My actual experience as a real-life submarine commander...

[maillemaker]

A few months ago we bought an old 1991 Winnibego Warrior motor home for camping. After using it a few times (we love it) I came to realize:

1) We have limited fresh water supplies, and so take sea showers.
2) We have to ration our electricity to conserve batteries.
3) When you cook or use the toilet the smell lingers on.
4) You have to keep an eye on fuel reserves.
5) Beds, toilets, stoves, and all other appliances are tiny and cramped.
6) She's old but if you treat her right she ticks right along.

It dawned on me that I'm in command of my very own u-boat.



Steve

[schlechter pfennig]

[Task Force]

lol, a Uboat on wheels.

[Immelman]

All you are missing is a periscope so that you can see how far ahead the traffic jam is

[Weiss Pinguin]

We spent this last Thanksgiving with my mom's parents, who live in an apartment that would feel cramped with two people in it; All six of us spent about a week crammed into it. We toured the USS Pampanito that week, and, well, let's just say I never thought a WWII submarine would feel spacious...

[krashkart]

Originally Posted by Weiss Pinguin

...who live in an apartment that would feel cramped with two people in it...

Originally Posted by maillemaker

3) When you cook or use the toilet the smell lingers on.
5) Beds, toilets, stoves, and all other appliances are tiny and cramped.

That is my apartment to a tee. Kinda hard to think of it as a mobile Uboat - maybe more of a dead-in-the-water Uboat.

[Iranon]

I see your motorhome and raise you a small cabin cruiser.

- Daily hygiene may involve bathing in the sea. Regardless of weather.
- Limited freshwater reserves; can't waste it just washing the salt off.
- In foul weather, nothing is completely dry for days on end
- very basic wc, no shower, no fridge, no heating, cooking with kerosine
- limited food selection on longer trips, thanks to the above
- very limited electricity (prefer to avoid running the engine if at all possible)
- if we use it, everything smells faintly of diesel oil for some time
- shaken about a lot in foul weather (wasserbomben!)
- need to evade bigger surface craft
- cramped living space (I have my own bunk though! And it's almost as long as I am)

Let's just say when I made a trip on a russian sail training ship and everyone else complained about the spartan living conditions... I thought hot freshwater showers, several warm meals a day and a dry interior were almost decadent luxury on a ship.

[papa_smurf]

see your motorhome and raise you a small cabin cruiser.

- Daily hygiene may involve bathing in the sea. Regardless of weather.
- Limited freshwater reserves; can't waste it just washing the salt off.
- In foul weather, nothing is completely dry for days on end
- very basic wc, no shower, no fridge, no heating, cooking with kerosine
- limited food selection on longer trips, thanks to the above
- very limited electricity (prefer to avoid running the engine if at all possible)
- if we use it, everything smells faintly of diesel oil for some time
- shaken about a lot in foul weather (wasserbomben!)
- need to evade bigger surface craft
- cramped living space (I have my own bunk though! And it's almost as long as I am)

That reminds when I went on a weeks holiday on a narrow boat. Now i'm 6'2" tall and was constantly bent over when walking inside the narrowboat, occasionally banging my head . Was a nice holiday, until the seal on the toilet broke and the smell from the effluent tank was, well, frankly vomit inducing......

[PappyCain]

Try racing a 54' yawl with a crew of 11 men offshore for a week. Slammed to death, slop food, aches and pains, stink, hot bunking, making 'go fast' speed around the clock no matter what the weather, whining, soaked, sunburned and having one hell of a good time!!


S'
PC

[raymond6751]

My 20 ft trailer is docked in a permanent berth in a camp. That's like being at the marina with no hope of sailing out.

I know now why ships have cats. My chocolate lab can't even turn around in the trailer. He has learned to back up.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by maillemaker

A few months ago we bought an old 1991 Winnibego Warrior motor home for camping. After using it a few times (we love it) I came to realize:

1) We have limited fresh water supplies, and so take sea showers.
2) We have to ration our electricity to conserve batteries.
3) When you cook or use the toilet the smell lingers on.
4) You have to keep an eye on fuel reserves.
5) Beds, toilets, stoves, and all other appliances are tiny and cramped.
6) She's old but if you treat her right she ticks right along.

It dawned on me that I'm in command of my very own u-boat.



Steve

Closest I've ever got was a 2 berth touring caravan or a weeks holiday on a 2 berth cabin cruiser on the Norfolk Broads.....great times, fun memories

[Brag]

I spent a good part of my life sailing. Spent 10 years living aboard a 40 foot sloop with a 9 foot beam. Very comfy. When SH2 came out, I did RT patrols when not on a RL sail.

[sunvalleyslim]

Spent my youth on a "Real Pigboat"......glad you younger guys get a little bit of the real thing feeling........

[Weiss Pinguin]

Originally Posted by sunvalleyslim

Spent my youth on a "Real Pigboat"......glad you younger guys get a little bit of the real thing feeling........

Heh, I bet you've got stories that could put all these experiences to shame

[Sailor Steve]

Ha! I can top that!

Well, no, actually I can't, though I did spend one winter living the back of a '63 Ford van. Great adventures all!