should be gimbaled if possible to prevent scalding water system is fitted, a backup manual pump is a

spills. On powerboats and on sailboats with non- must. I like to see this pump fitted with a tee so it can
gimbaled stoves, it is safer to place the stove so the draw seawater when not needed for freshwater

cook stands or sits forward or aft of the stove and not backup. Foot pumps are handier than hand pumps
inboard of it. Then, if a pot spills due to the vessels because you can run water and use both hands to
roll, the cook is less likely to be burned. The cook wash the dishes.

should never stand inboard of a fixed stove, even in a

calm harbor, because the wake from a passing boat

could flip a pot, with disastrous results.

Plumbing
Large boats may use diesel stoves, or even electric
stoves if they have a big auxiliary generator. Gasoline The WC. (water closet) is a problem these days
stoves, like the popular Coleman models, are too due to modem antipollution laws. In very small craft,
dangerous to have aboard, and solid fuel stoves, such 20 feet or less, the old cedar bucket may be the only
as Stemo, are too slow to be useful except as a spare answer. However, most small cruisers have space
burner in a pinch. under a seat or V berth for a decent porta-potti.
Top-opening iceboxes are best because less cold There are a few good ones on the market. The cost is

air is lost when the box is opened, and because food minimal, and the operation is simple, although emp-
does not spill out when the vessel is rolling in a beam tpng the porta-potti is unpleasant. Where space per-
sea or sailing at a steep angle of heel. Small boats can mits, it is best to have the WC. lined up fore-and-aft
make good use of a large portable ice chest. We have because it allows the user to brace against the roll of
two of them on our Phialle. With built-in iceboxes the boat. This is especially helpful on sailboats,

the lining should be monel, stainless steel, or fiber- where it is difficult to use a toilet when the boat is

glass for ease of cleaning, and the insulation at least 3 heeling 20 degrees or more.
inches thick all around. Indeed, 4 inches of insula- Larger craft have proper manne toilets, which, if

tion on the sides and even more on the bottom is bet- legal, are hooked up to holding tanks that store the
ter. The box should drain to a botde that can be emp- effluent until it can be pumped out. Pumping can be
tied overboard, or it can have a pump to drain it into done at shore stations or, if the boat has the proper
the sink. It should never be drained into the bilge. valving, when the boat is more than three miles off-
Besides the inexitable smell, in a wooden boat water shore. In the latter case, ensure there is a lock to keep
in the bilge can cause rot. Electric refrigeration is fea- the valve in the holding tank position when you are
sible on larger craft. I prefer to have the refrigeration sailing inshore waters, or you may receive a citation.
run off the 12- or 24-volt ship's power, rather than Some areas do not allow Y valves (Lake Champlain,
110 VAC: otherwise you cannot leave the boat for the Great Lakes, and others), so check local regula-
long unless you are plugged into a dock outlet. Run- tions. On larger boats with good battery power an
ning refrigeration off the same voltage as the ship's electncally operated waste-treatment unit (e.g., Elec-
power does require a large battery bank and a husky tro-San) may be fitted, but, again, this is illegal in cer-
alternator. tain waters so check first before you invest in a costly
Sinks should be deep, 9 to 10 inches, and of good installation.
size. Some small production boats use shallow, round Showers are becoming standard equipment on
basins, but they are really quite useless. If a pressure smaller and smaller boats every year. Since they con-

UNDERSTANDING BOAT DESIGN

74