Issue 31 : Jul/Aug 2003
One of the problems all cruisers face is what to do with onboard trash between visits to town. Not only is it bulky, but let’s face it, it does tend to smell after a few days, so just stuffing the trash bags in the lazarette can quickly give a boat the ambience of a landfill. I’ve seen some boaters store their trash in the dinghy, which does keep it downwind but is hardly satisfactory.
We came up with a solution that has worked remarkably well — we use “dry bags” as onboard trashcans. These bags are made of tough, 18-ounce, vinyl-coated nylon with a watertight closing system. They’re commonly used by kayakers and rafters to keep their gear dry. Not only does the vinyl keep the odors in, but the tough construction allows you to squeeze the bag to reduce the volume as a sort of trash compactor. We use several of the extra-large size (12 1⁄2 inches by 28 inches). They cost $17.50 at http://www.sierratradingpost.com. As an added bonus, the bags float and could even be used as PFDs in an emergency — though I doubt they would be Coast Guard-approved!
Thank you to Sailrite Enterprises, Inc., for providing free access to back issues of Good Old Boat through intellectual property rights. Sailrite.com
