How to Set Up a Kitchen in a Sailboat

The kitchen on a sailboat is an engineering and planning marvel. Traditionally called a galley, this small space must meet the needs of hungry sailors after a long day on the water. Because galleys are so small, their setup is vitally important to their successful operation. A galley that is not set up correctly is not efficient and may waste valuable space on the sailboat. To make the most of your sailboat galley, consider space-saving techniques and practical solutions.

• 1

  Get a simple pot and pan set. Most sailboats will have two pots, a large one and a small one, and a simple pan. Get pots and pans that will stack into the smallest possible area.

• 2

  Hang a net from from the ceiling for fresh produce storage. The net will allow fresh produce to ripen without getting squished by other food or roll around when underway.

• 3

  Put as much of your dried goods in heavy duty Ziploc bags. Placing foods such as grains, rice and pasta into bags allows you to compress food. When the bag is empty you can reuse it or store it for later.

• 4

  Use a multi-spice container that has all your favorite spices in one shaker. Most sailboats do not go through an entire spice bottle in one trip, so carrying one bottle with several spices saves space without compromising your favorite flavors. If you don't have a multi-spice container, consider using a large pill organizer to store your favorite spices.

• 5

  Prepare your cold foods for storage on ice. Many sailboats do not have refrigerators, relying on insulated ice coolers. As the ice melts it can wreak havoc on perishable foods stored in cardboard or paper containers like cartons of milk or paper wrapped sticks of butter. Transfer perishable goods into plastic waterproof containers.

• 6

  Eliminate extraneous items and look for items that serve more than one purpose. For example, instead of plates and bowls, look for shallow bowls that can function for both purposes.

• 7

  Get a piece of nonstick material to hold items in place. Consider using the rubberized drawer liner material in between your cutting boards or bowls and counters. The rubberized liners hold things in place and stow into small places.