It must be realized that the I563 is a 50% ballasted purpose-built bay and limited offshore T/S which is why I chose this boat. For those wanting spacious accommodation there are many better suited T/S out there. Even so, my wife and I have adapted this boat through trial and many errors and enjoyed many extended trips to Hawkesbury Hacking tivers, Myall lakes etc over the last three years.
This is what we found:-
1 Max. 4 nights (in any boat) then motel breaks.
2 Custom built fully enclosed pop-top cover with netting sewn in provides all-weather standing headroom and transforms this boat into a proper overnight boat.
3 Bimini - versatile protection from sun and rain.
4 slide out galley and tap on port inner bulkhead with slide in plastic basin and slide in stove. Allows standing cooking and washing in sheltered but aired cabin entrance with pop top up. Stove stowed in port cockpit fuel locker.
5 Small two person dinghy and 12v pump stowed behind ice box in stbd cockpit locker. Allows trips ashore to explore and a much needed break from boat.
Some other routines we find useful are assembling small drop table for evening meal and drinks in the cockpit and leaving it there for breakfast. Before turning in moving porta-potti (he she wee) to transom cockpit floor and popping the loo/shower tent over it. Don't laugh Mark
this is serious with two on board.For those contemplating matrimony (don't) I can recommend a few nights in a small boat as a true test of a relationship. We have been married 35 years and still feel the urge to throw each other overboard at times.
Your experiences please
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