We've become so adept at referring to the areas onboard a boat with their correct nautical terms, that they've spilled out into everyday life. I had to laugh at the look Don received from a restaurant hostess when he asked "Where's your head?" to locate the restroom. Both of us have used the term "below" rather than "down stairs" and have tangled our tongues over left and right, rather than blurting out the more frequently used port and starboard.

We may sound strange to those unfamiliar with our boaty ways, however we understand the meaning of all these unique terms, and the cause for them as well. You see, to keep Re Metau ship shape, everything must have its place. And to keep the captain from going insane, every place must be uniquely identified so the admiral can tell him exactly where something is because more often than not, available space overrides logic.

For example. He can't go looking for the grease in the garage or basement, where any normal homeowner might store their lubricants. We don't have either of those spaces. Instead, our special terms allow me to direct Don to the exact location – in the Forward Portside Locker where it can easily be accessed after removing some bags of bungee, Velcro and other canvas findings, behind the cans of epoxy, varnish and oil, and under the bottles of metal wax, tubes of adhesives, and insecticides. Easy-Peasy!

But the more important thing is, our Hans Christian has made an awesome home for us; cozy, comfortable, and beautiful. I like to think we live-aboard cruisers are the pioneers of tiny-house living, a movement that took hold a decade after we moved aboard. Similarly, we advocate for living simply, reducing our environmental impact, and working toward freeing up our lives to go do what we want to do.

A well-designed blue water cruiser doesn't just mean a vessel that's built to weather a storm at sea. She must also have enough space to accommodate all the provisions a crew needs for an extended passage, as well as their stay along remote shores. She must be easy to handle by the limited number of hands she's capable of supporting, and she must provide safety in her cockpit and her cabin.

It's a wonder to find all these features in a 33 foot boat, but we can attest to it. Re Metau is 'Blue Water' built, deep, heavy, and wide. She oozes a traditional feel, both inside and out, and she can swallow massive amounts of cruising gear with all her stowage.

The interior of Re Metau is filled with solid teak; the doors, the walls, the trim and grab bars – all solid teak. Even the inside of our larger lockers are lined in solid teak!

Early on in our live-aboard journey I had a disagreement with another "sailor" (derisive finger quotes implied) when I used the term solid. He insisted it would be a thin veneer over plywood, and scoffed at my belief that my cabin was lined in a thick layer of precious wood.

We've drilled a few holes since then.

He was wrong.

The cabin soleFloor of a boat. is teak and ash striped (also solid) with multiple access hatches into the bilge via SOLID brass ring pulls. (Sorry, I get a little testy when someone questions the superb craftsmanship of my boat.)

Our cabin ceiling is finished in white wainscoting panels, trimmed in more teak, and just below that is a 2' strip of white Formica, edged with teak handholds. This swath of white really brightens up the space.

The companionwayEntry into the cabin of a ship. is wide with two short teak doors that swing open, and a teak hatch that slides into the turtleA ledge forward of the hatch where gauges are mounted in view of the helm. giving plenty of space to enter the cabin. There is a large butterfly hatch over the saloon, and a forward hatch over the head. These, and the 6 doradesA cowl or fixed wind scoop found on the deck and designed to funnel air below. on deck let the air flow from forward to aft.

On the ceiling, the dorades are trimmed in – you guessed it – solid teak. The 8 oval ports along the cabin sides and the 2 round aft ports are solid bronze, each designed to be hooked open and each fitted with removable screens.

Nearly all the locker doors are louvered for ventilation as well, so mold is minimized. All door hardware, latches, hinges, and hasps are also solid brass.

I'm going to take you on a tour that begins as you enter the cabin through the companionway near the sternBack portion of a ship., and traveling clockwise, ends in the cockpit. So welcome aboard our humble aboat!