Provisioning List: If you don't have it, you Can't eat it.

[starcrest]

ON MY ARIEL STARCREST AND TRITON STARCREST 2,I PROVISIONED  BOTH  PRETTYMUCH COMPLETELY BEFORE I LEFT CALIFORNIA.I GAINED MUCH EXPERIENCE FROM THESE VOYAGES AND I FEEL THAT I CAN PROVISION MY CURRENT BOAT TO LAST ONE PERSON EASILY SIX TO NINE MONTHS OR MORE.REMEMBER THAT I EXPERIENCED AN APPETITE LOSS WICH RESULTED IN MY LOOSING 40 TO FIFTY POUNDS  DURING THE COURSE OF THE VOYAGES.I FELT LIKE I WAS LIVING OFF OF DOG FOOD...LETS SEE,HOW ABOUT SOME SKIPPY CHUNKS TODAY..ALSO WITH ALL OF THE CONSTANT MOTION IT IS EASY TO "LOOSE YOR LUNCH".YOU EAT OUT OF PURE NECESSITY...NO IMPULSE EATING. NO CONSTANLY CHECKING THE FRIDGE...TAKE A LOOK AROUND...MOST PEOPLE TODAY ARE SEVERLY OVER WEIGHT.WHEN I RETURNED ON MY FIRST VOYAGE NO ONE RECOGNIZED ME."HOLY poop LOOK HOW MUCH WEIGHT YOU LOST!!! THOSE WERE MY FATHERS FIRST WORDS TO ME UPON MY RETURN.LIVING AT THE DOCK IS NOT LIKE BEING OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.THERES NO STOPPING OFF FOR A BURGER,BUT SIRLOIN BURGER CHUNKY SOUP IS VERY MUCH THE NEXT BEST THING.TRY NOT EATING FOR A FEW DAYS THEN OPEN UP A CAN OF BEEF STEW.BELIEVE ME WHEN YOU EXPERIENCE REAL HUNGER PAINS YOU WONT NEED TO HEAT IT UP.AND THE INSIDE OF THE CANS ARE STERILE.SO WHEN YOU PROVISION FOR YOU TRIP...WALK UP AND DOWN THE FOOD ISLE AND REMEMBER...IF YOU DONT HAVE IT........

[CapnK]

So what you're saying is to stock up a good variety of food, because there's no telling what is going to be appetizing, and what isn't?

I was reading Tristan Jones "One Hand For Yourself..." the other night, the part about how he provisioned. He seemed torecommend bringing staples, and making different  meals up from that.

I knwo that I don't like to spend alot of time in prepping food prior to cooking, when I'm busy or under sail. At anchor, its a little different - you have more time, and the stove isn't heeled.

[starcrest]

absolutely.and remember to bring more of whatever you favorite is.I happen to like creamed corn.and since canned food has a several year shelf life provisioning can start a year before you want to leave.you would be suprized how much storeage there is on many boats and remember that you can never have too much .if the boat seems to be a little below the intended waterline remember as time passes the provisions will be used.of considerable mention is water.its a good idea to keep water in several different containers.I filled some of the sparkletts bottles in starcrest 2s water supply in lahaina maui.as it turned out halfway home that water developed a rubbery sediment and rendered it undrinkable.I used it for washing only.if I had filled all of the tanks in lahaina it would have been disastrous.variety is tthe spice of life and believe me as bland as canned food may sound pound per pound it has the most foodstuff value.wal mart has ''great value'brand soups and the current price is about 1.36 per can.I can easily foresee storing literraly 5 or 6 hundred of these soups alone...that doesnot include canned fruits and vegetables.if you are not sure how much you will use in one day then try this experiment....during the course of one day eat only canned soups and veggies...see how well you do on land.i use about 5 or six differnt types of cans per day.do the math.if six cans lasts one day how long will 600 cans last....cut that  in half if you have 2 people...in third if you have 3 and so on.then go to your kitchen table....raise both clenched fists above your head and with all of your might slam both fists down on the table repeatedly about 5 seconds apart.or have someone else do that while your trying to eat.that is an accurate simulation of sailing north from hawaii.do that fist slamming every 5 seconds for 24 hrs during a 5 day stretch.you should develope a whopping headache and real seasick type nausea.theres more to provisioning than canned goods.thrers all sorts of perishables that should be used first.then theres dried fruits nuts pastas but remember when youre 5 miles from the bottom theres no mikky dees.

[The Edge]

Let's not forget the BEER.  My Mac carries 1400 lbs of water ballast.  I must have had another 1400 lbs of wine/beer below the the floor boards. 

When I departed Lake Worth, FL, for the Abacos, Bahamas, I had no itinerary.  Since I love remote areas I decided to stock up with essentials for an extended period of time.  Beer costs $4 a can there.

I didn't bother with refrigeration of any kind while on the hook.  I would often trade my warm beers for cold beers.  I didn't even bother with ice.  Ice is expensive, messy when it melts and you  have to be near a source to replenish.  When you have ice, you buy fresh food.  Then you are forced to eat it before it spoils. 

WINE, my beverage of choice.  I buy in 5 ltr boxes.  I remove the boxes and store the pliable bladders.   

[Auspicious]

I knew there was a reason I liked you Sarah!

[The Edge]

 

[Zen]

"I buy in 5 ltr boxes.  I remove the boxes and store the pliable bladders".

Great idea, for that you get a karma point from me....
You have made your contribution 
I was wondering how to store those wine bottle. I'll keep a few of the good stuff on in rack, and keep the bags for everyday use, yo ho ho and bottle of merlot.

[s/v Faith]

WINE, my beverage of choice.  I buy in 5 ltr boxes.  I remove the boxes and store the pliable bladders.

  I remember someone here in NC was selling a 'bota' designed to suspend the bladders from wine boxes, so they could be hung up for use if stored as you suggeest.... I will have to find the link.

 Great idea.

[Jack Tar]

Just another reason to go sailing. To loose weight . I have noticed any time I cruise I loose weight. Cant wait to retire to living aboard so I can keep it off permanently  LOL.  I eat less because there is more to keep me occupied. That and the constant motion of the boat. You using muscles all the time when sailing.  BUT I found going on a Royal Caribbean cruise reverses the process.

[starcrest]

I donot know how much I weighed before I left on my first crossing.but I remember I used to waddle and get short of breath.I used to pant much like a dog.I was near 200 pounds.when I got off the boat on the day I returned I went over to the electronic  scales where the commercial fisherman weighed their catch.I was 147 pounds.I went  from a  weistline size 38 to a 33.most of it from the 41 days to get home.there was weight loss on the second return too.but that was only 34 days.It wasnt really from using muscle infact on a 26 foot boat theres not much walking room and my legs became atrophied from the knees down....this became apparent only when I finally got off the boat.basically it was a change in consumption habits.there was no "impulse eating'. at all.

[hearsejr]

sssooooo if I get the
 Bayliner Buccaneer, and set up with only one bed area and a couch seat,  ice box, and portapotty with large holding tank and every inche of useable space be filled with water bottles and canned food I should beable to really stay down in the islands for a right good time huh?
 the buc has alot of room that could be set up for storages which is why I decided to include it in my desired boat list.
 

 Bill

[starcrest]

only if the bayliner buc is a mid 1960s era hand layed  up hull with a full keel and internal  lead ballast.and you wont need the porta potty,  just a bucket

[hearsejr]

I don't think it's mid 60's but it is hand laid glass. I don't think it's a full keel, as I have only seen one that was, and this one is too cheaply priced...so my luck is not going to be that good. lol
 that's a "sure thing boat" ....been there 3 years, and unwanted by the last owner, who gave it away to a guy who wanted the outboard.  if I cann't afford anything else, atleast that one will be easy to pick up.....it's an easy way to get on the water. lol.

Bill

[starcrest]

Hooked tuna .they dive deep ,they dont jump.mahi mahi.....they jump...they will spit the hook....but wait...they will hit the lure again.the neatest thing....once a tuna is brought along side its not uncommon to see another one rite beside it.out comes the gaff and with spurting blood all over the cockpit the fish is landed.then it gets secured to  the sternrail platform where it is filletted whilst still flippin."I dont want to kill you I just want to eat you".is what I would say to it. the skeletal entrails get thrown overboard in a belly flop of blood.then the fillets are skinned and neatly chopped into cubes....real fish mc nuggetts......nevermind the fryin' pan....it gets wrapped in tinfoil with butter,onion various herbs of what-have-you-- "fish bombs"as I called them--and you never tasted fish until it was taken from the water 10 minutes ago.

[Adam]

Well, I got back almost a year ago from a 6 month "wander" from Pascagoula MS through the Bahamas, all living on the hook... whether you realize it or not, just being on a boat is constantly exercising your muscles... without realizing it, you're making constant balance corrections for the slightest motion of the boat, and even on a larger boat, you're more "climbing around" than walking around.. that said, I probably had the best eating habits of my life on the boat. While I'm pretty blessed that I never seem to gain weight, ashore (being a bachelor) I was pretty much fast food or chicken wings for every meal. But then on the boat, I would only eat if I felt hungry, and then it was usually from a can. But Dinty Moore beef stew on a cold and windy night at anchor sticks to your ribs better than the finest steak from Ruth's Chris Steakhouse... and for snacks, there were always apples or oranges available... much healthier than a jumbo Snickers and a Coke... I don't think I had a single soda in that 6 months... and for two people, it averaged less than $200/month and we ate very well. Fresh bread, milk, eggs, fruits and veggies. Of course my crew was a recovering alcoholic, so there was no beer or wine aboard... even cheaper!

Provisioning in Miami was the best. If you go to the neighborhood grocery stores, you'll find canned foods much cheaper than at the "big box" stores...

So now I'm looking for something in the 25-29' range and I plan to spend alternating periods of working here in the Keys and taking off to the islands until I need to replenish the kitty... I've already seen how cheap I can do it and still be comfortable...

btw- those "cheapskate" eating habits have stuck with me now that I'm back on shore... makes a big difference in the balance of the kitty when you're not forking over $$$ every day for eating out!

[hearsejr]

wow $200 amonth, for 2 people, sounds great...I wonder if that's 2 skinny people that aren't very active and spends alot time relaxing, or if it's for someone who is very active, there for may have more of an appatite?
 lolololol
 Bill
 

[Adam]

Well, I was very active... but it doesn't cost anything to fish, snorkel, hike, ride the bike around, and photograph everything (no film, all digital)... also, in St. Pete and Miami, I exchanged read books for new books, and in Bimini, there's a free lending library run on the honor system, so I didn't have to buy books...

I'll admit that I didn't spend much in bars or eating ashore... it was DEAD when I was there (right after Christmas)... so there wasn't much night life... but I had a great time...

[CharlieJ]

LOL- we VERY seldom eat out anyway and NEVER spend a nickel in a bar, so those wouldn't be a big change for us.

I often caught fish when cruising, almost could count on one sometime during the day when in the keys. Excellent way to add to your stores.

[hearsejr]

I just tried some beacon that you don't need to refrigerate. it's precooked and is in a soft flat package. it requires a microwave to heat up, but I'm going to try and see what happens when  if I toss it in a frying pan. lol.
 I was planning on fishing as a sorce of some of my meals. might even learn to cook while I'm out there. lol.
 ofcourse I don't eat out either, and unless Pixi Dust shows up in the horbor, I guess I better learn to cook. lol
 Bill

[Pixie Dust]

Bill-  I do like to cook, but only because I like to eat. 

Adam- did you use solar for your power?  How big was your battery bank?
I am getting my boat ready to take over after Christmas of this yr.  to the Abacos. 
How much water do you carry?
Did you have any problems finding diesal and water to refill?