Issue 129: Nov/Dec 2019
Electricity-Free Slow Cooking
Having spent 20 years (off and on) living aboard small boats, I’ve come to realize that there are only a handful of household appliances that I truly miss when aboard. In addition to the obvious (a washing machine and dryer), a slow cooker has long been high on my miss list. No longer. The soft, portable, non-electric Wonderbag is a capable replacement for a traditional slow cooker that I can keep aboard. The Wonderbag works by retaining existing heat to cook food, rather than continuously adding heat like a slow cooker. Just about any slow cooker recipe can be adapted to this insulated bag, and using it is ridiculously easy. After bringing a pot full of ingredients to a boil, I place the lidded pot inside, cinch it closed, and set it aside for four to twelve hours. When the time’s up, dinner is ready. Storing this aboard is not an issue as it makes a great spare cushion. Even better, I learned that there is a Wonderbag Foundation, funded by sales, that aids communities around the world facing the critical daily challenges of time, poverty, and self-worth.
For more information, including recipes: wonderbagworld.com. —Sara Dawn Johnson, Good Old Boat contributor
A Stain Fighter
Aboard Alondra, there are leaks over the port-side saloon settees, where the cabinhouse meets the deck. I know this because she’s a wooden boat and when the water comes in, it always seems to come in brown, leaving stains on our cream-colored vinyl settee back cushion. This makes me a good test subject for a stain-removing product. Iosso Mold & Mildew Stain Remover is a concentrated powder that is easy to mix and apply, and I didn’t notice a strong odor. After mixing with water, I applied it with a spray bottle and left it for an hour. At that point, I’d say the results were just OK. I wiped the residual cleaner off the cushion, but I didn’t wash it off. A few days later, I returned to the boat and the results were markedly better. While I can still see a ghost of a stain, it’s barely noticeable. Spraying it on and leaving for a longer period before washing, even 24 hours, results in a better outcome.
For more information: iosso.com. —Nancy Koucky, retired Good Old Boat art director
Get Organized
ShipShape is a free sailboat management app available for Android and iOS devices (additional features are available for a cost). I found it easy to use. I entered my boat’s name and picture (not required) and then continued entering information from there, corresponding to the comprehensive menu. I can never remember my mast height and entered that, knowing it will be handy when approaching a bridge. The app is an easy way to track boat expenditures, even keeping photos of receipts. My to-do list in the app is longer than I’d like but good to have at hand. The Trips section of the app works like a log, allowing me to record all kinds of details about each sail. In particular, I like the What’s Aboard feature, hoping it will save me time when I’m next looking for a spare part or standing in a chandlery wondering if I already have the size hose clamp I need. And everything is stored automatically in the cloud, so I don’t worry about data backup. The only downside to the app is that I must have internet connectivity (cellular or wifi) to access my data. But that’s not yet been a problem where I sail. Overall, I find the app intuitive and worth the data-entry effort.
For more information: search ShipShape in your app store. —Jerry Thompson, Good Old Boat contributor
Thank you to Sailrite Enterprises, Inc., for providing free access to back issues of Good Old Boat through intellectual property rights. Sailrite.com
