A locker full of shame
Apr 8 2009 in On the Rocks by Marty McOmber
I spent much of last weekend getting our sailboat, Camelot, ready for sale by packing up and removing personal gear. Deborah and I are anything but packrats, especially on the boat. So I was a little amazed at just how much stuff we actually had on board.
As I pushed cartload after cartload of dishes, tools, clothes, bedding and other gear up the low-tide-steep ramp at Shilshole (my legs are still a little sore), I figured it was fitting punishment for my sins.
Over the years, I fixed and upgraded many systems onboard the boat. And every project, big or small, seemed to produce a few leftover parts. Like the time I doubled the size of the house battery bank, only to discover my battery charger was now undersized. So the bigger, better battery charger made the old workhorse obsolete.
I did manage to bring that old battery charger home. But cleaning out the boat lockers was like taking a trip through boat projects past. There was the leftover gasket material from when I fixed my Bowmar hatches. And the four feet of red and black 2/0 cable from when I installed my electric anchor windless. And that still-in-the-package pull switch that didn’t get used when I fixed my deck washdown system.
And that last one really gets me. I bet I have a hundred dollars in little parts that were purchased over the years ”just in case,” so I wouldn’t have to make another trip to Fisheries Supply on a Saturday afternoon.
So it is only fitting that I finally gather them together, drag my ass out of bed early on Saturday morning and head over to the 48° North Boater’s Swap Meet at the Fisheries parking lot to do my penance.
I’ve never been before, so this will be a new experience. And judging by what I’ve read, perhaps something of a madhouse.
If you have any advice, please share in the comments section below. Otherwise, stop by and say hi if you’re down there. I’ll be the guy trying to sell that pull switch.
What: 48° North Boater’s Swap Meet
Where: Mariner’s Square Parking Lot
1900 Northlake Way, Seattle
When: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Contact: 206-632-3555
I just found out about your website and enjoy it very much. This article about a “Locker of Shame” really hits home.
I do much of my own work on my boat. My parents lived through the depression and taught me not to throw anything away, ergo the accumulation of bits of this project and chunks of that began to grow in the locker. Our move to Snohomish County gave me more storage room at home and I decided I didn’t need the locker at our Seattle area marina. After the clean out I was amazed on how much mostly useless junk had accumulated-at least 45% was discarded. Next week end I’m doing the same clean out on every drawer on my boat!
Hi Marty,
I enjoyed that article, it made me laugh as we often think that “just to be on the safe side” ending up with more than we need or parts that never get out of the box!You must have had fun going down memory lane.
I think that you have a great website here, it is so interesting!