A light breeze is blowing. The sky is a robin's egg blue, the temperature, a balmy 78 degrees. Looks like a nice day to head down to your office – the one at the marina.

On-board office space is becoming common, as boats get larger and better equipped and employers get more comfortable with a mobile workforce. Some boat builders are even providing office space on new models. The idea that you can get in a day's work – or at least pay some bills and answer some email – while sitting at anchor or in your slip is no longer just a daydream. Look around most marinas and you will find plenty of people doing just that.Glen Justice

If your goal is to join them, the first thing to do is to think about your work habits. Are you someone who is only going to have an occasional work day on the boat? If so, your needs may not be large. Perhaps you can get away with only a laptop, or even a PDA with email capabilities, such as a Blackberry, Palm or Treo.

If you plan to make working on the boat a regular part of your week, then you will need to do a bit more. Setting up a true floating office – one with all the standard cubicle comforts – requires some preparation. You need to address power consumption, phones, computer and peripherals, as well as keeping yourself comfortable with fans, air conditioning or heat. And you have to find space.

THE SPACE ISSUE

If you have an unused v-berth or aft cabin, you're in luck. For most boaters, however, finding space for an office without first tossing overboard fishing gear, the coffee maker or that large box of engine spares is a challenge.

The key is to think small: small-sized components for a small-sized space. Out of the way is good, if you can manage it. Perhaps you can claim a corner of the main living area, a bedroom or even one end of the dining table.

Another strategy is to vary your office location according to available space, which means mobile – perhaps even wireless –

components. You might also want to keep your work materials in a case or bag that is easy to transport.

Fred Foss, a computer systems engineer from Virginia, is on call 24/7. A frequent boater, Foss maintains a floating office consisting of a laptop computer, a wireless color printer and a data phone. He uses battery power some of the time, but relies mostly on his boat's generator when away from shore (and shore power).

"Since my marine office footprint is so small, I am even mobile within the confines of my boat," Foss said. "I might set up in the cabin in front of my satellite TV, or out on deck next to the beer fridge, or on the sun pad on the bow."

LAPTOP vs. DESKTOP

Choosing a computer for your onboard office is no different than choosing a machine for work. You already know the features you need and a glance through the newspaper circulars will tell you how much memory, storage and CPU speed you can get in the standard $700 to $2000 price range. Linda HoffBuilding an onboard office means finding space. Tools like a laptop and all-in-one printer can help.

The choice of laptop or desktop PC is mostly a matter of preference. Of course, you can't beat a laptop for sheer portability. It's easy to set up and to stash away under a seat cushion or in a compartment, and to carry it ashore. There's little need to worry about damaging it, either. A laptop, because of its very transience, is built to withstand a certain amount of rough treatment.

A desktop PC is more of a space hog and, once positioned, does not lend itself to being moved. Additionally, it needs a well-ventilated space, and screens and other peripherals may need to be mounted to keep them from flying in rough weather. The desktop PC does, however, have certain advantages over a laptop. It generally offers more computing power for less money, as well as a larger screen, expandable communications ports and greater hardware flexibility.

If you do a lot of your boating offshore, you might consider a specialized marine computer (see links below). These machines are usually a bit more expensive, but they are smaller than a home PC and usually come with soldered connections and other enhancements that make them more rugged.