Years ago in Maine, Jupiter is tied up at a marina nice enough to require a reservation weeks in advance at one of the lovely towns named for a compass bearing.
The crew, having properly flemished the lines, steps off the boat, straightens up and walks down the dock to meet up with our friend, Carole, who embodies good taste and good humor.
On seeing us approach, Carole immediately exclaims: “Oh look, Liveaboards!”
Self-assessment
Thus begins a protracted self-assessment of crew appearance ashore and afloat. Is Liveaboard a compliment or condemnation? What are the key identifiers of a Liveaboard? Untucked shirts? Unkempt hair? Humming sea shanties? Should we strive to avoid the descriptor? The boat has few mirrors, and those that exist are small and snide.
Invest in the future: Vests can save a reputation or a life – style and substance on land and sea.
Jupiter relies on rain for her baths, but the crew has abundant hot and cold running water, daily showers, tooth and hair brushes often used on the correct component, and because the washer and dryer aboard never rest, clean clothes.
Perhaps Liveaboards have a vulgar rolling gait, a suspicious countenance, darting eyes looking for trouble from savvy land lubbers ready to steal the unpressed shirts off our backs?
Clothing Rules
Locker space is limited, however finding apparel that fits and functions well aboard Jupiter gets easier every year. At outports we find fashion is increasingly casual and contextualist. We wear and tear only clothing that offers:
- Comfort and a good fit
- Layers in any order
- Resistance to plankton, coolant, oil, food and blood stains
- Quick drying after a salt-water drenching
- Lots of pockets with snaps or zippers for tools, rags, spares and bandaids
- Reinforced knees, cuffs, and butts
- Good looks after a nap or an all-night anchor watch
- Navy or grey
Footwear
The onboard packing list recommends that visitors bring three types of nonskid footwear – flip flops and socked feet invite injury and are banned.
- Deck boots or waterproof shoes
- Cabin shoes: mocs or crocs
- Hiking shoes or boots
Haircuts & Headwear
The crew obsessively monitors Jupiter’s health and their own—running down every leak and squeak, sneeze or wheeze. Many afflictions of machine and man cannot easily be diagnosed or remedied afloat, but managing the things that can be controlled reduces the risk of others whirling out of control in a cascade of horrible events.
Keep your head: Heads are hatted and hooded more often than not.
One of the crew is usually having a haircut emergency, searching for a decent trim in unfamiliar ports, lurking outside hair salons, studying after-action results. This level of inquiry is, naturally, pointless where barbers sit in their own chairs all day.
Brimming with purpose: Hats and headlamps make excellent fashion accessories.
Once, with Jupiter tied up at Poulsbo, a crew member reconnoiters a small barbershop with a neon sign offering Military Haircuts and Mohawks. Never observing a customer waiting or the barber standing, the long-locked enters and meekly asks “do you take walk-ins?” The answer comes quick, “NO. Everyone needs an appointment… however, I will make you an exception.”
His and Hairz in Ketchikan is good, but be careful that Bob, not Sheila, is on duty. A haircut in Sidney finds customers sparring over whether Alberta or British Columbia is responsible for high gas prices. Haircuts seen near the marina at Comox will convince you that this may not be the place.
There is a barber in Sitka who keeps irregular hours and sells honed hunting knives between haircuts. Carry a first aid kit.
Port McNeill has a veteran barber/stylist available all hours of most days because loggers avoid haircuts.
Prince Rupert has at least ten barber shops, five of which are adjacent to each other on 3rd Street. Spoiled for choice? Find one with a wait.
Port Hardy has a swift stylist at the new Silver Fox Barber Shoppe who, after a couple of waves using the No. 3 clipper, eliminates the need for another haircut for months.
You walked into the party
Carly Simon ~ 1972
Like you were walking onto a yacht
Your hat strategically dipped below one eye
Your scarf it was apricot
You probably think this song is about you
You’re so vain (you’re so vain)
I bet you think this song is about you
Don’t you, don’t you?
Today Jupiter celebrates a quincentenary of sorts: 4,500 hours on her CAT engines.
Your last photo leaves one with the impression that casual but functional attire may be routine but trash removal requires formal wear.
Well doesn’t it?
The most common sign of live-a-boards is laundry hung out to dry on the life lines…. We never saw that on Jupiter. But harbor haircuts are a pretty good second!!! Please post pictures of your Mohawks!!!
Happy sails
Carole
Transformational! You look equally comfortable in mud boots and formal wear. How do you do it?!!!
Actually must be the camera angle. We are way more comfortable in mud boots.
I love how you immediately dove right into self- assessment of your crew appearance after bumping into your friend. Honed hunting knives and stink bombs. Now that is a barber who wears many hats! You two are the coolest “liveaboards” I know. Safe travels. xox