On-Deck Storage

The layout of the Dawn Patrol works well for a crew of two.  On-deck storage area around the cockpit includes space under the port and starboard coamings, space under the thwart,  and space under the fold-down rowing seats.

There's no denying that our nice dry cabin is a great place to toss gear for quick temporary storage when we are in a hurry.  To help organization, small storage hammocks contain small items and provide an attachment point for carabiners.  The cabin space is seven feet long, less than six feet wide, and less than four feet high   --just big enough for two people to sleep.  When the footwell is covered with its lid, the floor of the cabin is a single flat surface interrupted only by the centerboard trunk.

Carabiners sliding on a bungee under each coaming provide a way to clip small items (water bottles, map case, sunglasses case, etc) to the boat.

Either or both of the two rowing seats can be folded up or down.   The rowing crew can sit on either seat to row with one oar, or sit in the middle on both of them to row with two oars.   The rowing seats also offer a great place to sit protected from wind and spray. 

The 11' oars (Shaw and Tenney) are usually mounted under the coamings but can also ride in a 'ready' position flanking the cabin, resting in the oar locks with blades secured up near the bow.

For keeping food cool we carry a cooler that rides in the cabin's footwell while we are sailing.  At anchor we move the cooler to the cockpit where it sometimes serves as a small tabletop.  For daysailing we often carry a smaller cooler that can fit under the starboard rowing seat.

--Paul