notebook.

Provisioning pages from the Boat Notebook Printables.

Last, go from area to area and list you inventory.

I usually get Davy to help with this part. It goes so much faster. He:

open each storage area
tells me item-by-item what's in side
closes the storage area
ends up having some idea what's on board.

Let's talk a bit about the lists to the right:

Area #3 has four packages of spaghetti (which I spelled incorrectly, but alas). The three checkmarks indicate three extras.
The last item in Area #3 had six packages of brownie mix. One package plus five extras. Except the last check has a slash going through it. That means I used one of the packages, and really only have five in all at this time.
Same thing goes for Area #4. I originally had eight cans of tuna, but now I only have seven.
When I eventually go shopping while on our cruise, when I put things away, I add them to the correct list.

I bet you can guess Area #3 is a drawer. Long and skinny. Spaghetti. Straws. Kebab sticks. Un hun.

For reference, I printed these Boat Notebook Pages using letter size, black and white, scaled down 84% to print on letter paper. I then trimmed it to 7" x 9.25". Not too big. Not too small.

The First-Mate's Guide to Cruising the Inside Passage now has its own
Boat Notebook Printables.
Available at Etsy.com

The Boat Notebook Printable Pages ($8)
More than 34 unique pages to keep you feeling safe and organized on your extended cruise.

The Boat Notebook Printable Covers ($2)
Personalize your Notebook Cover with your boat's name. For view and disc-bound binders. Three choices.

The Boat Notebook Fillable Printable PDFs ($2)
Three PDFs that you can enter information on your computer and print multiple copies.

All bundled together - $10

VoyagerPlus

"Quick read. I enjoyed all the lists and info author has located. Anyone looking for ideas about how to get organized on their boat will find this a useful collection of ideas and reference info. Fun to compare what I've accumulated over many years of boating with authors thoughts. Dennis Thornton”

The First Mate's Guide to Cruising the Inside Passage
Buy on Amazon ($11.99)
Kinlde ($2.99)

Personalizing Your Boat Notebook Cover in Word - How To

Thu, 26 Mar 2020 20:05:07 GMT

Have you seen our Boat Notebook Covers we're offering on Etsy? Check them out here.

Also check out our First-Mate's
Boat Notebook Pages
guaranteed to keep you
feeling more organized and safe!

This post helps shows you how to add your boat's name to our Boat Notebook cover using Microsoft Word.
Here's what you need to do:

First, here're some font styles I considered.

What a difference, right?

I'd love to know what you choose for your Boat Notebook cover!

So let's get started.

Before you do anything, make sure you've downloaded the Boat Notebook covers (thank you so much!).

The Boat Notebook Covers are interchangeable. Pick what you like. Mix and match!

Now open Word to a blank page.

1. You'll want to be using a basic, US letter size (8.5 x 11 in. or 215.9 x 279.4 mm) page.

2. Go to Custom Margins (Layout > Margin > bottom of menu).

3. Change all margins to zero.

Get the Boat Notebook Bundle. Printables.
$12 value for $10.
Feel safe and organized on your next long cruise.
More than 34 unique pages, 3 cover choices, and 3 rillable PDFs.
A5, Half Page, Happy Planner Classic, and Letter

4. When Word protests, click IGNORE.

5. Insert a cover. Insert > Picture. Look for where you put your downloaded files from Etsy. Find the file that says "Boat Notebook Covers." In that file, find "Cover Jpegs." Open that file.

6. Select the front cover you want to personalize. Make sure it has the word "letter" in it.

7. Once selected, the picture fills the frame. Yay!!!! (If it doesn't fill the frame, you didn't pick a front cover that has the word "letter" in its name.

8. Next, a very important step. Click Format > Wrap Text (on right, under Position). Select "Back of Text."

Get the Boat Notebook Bundle. Printables.
$12 value for $10.
Feel safe and organized on your next long cruise.
More than 34 unique pages, 3 cover choices, and 3 rillable PDFs.
A5, Half Page, Happy Planner Classic, and Letter

9. Insert a text box. Insert > Text Box. Pick the first one, top left.

10. When you click it, it should look something like this:

11. Center it in the life ring. Don't worry if it doesn't look perfect yet. We'll fix that.

12. Click in the box and write your boat's name, or whatever you want it to say.

13. Format your text. Click on Home tab to find formatting options.

14. Change the font, font size, color of font, and justification to suit yourself.

15. Obviously you'll have to get rid of the white background and outline. Here's how. Click the Format tab. Then click Shape Fill and Shape Outline. In each, click either No Fill or No Outline.

Get the Boat Notebook Bundle. Printables.
$12 value for $10.
Feel safe and organized on your next long cruise.
More than 34 unique pages, 3 cover choices, and 3 rillable PDFs.
A5, Half Page, Happy Planner Classic, and Letter

Here's the result.

16. Save it as a PDF. Save As > pick file and give name > PDF (instead of Word Document). Note: click "Standard" and not "Minimum."

17. Open your PDF and click Print to print on letter sized paper (8.5 x 11 in. or 215.9 x 279.4 mm).

    Find where it asks you to Custom Scale. Or something like that; printers vary.
    If you want it letter size, say 100%
    If you want A5, say 75%.
    If you want Happy Planner Classic, say 84%
    If you want Half Page, choose 77% (I know it doesn't make sense, but onward)
    For any other size, take the length of your preferred size, and divide by 11 (or 279.4 mm).
    Print.

Thank you for reading this post. I hope it was helpful for you!

"I've been a First-Mate since 2000 on power boats in the great Pacific Northwest. Many parts of this book are second nature to me already, but due to reading this book, I've made several changes in our routines. We now have our "comfort" foods of chocolate and licorice readily available. I've started pre-cruise lists, just to ensure that everything we want on board prior to a cruise, is on board, including window screens that were wintering in our basement, that never were on board during a 6 week summer cruise, bummer! This book provides a wealth of resources, suggestions, and advice in one book. As the author says, "For a First-Mate, knowledge is power and ignorance is not bliss. Mary Robbins"

The First Mate's Guide to Cruising the Inside Passage
Buy on Amazon ($11.99)
Kinlde ($2.99)

Printables designed to make you feel safe and organized on extended boat cruises.

34 unique pages that mesh with The First-Mate’s Guide to Cruising the Inside Passage.
A5, Half Page, Happy Planner Classic, and Letter.
PDFs, so they’re scalable to the size you want.
Provisioning, Underway, and Boat Status pages.
Three covers in four sizes. Personalize with your boat’s name.
Three fillable PDFs for customs, emergency info, and float plan.

$12 value for $10 on Etsy

How I Used Canva To Personalize My Boat Notebook Cover

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 23:10:39 GMT

Have you seen the new printable Boat Notebook covers we're offering on Etsy? Take a look!

They're designed for your Boat Notebook, AND they can be personalized with your boat name.

If you're wondering how to put your boat name on the cover, other than handwriting it or using Illustrator or Photoshop or Publisher, here comes your answer.

Use Canva. It's free! Just go to Canva.com and create an account. Once you do that, keep reading to find out what to do next.

First, here're some font styles I considered.

What a difference, right?

I'd love to know what you choose for your Boat Notebook cover!

So let's get started.

Before you do anything, make sure you've downloaded the Boat Notebook covers (thank you so much!) and you've created an account with Canva.com. It's free!

The Boat Notebook Covers are interchangeable. Pick what you like. Mix and match!

Feel safe and organized on your next long cruise.
Use the printable Boat Notebook Pages.
A5, Half Page, Happy Planner Classic, and Letter

Once in your Canva Account, do this:

1. Click "Templates" on the left menu.

2. Pick any flyer. It doesn't matter which because you're going to erase all its elements. I'm picking the "Annual Open House" one.

3. Once the flyer opens, click one element at a time, or capture the whole batch with your cursor, and then delete them all. You should see an aqua box(es).

4. Now click "Uploads" from the right menu.

Feel safe and organized on your next long cruise.
Use the printable Boat Notebook Pages.
A5, Half Page, Happy Planner Classic, and Letter

5. Then select "Upload an image or video"

6. Then open a cover you'd like to personalize from the Cover Jpegs in the Boat Notebook Covers file that you unzipped. Note: file names tell you their size (A5, half page, Happy Planner Classic, or letter).
Note: if you're new at this, pick a letter sized front cover.

7. Wait for it to upload and appear in the image area.

8. Drag it to the right to it's on the white page area.

9. Press the SHIFT key while you also move one of the corner bubbles to increase the size of the graphic.

10. Next, click "Text" on the left menu. A bunch of text options will appear to the right.

11. Drag "Add a heading" or "Add a subheading" to the middle of the life preserver. Write your boat's name in the blue "Add a Heading" area.

12. Select a font. Type "calligraphy" or "sans serif" in the search window to help find fonts.

13. Here're some of the calligraphy choices.

Feel safe and organized on your next long cruise.
Use the printable Boat Notebook Pages.
A5, Half Page, Happy Planner Classic, and Letter

14. Try out all the formatting options along the top. From left to right, 1) Font, 2) Font Size, 3) Font Color, 4) Bold, Italic, or Underlined, 5) Justification, 6) All Caps or Not, and 7) Line and Text Spacing.

15. When you've got it like you want it, click the download arrow. When you see "PDF Print", click the arrow on the right. Select PNG at the top of the list. ALSO, only download page 1, or they'll charge you.
Note: You can also choose PDF, but I think Canva will charge you $1. Your choice.

16. Click download and save it where's you'll remember to find it.
Note: Make sure you only download Page 1.

17. Then what?

Open a Word document and insert the file as a picture. (Insert > Picture > file you want > Open)
Change margins to 0 all around. When Word protests, click ignore.
Size picture to fill page.
Save as a PDF:Save As > pick file and give name > PDF (instead of Word Document). Note: click "Standard" and not "Minimum."

18. Now open your PDF and click Print to print on letter sized paper (8.5 x 11 in. or 215.9 x 279.4 mm).

Find where it asks you to Custom Scale. Or something like that; printers vary.
If you want it letter size, say 100%
If you want A5, say 75%.
If you want Happy Planner Classic, say 84%
If you want Half Page, choose 77% (I know it doesn't make sense, but onward)
For any other size, take the length of your preferred size, and divide by 11 (or 279.4 mm).
Print.

Thank you for reading this post! I hope it helps you, and I hope it gives you ideas for other ways to use Canva and The First Mate's Guide Boat Notebook Pages in your life.

Feel safe and organized on your next long cruise.

Use the printable Boat Notebook Pages.

A5, Half Page, Happy Planner Classic, and Letter

More than 34 unique pages.

$8 on Etsy

Get your copy of The First Mate's Guide at Amazon.
$11.99 USD
Paperback or Kindle.

Making Lentil Soup So It Cooks During a 2-3 Hour Passage

Thu, 18 Apr 2019 00:17:07 GMT

Here’s another solution for creating a hot meal to eat on a cold, wet day of cruising. Again, I use the cooking-with-fleece method. So it’s even easier to prepare in the morning, I use dehydrated veggies to add flavor.

Here’s what I put in my lentil soup:

1 part lentils, rinsed
4 parts water
5-6 slices of cut up bacon or 1 sliced artisan sausage
Olive oil
Tsp of ham soup base
A fistful of:
    Onions (fresh or dehydrated)
   Carrots (fresh or dehydrated)
   Celery (or dehydrated celeriac)
   Tomatoes (fresh, dehydrated, or sundried)
½ teaspoon of ground:
   Black pepper
   Cardamom
   Coriander
   Cumin
   Ginger
   Sea Salt

You’ll want to use a heat-retaining pot that gets pretty filled up; empty space at the top cools down more easily and inhibits cooking. I use a Martha Stewart pot here.

Sauté the bacon or the sausage until browned.
Add everything else in the pot.
Boil for five minutes.
While boiling, prepare the fleece. I usually use two 24”x 48” strips of thick fleece. I lay on over the other in a perpendicular fashion. It’ll look like a big +. More layers is better.
When five minutes are up (218 degrees), put lid on pot.
Place the pot in the center of the cross. I then bring up the four sides so the pot is completely enshrouded in the fleece. There should be many layers. More is better.
Leave it alone for at least three hours.
Top with sour cream.

Printables designed to make you feel safe and organized on extended boat cruises.

34 unique pages that mesh with The First-Mate’s Guide to Cruising the Inside Passage.
A5, Half Page, Happy Planner Classic, and Letter.
PDFs, so they’re scalable to the size you want.
Provisioning, Underway, and Boat Status pages.
Three covers in four sizes. Personalize with your boat’s name.
Three fillable PDFs for customs, emergency info, and float plan.

$12 value for $10 on Etsy

Making Kitchari So It Cooks During a 2-3 Hour Passage

Wed, 17 Apr 2019 23:50:06 GMT

Most of you know I don’t like to cook while underway. But on cold, wet days, it’s nice to have something hot when we finally anchor or dock. Using my technique of cooking-with-fleece, I’m able to start a hot meal so it’s done by lunch time.

One meal that usually satisfies as warm and nurturing is kitchari, a traditional Ayervedic cleansing food.
Here’s how I do it.

I usually use a 5. or 1 quart lidded cast-iron pot. I do this because a pot that’s significantly larger than the meal I’m preparing will cool down and not cook the food properly. For today, I’m making a bigger batch and am using a 2-quart pot.

For kitchari, I use:

1 part basmati rice, rinsed
1 part yellow moong dal, rinsed and picked through
7 parts water
Then I add (all ground) ¼ - ½ teaspoon of (depending on taste):
Turmeric
Garam Masala
Ginger
Cardamom
Black pepper
Coriander
Sea salt
2 tsp ghee or coconut oil.

Note: sometimes I buy packets from Amazon. It’s easier, but I always have to add more garam masala.

Then I put everything in a pan, put the lid on, and turn up the heat to get it to boiling.

When it starts boiling, I remove the lid and turn the heat down a little so it doesn’t boil over and make an ugly mess.

While it’s boiling, I prepare my fleece. The more the merrier. I usually use two 24”x 48” strips of thick fleece. I lay on over the other in a perpendicular fashion. It’ll look like a big +.

After the kitchari boils for 5 minutes (218 degrees), I put the lid on the pot, and place the pot in the center of the cross. I then bring up the four sides so the pot is completely enshrouded in the fleece. There should be many layers.

When I come back at 90 minutes later, the kitchari’s done and piping hot. Top with yogurt.

Mary Robbins review

Printables designed to make you feel safe and organized on extended boat cruises.

34 unique pages that mesh with The First-Mate’s Guide to Cruising the Inside Passage.
A5, Half Page, Happy Planner Classic, and Letter.
PDFs, so they’re scalable to the size you want.
Provisioning, Underway, and Boat Status pages.
Three covers in four sizes. Personalize with your boat’s name.
Three fillable PDFs for customs, emergency info, and float plan.

$12 value for $10 on Etsy

12 Sites That Help You Feel More Secure Anchoring Your Boat

Fri, 08 Feb 2019 20:03:16 GMT

L'Esprit anchored in Red Bluff, Baranof Island, Alaska.

Operating a boat takes teamwork. It also takes knowledge. Having that knowledge will add to your sense of security, which will add to your enjoyment of your cruise.

As a first mate, you’ll want enough knowledge about anchoring to be a good second opinion for the captain when s/he is:

choosing a good spot to anchor
dropping and securing the anchor
watching the anchor
weighing or lifting the anchor

Choosing a Good Anchorage.

School of Sailing's anchorage page offers a helpful list and explanation for choose an anchorage. The article explains the need for an anchorage that provides:

Protection from weather, including ocean swells. Know from which direction the wind and current will be coming for our entire stay. Not just when you arrive. You don’t want to be blown onto shore if the wind kicks up in the middle of the night. It also means that in the PNW, you need to factor in ferry and ship traffic.
Good holding so your anchor will stay set. IOW, avoid rocky bottoms.
Swinging room so you don’t end up on the rocks or abutting another boat.
Good depth. Not too shallow, not too deep.

Scotland’s Royal Yachting Association also provides good information with helpful illustrations for finding a safe anchorage as well as having a tripping line in case of a snag.

From RYA's anchoring page, illustrating effect of tide range on anchor rode scope.

Dropping and Securing Your Anchor.

West Marine’s site naturally has a good explanation of anchoring, along with illustrations. Its key points are:

How anchors work
Setting an anchor
Estimating scope
Resetting if necessary
Anchoring bow and stern
Bottom conditions
Need for second anchor
Anchor maintenance

Ventura’s Power Squadron provides a very detailed list of how to set your anchor. Very much worth the read.

Florida’s Citimarine Store’s anchoring page give you additional information about:

the types of anchors that work best with which
estimating rode needed (i.e., less if you have heavy chain and large anchor)
adding weight if your rode is not long enough

Boativated has a thorough description for stern tying. You’ll need to know about this, especially if you cruise in the PNW’s popular spots. In a few of British Columbia’s more popular anchorages (i.e.,Prideaux Haven), you’ll find tie-up rings embedded in the shore rocks.

Illustration from West Marine's anchoring page showing how an anchor gets set by slowly putting boat in reverse.

Anchor Watch

Boat US offers a comprehensive description of how to keep an anchor watch. What you’re watching for is any indication your anchor has dragged. IOW, your boat will move around on the water. But if it moves in an unexpected direction or length, it’s time to check things out. Possibly add scope. Possibly back down again. Possible move.

It’s an important skill.

From Boat US's Anchor Watch article.

Weighing Anchor

Working the Sails offers a straight forward list of how to weigh anchor.

But, because anchoring involves a boat, there’s that relatively uncommon event which you must be prepared for: when your anchor become snagged and cannot be weighed.

Boating Magazine has some good advice on how to unfoul your anchor.

And Kingman Yacht Center explains how to create and use a trip line. (We haven’t used one on L'Esprit, but I’m going to suggest this to Capt. Dave.)

From Kingman Yacht Center's explanation for using a trip line to free a fouled anchor.

Some Extra Info.

Practical Boat Owner: Anchoring: 6 Tips for tricky situations

Anchoring Etiquette: The unwritten “Rules of the Rode”

I want to learn more PNW boating knowledge so I can be an even better first mate!

Printables designed to make you feel safe and organized on extended boat cruises.

34 unique pages that mesh with The First-Mate’s Guide to Cruising the Inside Passage.
A5, Half Page, Happy Planner Classic, and Letter.
PDFs, so they’re scalable to the size you want.
Provisioning, Underway, and Boat Status pages.
Three covers in four sizes. Personalize with your boat’s name.
Three fillable PDFs for customs, emergency info, and float plan.

$12 value for $10 on Etsy

I'm a fan of True Lemon, True Lime, True Orange. Here's why . . . . .

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 22:03:25 GMT

Caveat, a with everything on this blog, I get no remuneration or freebies for products I write about. Nada.

So when I go into the stratosphere about a product, it's because I've used it on a months' long cruise, and it worked really well for me in a number of ways.

True Lemon, Lime, and Orange are crystallized citrus products designed for cooking, baking, and seasoning. They are not sweetened, which is the first reason why

I love True citrus crystals because they taste fabulous. They add the zing and zest they promise. True Lime in your tacos. True Lemon or True Orange in your chicken sautes.

they're so great to have aboard on a long cruise. There's no need to store extra lemons, limes, and oranges you'll need for cooking and baking in the fridge's precious space, because the reconstituted crystals take their place.

The second reason I love True citrus crystals is because they taste fabulous. They add the zing and zest they promise. True Lime in your tacos. True Lemon or True Orange in your chicken sautes.

The third reason I love True citrus crystals is because they store well. My bottle of True Lime lasted our whole two-month cruise because we don't eat tacos every day. My bottle of lime crystals is still holding its own.

Lastly, they're available on Amazon. I first found the lemon crystals in the Anacortes Safeway. When I discovered how practical and tasty the product was, I searched Amazon for more of their products. Sure enough! Amazon has True products sold individually or in sets.

What are some ways you could use True citrus crystals in your onboard cooking?

Have a friend or family member who could use the information in this post? Share it with them!

Want to learn more about bettering your first-mate skills? Read The First Mate’s Guide to Cruising the Inside Passage. Available on Amazon, softback or electronic/Kindle.

Printables designed to make you feel safe and organized on extended boat cruises.

34 unique pages that mesh with The First-Mate’s Guide to Cruising the Inside Passage.
A5, Half Page, Happy Planner Classic, and Letter.
PDFs, so they’re scalable to the size you want.
Provisioning, Underway, and Boat Status pages.
Three covers in four sizes. Personalize with your boat’s name.
Three fillable PDFs for customs, emergency info, and float plan.

$12 value for $10 on Etsy

Here's One Epic Thing You Should Have as a First Mate.

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 02:02:37 GMT

You’re the first mate on your boat. It’s kind of nice because the captain’s responsible for everything, even though he (or she) really does need your help in so many ways: steering, landing, anchoring, provisioning, navigating, etc.

That list gets even longer if you’re out cruising for a week or three months.

In The First Mate’s Guide to Cruising the Inside Passage I explain that a good first mate:

Learns her (or his) boat duties, maybe not perfectly at first, to a tee.

A good first mate is a good second opinion.

Has some idea of the captain’s duties in case of an emergency.
Can be a good second opinion when decisions are being made.

As first mate, in order to accomplish the above, create a Boat Notebook. It can be a binder or a file on your computer so it can be added to and amended when needed.
The main reason to have a Boat Notebook is to find and keep information that you might forget or lose. (I also have a Where Things Are notebook where I keep provisioning information and recipes.)
My Boat Notebook has the following tabs:

Calculations – a page with formulae for figuring out tides and currents (I know the electronics have this information, but you never know when you’ll be without).
Communications – Scripts for talking on the ship’s radio, lists of radio channels
Contacts – Lists of family, friends, craftsmen, marinas, etc.
Customs – All pertinent information needed to get through customs, as well as customs numbers given at entry points.
Emergency – All pertinent emergency information.
Itineraries – list of friends’ itineraries for similar trips which show where good anchorages can be found.
Log – Abbreviated log. I enter where we slept, where we woke up, and anything else I deem important. This is not the same as the captain’s log which has much more detail.
Motors – Detailed step-by-step directions for starting up and shutting down the engines, generator, water maker, etc.
Purchases – list of everything purchased for customs and for matching with credit card bill upon return
Rules – Short list of rules-of-the-road and navigational information
Supplies - List of specific information regarding supplies we need to refresh from time to time, like batteries numbers, fluids and ratios
Weather – sheets where weather notations are taken starting at least two days before each departure to get a feel for weather trends.

You, of course, may have different tabs. What matters is that you know where to find information when you need it. Sometimes boating can get hectic, and the Boat Notebook is one way to ease the stress.

Also, I use the notebook method to keep our manuals organized and handy. I need several notebooks to get the deed done. Deck (windless, bbq, etc.), Running (radar, steering, auto pilot, etc.), Cabin (stove, fridge, plumbing, etc.), and Engines (including generator).

Have friends who might find this information useful? Please share this with them.

Here's the notebook's customs sheet that has all the information I'll need to get through customs (as of '18).

Here are my directions for flushing the water maker. It's not really my job, but there have been emergencies where I've had to handle this chore.

Here's a Mayday script sheet. I keep a copy on the flybridge too. Guests need to know where this is kept.

Want to learn more about bettering your first-mate skills? Read The First Mate’s Guide to Cruising the Inside Passage. Available on Amazon, softback or electronic/Kindle.

"Along the way, both Gary and I read through The First Mate's Guide and believe you should add a sub-title: A Guide for All Boaters in the Northwest, British Colombia and Alaska. It is the most complete and comprehensive collection of information of any book on the subject. You covered topics we were sure we knew but didn't. Topics we forgot but we're unaware they had forgotten. And, most importantly, it makes you review all the procedures and plans necessary for a safe and comfortable cruise. It contains a wealth of important information and is a serious work of great breadth. Well done and many thanks, Bill Healy.”

The First Mate's Guide to Cruising the Inside Passage
Buy on Amazon ($11.99)
Kinlde ($2.99)

Printables designed to make you feel safe and organized on extended boat cruises.

34 unique pages that mesh with The First-Mate’s Guide to Cruising the Inside Passage.
A5, Half Page, Happy Planner Classic, and Letter.
PDFs, so they’re scalable to the size you want.
Provisioning, Underway, and Boat Status pages.
Three covers in four sizes. Personalize with your boat’s name.
Three fillable PDFs for customs, emergency info, and float plan.

$12 value for $10 on Etsy

Scented Candles Create Toasty Cabins

Wed, 31 Oct 2018 22:57:57 GMT

You know those mornings on your boat when there's a brrrr in the air? If you don't have a heater on your boat, you're considering staying in bed the rest of the day. Or if you do have a heater, maybe you don't really want to turn it on. But, darn, it’s cold.
Here’s a solution that I’ve found works really well. But you have to pay attention.
First, get a candle that comes in a tin container with a lid. I buy mine at TJ Maxx, but you can find them at just about any discount and department store. Be sure to check out the scent so you know you can live with it.

    Then, on those cold mornings on the hook or at the dock, light the candle and let it do its work. In five to ten minutes, your boat should be warmed. If your boat’s on the bigger side, use a couple of candles.
    Warning! Only do this when you’re on the boat and you’re awake. Only light the candle in a place that won’t get bumped into or shoved. And never, ever, ever have the candle lit when you’re boat is on the move. Even in flat water. All it takes is one jarring movement and that candle flying across your boat’s cabin can become the start of fiery nightmare.
    Instead. Light your candle and let it warm your cabin so it feels like a toasty nest. Then, blow it out and put the tin lid back on the container.
   I hope this hint sweetens your cruising experience. Fair winds!

Get your copy of The First Mate's Guide at Amazon.
$11.99 USD
Paperback or Kindle.

Printables designed to make you feel safe and organized on extended boat cruises.

34 unique pages that mesh with The First-Mate’s Guide to Cruising the Inside Passage.
A5, Half Page, Happy Planner Classic, and Letter.
PDFs, so they’re scalable to the size you want.
Provisioning, Underway, and Boat Status pages.
Three covers in four sizes. Personalize with your boat’s name.
Three fillable PDFs for customs, emergency info, and float plan.

$12 value for $10 on Etsy

Joanne Wilshin - Writer. Teacher. Explorer. - 1st Mate\'s Blog

Build Your Own Meals with What You Have on Hand

Another name forBuild Your Own isUse What You Have on Hand!

How I Use the Provisioning Map To Keep Our Boat Organized

First, get all your provisions stored.

Second, make drawings of your boat's layout and number each storage area.

Third, get enough paper to deal with each storage area.

Last, go from area to area and list you inventory.

Personalizing Your Boat Notebook Cover in Word - How To

First, here're some font styles I considered.

So let's get started.

Now open Word to a blank page.

How I Used Canva To Personalize My Boat Notebook Cover

First, here're some font styles I considered.

So let's get started.

Once in your Canva Account, do this:

Making Lentil Soup So It Cooks During a 2-3 Hour Passage

Making Kitchari So It Cooks During a 2-3 Hour Passage

12 Sites That Help You Feel More Secure Anchoring Your Boat

Choosing a Good Anchorage.

Dropping and Securing Your Anchor.

Anchor Watch

Weighing Anchor

Some Extra Info.

I'm a fan of True Lemon, True Lime, True Orange. Here's why . . . . .

Here's One Epic Thing You Should Have as a First Mate.

Scented Candles Create Toasty Cabins

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Another name for
Build Your Own is
Use What You Have on Hand!