Our Yacht Layout

Many of you have asked about what the boat looks like, so I thought I would give you a pictorial tour of where we have lived the past 9 days.

Our ride and temporary home is a 55 foot Max Cruise catamaran called Just Ducky. I don't know the exact definition of a "yacht", but this probably qualifies. I'll give you a tour primarily of the living spaces. If you want to know more on the engineering side (engines, solar power, systems, etc.), send me a question. Let's start on the aft end and move forward.

This is the Rear Cockpit. I'm taking the picture from the corner seat of outdoor table (see my feet? 😄). Jen is sitting on back bench and directly behind her is our dinghy (our transportation on/off the boat when at anchor to get to shore). Up to the left, Gary is sitting at the helm where we drive/steer the ship from.

This area is where we spend most of our awake time because we are protected from the elements (sun, rain) and it provides a nicer ride and air flow. It's also convenient to the galley and has been Jennifer's favorite spot to rest.

Here is a close-up view of the helm. There is a lot of stuff in this picture. This particular boat was designed to be able to do almost all sail and engine operations single-handed from this spot (which is why you see so many lines coming in the helm). Here we control and monitor engines, raise/lower and adjust sails, and one of two locations that we can monitor what is happening around us.

Here is screen shot view of the Chart Plotter. This is a complex and integrated system that we use to track where we are in the world (navigation), monitor how the boat is doing (speed, heading, wind direction and speed) and control the auto pilot. If you didn't know, we have an auto pilot system which drives the boat for us. We can simply put in a direction we want the boat to go and it will drive in that direction. It's not like self-driving cars which can make adjustments automatically depending on route and other cars on the road. But it's extremely useful so we don't have to continuously keep our "hands on the wheel". The auto-pilot is used well over 95% of the journey.

Looking forward from the aft cockpit is the interior area called the Saloon. In here you see our galley (kitchen) to the left, a dining table to the right, and the navigation station in the background. Here we can be completely sheltered from the elements, and can even run heat or air conditioning.

The galley has an induction cook top, a microwave and 6 refrigerator/freezer drawers. There is also lots of storage for food and kitchen items. There is no oven except the convection oven in the microwave.

Here is a closer look at the navigation station. Think of this spot as the main control center for the boat. From here we monitor all the same systems that are at the helm, communicate with other boats, make changes to auto pilot, and monitor the boat systems (battery charge, fuel and water levels, etc.)

Next to it in this picture are the electrical distribution panels for the boat. This is like your breaker box in your home. You can also see the stairs going down to the starboard hull.

Continuing forward from the Saloon is the forward part of the ship and the forward cockpit (seating area). This is also a nice place to hang out under the head sail. It's nice and windy and quieter, but if the seas are a little rough you can get very wet! The seat you see all the way to the front is called a "Princess seat". It's a fun seat to be in because you are sitting at the very tip of the bow. There is one on each side of the boat (Note: This catamaran has two hulls, so instead of a single pointed bow, there are two bows. Kind of like a pontoon boat.)

In each hull are the living quarters. Here is a picture looking down the port hull from back to front. I'm standing in front of a bed and as you look down the "hall", there is a bathroom on the right, the stairs, another bed on the right, and at the far end is another bathroom and shower. Essentially there are two suites in this hull. The other hull is referred to as the "owner's hull" because there is only one suite for the owner, as well as a small maintenance/tool area.

Here is a picture of the king-sized bed Jen and I have been using (no need to make our bed out here!) and the view out of our "bedroom window".

That's the tour! There are other tiny compartments for storage, washing machine, water maker, etc., but these are the living areas of the boat. Hope that gives you an idea of the conditions we have. It's all very comfortable except when it's very hot and sticky or the boat is rocking too much.

Peace and Love.