It can be tempting to keep every possible item that you might ever need aboard your small sailboat. You know, Boy Scout style, ready for anything. But storage space is very limited and the more you keep aboard, the harder it is to find what you’re looking for. Getting organized below deck not only makes your sailboat more comfortable, especially for overnight trips, but it also makes your sailboat safer by eliminating clutter and excess weight.

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There are lots of ways to store and organize things below deck. None of them are wrong so long as you have some kind of plan. These are tips on how I organize the storage aboard Summer Dance. If you don’t have a Catalina 22 or similar sailboat, some of these tips might not work perfectly for you but think about how you can apply the same principles to your specific sailboat design.

A Boat Hook In the Hand Is Worth Two In the Bilge

The primary guiding principle that I use for organizing storage is practicality. You need to be able to retrieve some items quickly or often like safety equipment, rigging, or ground tackle. For this reason, reserve all the storage space that is accessible from the cockpit for sailing gear only. If you’re busy minding the helm and sail trim in heavy weather and have all the hatches closed up like you should , you can’t stop everything to go below for a something critical – you need it within easy reach.

Other items, you might only need rarely and can take longer to retrieve. They can be stored wherever you have space to spare for them.

Don’t Be a Taildragger

Your sailboat shouldn’t look like a taildragger airplane on the ground with its tail lower than its nose. Even though it can be easier to stow some large or heavy items in the stern of the sailboat, resist that temptation and try to find a place forward if you can. Some sailboats like the Catalina 22 are notorious for squatting in the water and they handle better when their weight is more balanced between the bow and stern. You can easily tell how heavy your stern is by how much of the transom is under water. Ideally, there should be none. Two to three inches is typical, less is better.

After practicality, consider how the weight is distributed aboard your sailboat but let necessity be your overriding guide. For example, if you have a heavy outboard motor on the port side of the transom, try to compensate for it by putting a roughly equal amount of weight on the starboard side. Consider where your crew normally sits too. Rather than leave the fuel tank in the port lazarette, slide it forward under the cockpit, near the keel. If you don’t anchor out often, store your ground tackle in the one of the more forward lockers to lighten the stern too.

Keep Things High and Dry

When you get everything sorted as to where it will go, don’t just toss the small items into their locker. They’ll just gravitate to the bottom of the locker where, if you get any water in the bottom of your boat, they will get soaked and likely damaged.

Instead, put small items in inexpensive plastic storage bins like these.

I use them aboard Summer Dance wherever they will fit through a locker opening. Stored items are easier to find and they stay dry. If the size is right, you can remove the whole bin from the storage locker to reach smaller items or to clean the bottom of the locker.

$tingy’s Storage Suggestions

Below is a diagram of the storage compartments in a first generation C-22 with each compartment numbered. Refer to the table below for suggestions of what to store in each compartment. These are just examples, you might not need some of these items aboard at all or in all seasons.

NUMBER	LOCATION	CONTENTS
1	Port lazarette	This is the largest compartment with relatively easy access, so store the lightest, most often-used sailing gear here like: Unused running rigging & spares neatly hung on Handy and Cheap Line Hangers. Unused sails Life ring Deck brush Removable swim ladder
2	Aft settee locker	The easiest to access small locker, put often used smaller items here like: Toolbox 12V fan First aid kit Bailing bucket Flags Spot light
3	Forward settee locker	This locker provides access to the swing keel lock bolt, so don’t stuff it full. Store seldom used gear here like: Fishing tackle Outboard motor oil & gear lube Safety gear and portable bilge pump
4	Bow locker	This locker is not convenient to get to, but it has a lot of storage space. It’s also a good place to store heavy items to move their weight forward and better balance the boat. Rarely used gear goes here like: Portable propane heater Portable vacuum Camping tent Extra potable water
5	Dry locker	The only place that you can be reasonably certain will stay dry, this locker is best for: Foul weather gear Towels Blankets
6	Head locker	Directly in front of the portable toilet, this is a good closet for: Toilet paper Toilet additives Cleaning supplies There is no easy access to this space unless you Make a Door to Storage Space Under the V Berth.
7	Forward galley locker	Next to the galley, this locker makes a good pantry for: Dry goods Paper goods Dishware & utensils
8	Aft galley locker	Directly under the galley, this locker is convenient for: Pans Grill accessories Dish washing supplies There is no easy access to this space unless you Make a Door for More Storage Under the Galley.
9	Starboard lazarette	Another large compartment with relatively easy access, store heavier and most often-used sailing gear here like: Autopilot Anchors & ground tackle Fenders and dock lines neatly hung on Handy and Cheap Line Hangers. BBQ grill Crib boards using one of my Crib Board Storage Solutions.
10	Under cockpit	This space is nearly inaccessible unless you are either very flexible or have small children to send down there for: Outboard fuel tank Extra life vests Tie one end of a short length of cord to these items and tie the other end to the line hanger in the nearest lazarette to make them easier to retrieve.

You might not want to store still other items in lockers at all, like:

• Clothing in duffle bags in the V berth
• Food and drinks in an insulated cooler under the dinette table
• Maps, binoculars, camera, and electronics on shelves or in dedicated holders

And if you live in a region with an off-season, be sure to take everything out of the boat except a dehumidifier to keep it dry and mildew-free until the next sailing season.

For even more storage tips, see:

• Product Review: Smart Solutions Add-A-Drawer Kit
• Product Review: Bayco Kord Manager
• Turn a Locker Lid into a Cockpit Table
• Keep Often Used Items Handy with Snap-on Gear Bags

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