For me, to be a handy coastal cruising sailboat(after sailing ability), at the top of the list is great stowage.

That doesn't mean there's enough space on the boat to stuff all your junk. That's just stowage.

Great stowage means you can get on and off the boat - for a weekend or several weeks; comfortably stow - and use - your supplies and gear (that could mean a bag of oil painters supplies, or a folding bike or two), without destroying the essence of lightness (that nimble state - both mentally and physically), that is a sailboat.

You're loaded for a few weeks of coastal cruising with a family. Is the nimble sailboat still there? Then it has great stowage.

That's why I've been just as excited about my cockpit lockers as the new cockpit, itself. With an old icebox removed, freshly painted, better access panels installed, I'm not sure how I'll use them but I can already feel the improvement in the 'lightness' of the boat. It's become a better coastal cruiser.

First thing I did was replace the broken mahogany slats Alden installed. I used Cedar re-sawn to 1/2". To eliminate the breaking, I added backer blocks between the ribs so you can now walk on the tapered slats(do they still call this ceiling?). These allow ventilation beneath stuff. And the cedar aroma is nice.

And walk on them, I have been doing. I still have work to do in there(like installing the bilge pump).

More than half of what I stored in the lockers before, is now replaced. Where did it all go?

As I took it out in bags last fall, I got to thinking that 'bags' may be a good method for some stowage. But instead of just lining the bottom, I through bolted more than a dozen rope hooks to deck supports. This may be a handy way to utilize the large unusable volume of stowage under the decks, with lighter - bulky items.

Playing with tying up the handles on $1 grocery recycle bags(we have zillions and use them on land and water), and unhooking one side, these make easy open receptacles. This could be a better solution for onboard recycling - a new stowage item that needs space. And they can simply lift off the hook, and come out to go ashore or get a needed item. A magic markered - SEARCH LIGHT, etc. Some things are rarely used, some get touched daily.

I'll see how this works in practice, soon.