Most of our lockers and cupboards have recently been insulated with silver-backed bubble wrap because in our first year aboard Sea Foam we found condensation in the unlined cupboards and locker areas on the boat's outside walls. We also installed fiberglass cladding under our queen island bed to keep the condensation off the underside of our mattress.

We use small fans to combat condensation from cooking and showers. We have two small, plastic open propeller fans in our bow stateroom, attached under the port and starboard portholes. These quiet, 120 volt fans run off our inverter. There are two more in the pilot house near the front windows that keep the air circulating around the boat.

If the temperature drops dramatically, we also have our Espar diesel furnace for back-up.

Whenever we're cooking on our three burner propane stove, the window in front of the stove is opened to allow the steam to escape. When we put the kettle on to boil, we keep an eye out for the first signs of steam to keep the windows from fogging up.

RICK LEBLANCThe landscape after six inches of snowfall.Our shower is a separate room on the port side. When we're done showering we open the porthole and let the steam escape while we towel off, before opening the door to the main stateroom.

We also have a 45-liter per day dehumidifier in the pilot house. It uses four amps. However, dehumidifiers deal with the effects of excessive moisture in the boat, not the causes. The real solution is to replace high-humidity air with lower-humidity air, and to circulate air through the boat to fight "dead spots," where mold can form.

WATER SUPPLY

We have 275 gallons of water on board, which will usually last as long as four weeks during the summer when we're cruising. During the winter we keep the tank full. While our dock water lines were wrapped in foam insulation, our hose from the dock to our boat is not, and freezes. When our hose is frozen, we rely on our tank water. There is always a day during a three week period when the temperature allows us to refill the water tanks.

If the city power goes out, we have a Northern Lights five kilowatt generator to keep things running. Last winter, with the city of Mission darkened with power outages for three days, we were warm and cozy aboard Sea Foam. We are as content as our urban-dwelling friends and, at times, better off. A large tank-full of water and a generator go a long way, as long as the diesel holds out.

SAFETY ON THE DOCKS

When the winter snow and ice arrive we are more careful when boarding our boat. Nonslip decks are good but not that good when covered in snow and ice. Getting on and off the boat when it's stormy can be tricky because the boat is constantly moving and pulling on the lines. It's very easy to slip, and the last thing we want is to end up in the icy water.

RICK LEBLANCIce accumulates on a tug's bow lines.So in the winter we try to shovel, salt and sand the dock and steps on the ramp. Every year we hear of boaters who've fall in the water from their boat or dock and can't get out. Our harbor manager fell in last winter while pushing a log away from a boat moored on the outside of the breakwater. She lost her footing, slipped and fell into the water. She was barely able to call for help in the icy water. Luckily, another liveaboard saw her fall in and helped her out. After this mishap we invested $25 in a pair of "Yaktrax" ice cleats for use when the dock is icy.

Another thing we pay close attention to are our mooring ropes. We have two lines from our bow, one amidships and two off the stern. If one fails there is another one to hold the boat until the trouble is addressed. We frequently check the security of our mooring. The last thing we want is our boat to break free in a storm while we're asleep or even worse, while we're not there. As a result, we make sure our mooring ropes are not only secure but also in good condition.

We keep our batteries maintained throughout the year. Before winter sets in we give all four of our house batteries a top-up with distilled water and twice a year we equalize the batteries using the battery charger.

When we first moved aboard, friends would call on stormy nights and invite us to stay "in town" with them to enjoy a warm house and a hot shower. We always declined, and it took time for them to understand that we really did prefer to stay right here, at home, on Sea Foam. There have been a few occasions when we've phoned up friends and invited them to the boat because their power was out and they were cold, and unable to prepare a meal in their homes.

The summer makes up for most of the winter hardships. Apart from some anxious moments, we love living aboard in a storm, if only to be closer to the elements. And trust me, there is no time that makes you feel closer to nature than during a storm. It is a comforting feeling to be safely tied up to a dock, rocking in the wind as it howls through the halyards and funnels through the harbor.