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Master and Commander
Posts: 1431
| Subject: Cookin on a boat/RV
Using Space Wisely
The galley in a boat is a tiny part of an already tiny space. You may not even be able to stand up all of the way if your galley is really small. A miniature kitchen is cute until you try to fit everything (including yourself) inside.
Bring only the minimum of cooking equipment: 1 skillet, 1 pot or saucepan, cups, plates, bowls and silverware.
There may be an icebox, but you should pack a cooler for drinks and any food overflow. The cooler also makes a nice chair to sit on, or a table to set your cutting board on while preparing food.
There are a lot of storage accessories available at boating stores. Pockets for organizing can be attached to the wall for storing silverware, spices and tools such as bottle or can openers. Hanging nets can hold fresh produce.
Attach lids of jars to the underside of the cupboard with screws: the jar can be screwed on or off for storage and access. (This is great for spices.
Cooking Tips
Galley kitchens are not the life of the party that a home kitchen can be. The best cooking in a galley is quick, with minimal prep and clean-up. Safety is very important when out on a boat, as the doctor may be some distance away.
Only cook when the boat is docked or anchored--this includes grilling. There will still be some movement, but it should be more predictable.
Check all propane tanks for leaks and refill before setting off.
Conserve water. It is not only used for cooking, but also for cleaning and for flushing the head. Bring bottled water for drinking. Salt water may be used for cleaning.
Keep things put away in cupboards, pouches or bags so they don't go flying if a wave comes along unexpectedly. This also makes things easy to find.
Have dish soap for washing dishes; paper plates and cups can be useful, but fill up your trash bin. Bring plenty of paper towels and trash bags for keeping things tidy.
Boiling water is dangerous on a moving vessel. Prepare rice and pasta ahead of time, cool, and store in freezer-weight bags. This also helps to conserve both water and fuel.
Equipment and Safety
There are special grills available that attach to the railing of the boat--perfect if you are catching fish to eat.
Counter space and preparation areas are usually minimal, so avoid bringing food that involves a lot of chopping. Find a cutting board that clamps onto something or folds down from the wall to create a prep area. Some cutting boards clamp onto the railing of the boat and can be set up next to the grill.
Be sure to bring a spatula, wooden spoons, can opener, corkscrew and bottle opener.
Knives are necessary for food prep, but can be a hazard if you leave them on the counter. Hang a magnetized strip for storing knives and put them away after each use.
For dishes and utensils, use lightweight plastic or metal. Things can move around quite a bit on a boat; having unbreakable dishes is safer and they usually float if they happen to fall overboard.
Even when docked, a boat does move, so you will want to have safety railings on the front of the stove, oven (if available) in the ice box (if present), and in any cupboards.
Safety latches on cupboard and icebox doors usually come with the equipment, but may need replacing before setting sail. Strategically placed handles may be installed near the stove to help you keep your balance while the boat is rocking.
Meal Planning
With a little bit of forethought, you can save yourself time and trouble when preparing meals in your miniature kitchen. Many items can be prepared on land before you set sail.
Make a list with one dinner for each night you will be out. Choose simple one-dish meals if possible.
Plan to have sandwiches for lunch and hand-held items for breakfast: muffins, granola bars, or energy bars. Bring some eggs to scramble and serve in tortillas for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Don't rely on catching fish to eat. Consider fish a bonus meal or just replace one of your non-perishable meals.
Your main source of fuel will most likely be propane. Since you can only bring so much fuel on board, plan your meals ahead of time and estimate your fuel needs before embarking on your adventure.
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COMSUBBBS
Posts: 2540
Location: Wappingers Falls, NY | Subject: RE: Cookin on a boat/RV
Bob...you should point out that "cooking on the fly" could be hazardous to your health...BTDT...ala Lucy and Ricky...in "THE LONG, LONG TRAILER"!!!
Patti |
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COMSUBBBS
Posts: 3202
Location: Alexandria, Virginia | Subject: RE: Cookin on a boat/RV
The only thing I remember clearly about cooking in the galley on diesel submarines was that there was set of specific self enforcing Naval regulations regarding cleaning up after yourself if you used the Cook's grill....A submarine stew burner considers his grill a kind of inviolate altar...an altar where he, as the high priest, painstakingly prepares, four times a day, manna distribution. If one undertakes it upon himself to use his altar to privately sacrifice his own charred animal flesh and leaves it impure and unclean....Naval regs permit the high priest to visit the unrepentent sinner when he is asleep and begin to remove the offending body parts with a dull cleaver until such time as said high priest feels that the pile of surgically removed anatomical contributions are sufficient to appease the Goddess opf the Main Induction. On nooks, the Tidy-Up Duty PO comes and waves a magic, Type 2, Mod Six Pixie Wand and everything is turned into Rolex watches. DEX |
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Master and Commander
Posts: 1405
Location: Houston, TX (Best state in the US) | Subject: RE: Cookin on a boat/RV
dex armstrong - 2007-07-11 6:29 PM
On nooks, the Tidy-Up Duty PO comes and waves a magic, Type 2, Mod Six Pixie Wand and everything is turned into Rolex watches. DEX
Must respectfully disagree with the great guru of DBF archives, history, and Scribe for the Goddess of the Main Induction......
On my nook, which was not all that far removed in time from the DB fleet, we were staffed with a bunch of the smokeboat fleet mostly first class and chiefs who would have preferred to stay on the diesels and therefore came to us with just a bit of resentment....very subtle, you understand......and we were held to the same standards...open icebox....make what you want when you want, but you WILL CLEAN UP after yourself......and you didn't waste anything....not that any edible morsel would not be snatched up and devoured by the folks staggering back from liberty.....
Maybe in the 70's or 80's there was a metamorphesis, but not on the 594's!
Hell....ask Hedman....he'd know for sure....
Edited by Stoops 2007-07-11 6:47 PM
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COMSUBBBS
Posts: 3202
Location: Alexandria, Virginia | Subject: Confession
Everything I know about nooks, I learned from John Wynn.... |
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Master and Commander
Posts: 1107
Location: Tucson AZ | Subject: RE: Cookin on a boat/RV
Stoops - 2007-07-11 5:41 PM
Must respectfully disagree with the great guru of DBF archives, history, and Scribe for the Goddess of the Main Induction......
On my nook, which was not all that far removed in time from the DB fleet, we were staffed with a bunch of the smokeboat fleet mostly first class and chiefs who would have preferred to stay on the diesels and therefore came to us with just a bit of resentment....very subtle, you understand......and we were held to the same standards...open icebox....make what you want when you want, but you WILL CLEAN UP after yourself......and you didn't waste anything....not that any edible morsel would not be snatched up and devoured by the folks staggering back from liberty.....
Maybe in the 70's or 80's there was a metamorphosis, but not on the 594's!
Hell....ask Hedman....he'd know for sure....
I concur 100%, but I'm from the same era as you, Stoops. We could use the galley facilities 'after hours' in port, so long as we cleaned up after ourselves. A batch of scrambled eggs and some toast before hitting the skids after a night on the beach just seemed to hit the spot!
As far as the advice to boaters not to cook whilst underway ... that's all well and good, unless one is on a multi-day passage. What I did, when I lived aboard was to install a small 2 axis gimbal-mounted burner on one of the bulkheads; a small camp-bottle of propane screwed right into the bottom and provided the weight to keep everything upright. In a cage over the burner fit a small pint-sized pot and lid. You could heat water for coffee, tea or Ramen noodles, or go high-hog and heat up some Dinty Moore's stew or Stagg's Chili.
Forget the stove, though - it was gimballed too, but only for side to side roll that you typically have in port or sheltered water - but not for the pitch and yaw that you get at sea.
The rail-mounted BBQ did get some use too, if someone managed catch a decent fish. |
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Admin
Posts: 2297
Location: Renton, WA | Subject: RE: Cookin on a boat/RV
Wuz the same in the 70's as well. The midwatch guys had to police the drunks from time to time as they needed a little extra "remindin'" about the clean-up-your-own-mess policy (course, I never fell into that category.... honest ma....) |
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Master and Commander
Posts: 1405
Location: Houston, TX (Best state in the US) | Subject: RE: Confession
dex armstrong - 2007-07-11 7:03 PM
Everything I know about nooks, I learned from John Wynn....
Ah----therein lies the problem.....John is a sonar girl....got no idee bout them nukie poo fellas....you done been got by the wizard of the mystification of da folk from the ghost compartments.....Hell, John couldn't find his way past the Main Fan Room....let alone survive a trip into the nooklear tea kettle.....I think all of his white hair was a result of trying to go past the reactor compartment....he just couldn't do it....and some ELT like Raynor just happened to catch his failed excursion and told him of all the evil that took place in the place from which the zoomies originated.....
I didn't hang around the sonar shack that often, but from what I can gather, they didn't hang around much other than their bunks, the mess decks, and the sonar shack. I have heard stories that the QMs and the STs used to swap stories about nail care and hair care, but other than that were pretty much recluses......unless a new jg reported aboard..
Still, John Wynn commands my highest respect....He's a personable fellow, got a great sense of humor and I suspect it is only a sense of irony on the Navy's side that he was condemned to becoming an ST instead of a productive member of the crew! |
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Master and Commander
Posts: 1431
| Subject: RE: Cookin on a boat/RV
You guys is just jealous of us sonarmen cause we were smart, handsome, and all the good lookin women were attracted to us like electrons to a positive charge while the rest of you swabs were cryin in your beer. BTW nothing has changed after all the years!!!  |
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COMSUBBBS
Posts: 2540
Location: Wappingers Falls, NY | Subject: RE: Cookin on a boat/RV
Bob, do you "light up" in a dark room? |
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Old Salt
Posts: 403
Location: Sacramento/Twain Harte | Subject: RE: Cookin on a boat/RV
In 58/59 tied up to the Sperry/ or Broadway pier. If chow was not what you wanted, it was liberty on Broadway for a few hours. Only being 18/19 years. What a pain in the ass. BUT back on the boat, and the freezer, how about two fillets, and a chocolate sunday. But you better clean up, like spic & span. Do miss those meals. --John396 |
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Master and Commander
Posts: 1431
| Subject: RE: Cookin on a boat/RV
Yep we always ruined compartments that were rigged for red  |
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Cookin on a boat/RV
