A bird's eye view of below decks

 MIMU - Length 17.78m, Beam 5m, Draft 2.1m

And what is the purpose of the black strap tied to the stripper's pole at the bottom of the companionway steps?

We use the strap on a starboard tack, sailing downwind or in lumpy seas. Prevents us from accidentally being thrown across the boat. At the galley sink, you can brace yourself in using your feet, legs and hips.  A daily workout!

All electric with hot and cold running water, salt water foot pump, dishwasher and icemaker (both currently not used), gimballed hob/oven combo with a separate single burner induction cooktop, fridge, freezer, microwave, kettle toaster, crockpot, toasted sandwich maker, food processor. 

Big storage compartment under the galley floor and easy wipe down corian benchtops.

Top opening fridge with door for access into the lower compartments.

Separate top opening freezer to the right of this pic.

When sailing our passages ...

Breakfast is DIY - cereal, muesli, porridge, toast, muffins

Lunch - soup, pasta, toasted sandwiches

Dinner - for the next leg of 500nm, approx 4 days we have ziplock bags with prepared dinners for our next leg - spag bog, beef strog, butter chicken and thai green curry. 

Easy meals to heat through with the addition of rice/pasta and a green veg or two.

A washer/dryer combo neatly tucked under the navigation seat.

The washer works a treat,  the dryer uses a "steam" process which we haven't quite got to grips with yet ... the instructions are all in French!!

Getting the laundry washed and dried is probably one of the hardest parts of living aboard. Sheets and towels ... urggghhh!

Keeping very fit climbing up and down the steep companionway umpteen times a day!

One hand always holding on for safety.

Can be tricky passing up those cups of teas and bowls of dinner.

Entranceway hatch is kept closed when it's cold and when sailing conditions dictate for safety - such as following seas (we've had waves reaching into the cockpit).

Bruce's dad Brian is journeying with us and keeps a watchful eye from the bulkhead.

The main saloon has comfy leather seating with big compartments underneath for storage. It's not just food storage, but spare parts, comprehensive tool kit etc

The chairs tuck/lock in either side of the table when sailing.

There is a James Bond style TV in the corner that ... with just a press of a button ... slides up from its hidey hole below.

Movie night has been a favourite pastime. Loads of movies onboard.

Removeable carpets throughout the boat, domed to the cabin sole.  

Large stowage compartments under the floors throughout the boat.

On our longer passages the couch is used to sleep on as it's a quick step up to the cockpit should an emergency arrive.

So there you have it ... a snapshot of life below decks onboard MIMU!