Life aboard Moonstruck

We have received private messages requesting more details about the boat and cruising it.  Moonstruck has been an extremely reliable vessel for our cruising and exploring.  Here you will find more about her, and why we enjoy her so much.  We will show additions and upgrades that we have made and a little of what it is like to be on the helm deck.  We hope this is of interest and informative.  All boats are a compromise.  Picking a vessel is not easy.  We picked Moonstruck with our cruising style in mind as well as a size that would accommodate us and or guests with comfort.

First is a picture of the saloon area with settee and TV.  It is the hub of “down below”.  The galley is to port or left as you descend.  The electrical controls for circuits and generator are to starboard.  The guest stateroom/den is to starboard, the head is to starboard, and the master stateroom is forward.

Notice the overhead hatches.  There are 8 total, and open with screens and shades.  At anchor these usually provide a breeze throughout the whole boat.  Six are down below and 2 are on the helm deck.  In addition the port lights open with screens, and the windows and windshield open on the helm deck.  More on that when we get up on the helm deck.

A table was in front of the settee.  Since we had another table on the helm deck, and we wanted more comfort, we removed it and put a leather storage ottoman in its place.  This gave more space and storage area.  The TV is mounted on the wall opposite the settee.

The queen size berth of the master stateroom is visible forward.  There is hanging locker, drawer storage, and lockers along the wall.  Plenty of storage.  A TV and reading lamps as well as overhead lighting give great light.

The guest stateroom/den also doubles as an onboard office.  A fold down desk has been added with computer connections that can be put away.  The single berth/settee can be expanded to a double berth, and there is a small hanging locker and drawer storage.  This is everyones’ favorite place on the boat.

Keep scrolling down under this picture.  For some reason it has left a big blank space.

The galley is small with a 2 burner ceramic cook top, an under counter fridge/freezer, a microwave/convection oven, and of course sink and storage space.  When anchored we do much of our cooking on the propane grill.  The more we cruise the more we realized that we enjoy the solitude and beauty of anchoring as opposed to marina stays.  We have now set the boat up more for that type of cruising.

As stated the main controls for the electrics on the boat are on the starboard side of the companion way leading from the helm deck to the saloon.

The large electrical panel has the 12 volt circuits above the bar, and the 120 volt circuits below the bar.  Shore power, generator power, or ships battery power can be selected.  There is a 60 amp battery charger that operates on shore or generator power.  The generator is a 12kw diesel powered model.  To the right of the main electrical panel are the controls for the generator, the true sine wave inverter, and the battery state of charge meter.  We are presently upgrading the 12 volt engine charging system.

The whole boat has been converted to LED lighting.  That has cut down tremendously on power consumed at anchor.  The inverter takes care of power for the refrigerator, ice maker, and TVs while on battery power.

The head has a separate stall shower.  The marine sanitation device (that would be a toilet on land) is connected with a hold or treat system.  This gives flexibility for overboard treated discharge or hold in zero discharge zones.

To move more toward the business end of the boat, the engine room is under the helm deck.  It has nearly 6′ of head room between the two diesel engines.

Yep, I’m standing in the engine room.

Now for the helm deck.  This is the nerve center while underway.  It is comfortable with two Stidd seats for pilot and navigator.  An L shaped bench around the large table, and a comfortable jump seat next to the wetbar with ice maker.  It is very comfortable for several people for a gathering.

The first picture was made while my grandsons were younger.  You can see that they were seriously at work piloting the boat down Broad Creek at Hilton Head.

As you can see everything needed for piloting is available right in front of the pilot–radar, depth finder, chart plotter, auto pilot, compass, and radios.  Here is a picture of what the pilot sees.  This was taken exiting Tampa Bay via under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

Below is the view from the pilot seat showing the instruments and their relation to what is seen out the window.

The visibility from the helm deck is 360 degrees.  Here is a shot of the rear visibility while cruising on the Sea of Abaco with dinghy in tow.  Notice the open windows and fishing rods.  The visibility is awesome, and the ventilation is great, too.

Here is another taken crossing the Gulf Stream to the Little Bahama Bank.

Here’s LuLu in the jump seat as we cruise through the Gulf of Mexico on the way to Marathon in the Keys at 27 knots.

Troy seems to enjoy travelling on Moonstruck.  Here he is crossing the Gulf Stream.

 

There will be much more added to page as time allows.  If interested please check occasionally for new updates.

Living life on the anchor or mooring ball makes the method for getting to shore very important.  Moonstruck has a 10′ inflatable dinghy with a rigid hull.  It is powered by a 15 hp engine.  It is important to Troy for getting to shore for his daily rituals. When travelling the dinghy is carried on the stern as here in Shelter Cove at Hilton Head.

Here’s the dinghy in travel position on the stern.  It still allows access to the transom door.

Advertisement