The act of eating has evolved into more than just a necessary means for survival. Today, it has taken on the role as a favorite pastime, becoming an event which offers one a break from reality and presents the opportunity to enjoy some delicious eats & stimulating conversation. More and more, families and friends are coming together to join in the ritual of preparing, cooking, and feasting on savory meals that meet their own personal preferences. Why go out to an over-priced, semi-decent restaurant, when you can indulge in some 5-star dining all in the comfort of your own home? While living aboard your home afloat, how can you transform the galley into a workable feasible kitchen? What options are we given and what things will we have to accept and learn to live with? Let’s explore the nature of the galley, the layout, the benefits, & the necessities and discover how to turn this into the perfect cooking kitchen!

One obvious distinction between the galley and the kitchen is the plain fact that the galley is constantly on the move. It is not planted securely & firmly in the ground, as our kitchens at home are, but instead floats on a body of water that is continuously in motion. Whether we are sailing through choppy waters or safely docked at our favorite marina, our vessel is always affected by the motion of the ocean. How do we learn to play it safe, remaining firm on our feet while preparing our meals on top of shaky ground?

First, let’s look at the actual layout of the galley. What shape is your galley? Is it open or enclosed, Country kitchen or U-shaped? Maybe you have a galley up or galley down? What do these descriptions really mean? The U-shaped galley is one of the more popular styles for the galley design and appears just as the name implies, in a U. It is tightly enclosed, with a small opening for the cook to enter & exit from and contains all the essential elements & appliances needed for meal preparation. The cook is supported on all sides, cradled safely in this structure and is less likely to suffer from excessive bumps or bruises. In an open galley or country kitchen, there is still an enclosure, but it is more open, creating a spacious feel for those working within the area.

If you have a galley up or galley down, this is referring to the galley’s actual location and whether you need to walk up or walk down into it. If we look at Symbol’s pilothouse series, you will see that some have the galley up and some have the galley down. When a galley is up, you walk one or two steps upwards, entering the pilothouse where the galley is on that same level. If you have a galley down, exiting the pilothouse and stepping down into the salon, you will see the galley at that level. It’s a matter of preference and is completely up to what the boat owner finds more attractive and pleasing to their liking.

Where is your galley located in relationship to the rest of the vessel? Midship is the best position for the galley on account that is the most stable area on the boat. The midship stays leveled as the forward and aft move up and down with each roaring wave. The center is always the most even keel. Maybe you are dealing with a split galley where a major appliance is situated outside of the main area, forcing the cook to leave his safe enclosure. If this be the case, you may want to think about some additional safety features in order to prevent any unfortunate accidents. For instance, there are some handholds and strong grip surfaces that will help your cook avoid falling on his way to the freezer. If your vessel is carpeted, you are at a great advantage because this carpeting provides traction and is not slippery like a wet teak floor. If your floors can get slippery when wet, you will definitely need to research certain traction pads and non-slip rubber surfaces.

Once you familiarize yourself with the layout of your galley as well as the advantages & disadvantages of the entire design, you will undoubtedly notice another big difference between the galley and the kitchen… the SIZE! The galley tends to be much smaller than your average kitchen, so it is important that we take a deeper look and discover ways around this issue. There is one benefit to working in a smaller space; everything you desire is within arm’s length, preventing the need to walk around aimlessly and possibly risking an accident. Still, for most, the smaller cooking space can be a downfall when deciding to cook onboard. The large array of cooking equipment that we comfortably kept in our kitchen cabinets will probably not fit as well on our boats. Jason Nasiatka, Project Manager at Lucid Yacht Group, says that the number one “must have” item for any galley is space!

“Storage space, overhead cabinets and/or pantry –style storage, is extremely important, as well as having overgenerous countertop space.”

With countless cooking appliances, utensils, and cookware, not to mention the actual food contents, spices, and other commodities, how does one find the room to store everything efficiently? What options do boat owners have for permitting more space in their galley? Jason stresses, that when dealing with “new construction,” in Symbols specifically, the owner has other alternatives for creating additional space on their vessel.

“The only real option to choose from is whether to go with a full height refrigerator/freezer or go with under-counter appliances. The full height unit gives the buyer more under-counter storage with cabinets & drawers, but less countertop space. The under-counter appliances give LOTS more countertop space, but less under-counter storage.”

It all depends on what the owner is looking for and where they need the extra space allotted. But again, they are given these owner-specific options when in the planning stages of constructing a new Symbol, here at Lucid Yacht Group.

So, what happens when you already own a boat or are hoping to purchase a pre-owned vessel? If the galley is already in existence, are there any changes that can be made to accommodate your cooking requirements? I doubt you want to rebuild and reconstruct the galley, creating more of a headache than offering a solution to your cooking needs.

For those of you that currently own a vessel and have to deal with what you’ve got, there are some changes that can be made which will provide you with more space to utilize. One great quick fix is a cutting board that conveniently fits over your sink, bridging the gap in your countertop and forming one continuous surface for you to work on. There are also similar covers that fit perfectly over the stovetop, once again generating extra counter top space that is available for you when not using this appliance.

In order for you to become acquainted with your surroundings, there is one thing you must be able to do first, SEE! Jason insists that lots of light is absolutely essential when working in the galley.

He says, “Natural sunlight with large windows is crucial and also ample ceiling lights.”

Once the sun sets, many find that their once workable galleys are not so practical in the night time, as a result to their lack of interior lighting. Having wide open windows definitely helps in the daytime, but what about the evening? As Jason said, having sufficient ceiling lights that can aid you in your cooking will ultimately determine a successful and satiating meal. Having ceiling lights that shine over each appliance is a key ingredient to any flavorful recipe. If you feel that you are lacking in the lighting department, research the possibility of installing some additional wiring or invest in battery operated lighting systems.

Now that we can actually see what’s in our galley, let’s get to the real meat &potatoes, where the heart lies, in the appliances! What are the main appliances and what are the best options available for boat owners? The number one “must have” appliance is a stove! There are a variety of different stove selections, but some are more appealing than others. Coal, diesel, alcohol, kerosene, liquefied natural gas, gasoline, & electric are the basic types of stoves that were available at one point or another. You may also choose to have a gimbaled or fixed stove for your galley. Over time, some types have become the more accepted choice, whether due to safety measures or price restrictions, there are certain stoves that have surpassed all others.

Today, electric stoves seem to be sweeping the market, while other selections have become the less likely choice for boat builders.

“Today’s market is dominated by the glass/ceramic electric cook-top made by Kenyon. The smooth dark surface has a clean look, is easy to install, is easy to replace if damaged, very reliable, acceptable power consumption and cooks extremely well,” says Jason.

Just as in modern homes, gas stoves are being replaced by electric stoves due to the simple fact that it is way to dangerous and presents too much of a risk to home owners and their families. We have all heard the terrible horror stories of explosive gas fires in homes and no one wants to put their family in that kind of danger, it’s just not worth it.

Jason explains, “We do not offer a gas stove and almost every other builder stays away from gas as well. Gas introduces an added danger on board. How often do you here of residential gas fires? The answer is way too often because people become careless with gas or leaks are created in the pipelines.” Your vessel automatically comes equipped with a stove, so understand the type of stove you own and learn about the safety precautions you need to undergo. You do have the option to replace the stove you currently own if that best suits your personal needs and expectations.

Continuing on through the galley, another significant component worth mentioning is the sink, which greatly differs from the sink we use at home. For one, like everything else in the galley, it is excessively smaller than the average sink. One should not overlook this important feature when surveying the galley as it is a significant tool used for preparing your meals. Is your sink usable and convenient or is it simply taking up extra space? Do you have a single or double sink? How shallow is it and can you really imagine using it? There are ways to enlarge the area of your sink, for example, by adding a higher faucet or a swivel nozzel, you will create more room for washing dishes or produce. I would suggest investing in a dish rack or drain box which will provide a little extra storage when needing to place the dishes somewhere temporarily. One more enormous difference to think about when using the sink in the galley is water conservation. Consider using salt water when cleaning your dishes, instead of wasting the water in the fresh water tank. Do not use water frivolously, remember it is a limited commodity.

The last appliance(s) worth mentioning are the refrigerator/freezer, which house your most perishable meal items. We mentioned this a little earlier, when discussing options for additional space in the galley, but did not go in depth on the subject. What works best for you is a personal decision, but we still need to keep a lot of our food items at cool temperatures to ensure their usability. Think about the items that absolutely need to go in the refrigerator, and what items can stay outside. Try to avoid breakable items, such as glass containers, for both the refrigerator and cabinets, as there is a chance that these items could fall out during a turbulent moment at sea.

“Subzero refrigerators are standard on every single Symbol model except for the 45 & 47 Classic. Buyers have the choice of full height or under-counter units.” What type of refrigerator/freezer do you have and how is it working out?

We’ve stressed that when starting from scratch with a semi-custom “new build” which is available in Symbol models through Lucid Yacht Group, the buyer is presented with numerous options to choose from. Jason explains Lucid’s ability to “accept custom requests and attempt to satisfy all requirements.” That is one of the major advantages when dealing with semi-customization; you are given choices that allow you to create an outcome that works best for you.

When it comes to the galley, let yourself get acquainted with these new cooking surroundings and really begin to let yourself settle in. For many, the kitchen is the number one favorite spot in their homes and above all, you want to be comfortable in this space. Cooking can be a great joy for most and you should be able to embrace this newfound environment that you will be working in. What works and what doesn’t and what can be done about it? Don’t accept things as they are, make it work for you!

Sensible Cruising: The Thoreau Approach, Don Casey
 (International Marine Publishing 1986)

The Intricate Art of Living Afloat, Clare Allcard
(New York: Norton 1997)

Kitchen Afloat, Joy Smith
(Dobbs Ferry, NY: Sheridan House Inc., 2002)

The Galley Kitchen: Boat, Emily Brune
(All Recipes 2008)

The Cruiser's Galley, David Bevan
(Bluemoment.com)