Sailors have a longstanding history with music. From ancient seafaring cultures to modern sailors, music has played a vital role in maritime life, offering solace, entertainment, and a means of communication. For those who also have a passion for music, bringing musical instruments on board adds an extra dimension to the sailing experience. However, safeguarding these delicate instruments from the challenges of life at sea requires careful consideration and proper care.
As my husband, Chris, and I were moving aboard our 41-foot, 1979 Cheoy Lee Avocet in 2018, we decided that music would remain a part of our lives afloat. Our acoustic guitar hangs in our V-berth while our ukulele sits on the shelf in our salon, always within reach for an impromptu jam sesh. As we have put numerous miles beneath our keel, we have learned just how vulnerable our instruments can be in the harsh environment we live in, despite our attempt at best care practices.
“You really shouldn’t expose them to saltwater,” our friend Kris says through a cheeky half-smile. Kris is a professional musician performing under the stage name Big Sierra in addition to working at Ernie Ball Music Man, a world renowned music company. All jokes aside, his input was backed by experience, and he was able to shed some light on how to take care of instruments afloat.
The most useful thing any musician can invest in is a hard-shell case. They aren’t cheap but very much worth it in the long run. Bag cases don’t do much to protect your beloved instruments from bumps and dings, nor do they control heat and humidity—the silent killers of wood instruments.
Leaving your guitar in direct sunlight or in a hot car (or boat) for hours causes the wood to swell and then retract, creating warps in your neck or cracks in the wood. Humidity and moisture can cause any metal parts (frets, tuners, bridge) to rust. “And there’s nothing more annoying than picking away on rusty strings” Kris says.
So, when living on a boat, any steel-stringed instruments should live in a case when not in use. The salt and humidity of the sea will definitely shorten the life of that guitar, especially if it’s left exposed to the elements.
“Anytime I get new shoes or something that has those little silica packets in them, I save them to throw in my guitar cases,” Kris says. “In all honesty they probably don’t do much, but if I was taking my instruments on an equatorial voyage, I’d make sure to have a couple on me. There are even companies that sell basically the same thing (but larger) made specifically for instrument cases. Humidity is the death of strings, and when you’re miles out to sea, you’ve gotta make those strings last.”
So, what about those sailors who don’t have room for bulky hard cases, extra strings, or AC to keep things cool? Luckily, we have more friends in the music world to share the details on how they make it work.
“Yah, I have some guitars aboard,” our friend Griff shared in a recent Instagram chat thread. Griff lives part-time aboard his 2003 Beneteau 361 named Lola when not touring and playing music in the states under his stage name, Goth Babe. We had the pleasure of sharing some anchorages in Mexico with him, but he often had to excuse himself to finish recording one of his his latest singles, “Bioluminescence.” As a professional musician who lived aboard, his input was valuable on this matter, so I asked him what we all want to know: How do you take care of your gear on the boat?
“It’s very difficult! My electric guitar lives in a vacuumed bag when I’m back in the states. This hopefully keeps the moisture from getting to the strings and interior components. I also have a Pelican [case] that holds all of the electronics, which includes my laptop, midi keyboard, and cables. I think keeping things sealed when not under use is the key.” But the Pelican case doesn’t just protect from the aforementioned moisture issues that Kris warned us about; using a hard case such as a Pelican can also prevent the gear from getting destroyed when underway, which Griff knows first hand. “I have definitely seen my gear fly across the cabin on a number of occasions!” he says.
We’re also fortunate to know Phil from S/V Sonder, a fellow Cheoy Lee owner who is currently sailing through the Mediterranean with his wife, Roxanne. Phil is a producer and has turned Sonder’s quarter berth into a recording studio complete with a keyboard.
“There is a lot of TLC that goes into musical maintenance,” he says. Unlike Griff, Phil’s instruments of choice are more of the brass and piano category. “Moving onto Sonder I brought with me a trumpet, a few smaller keyboards, and a melodica,” he says. “My keyboards are electronic and therefore not subject to the effects temperature and humidity have on acoustic instruments. That said, I didn’t bring the nicest trumpet I have, because I didn’t want it to be exposed to corrosion by the sea air.”
As a successful musician and sailor with well over 5,000 nautical miles under his keel, Phil has learned a thing or two about instrument care while sailing.
“If your instrument is metal or has a good deal of metal in it, remember not to store it in the same locker as your autopilot’s compass. Don’t ask me how I know this. Silica gel packets are a handy thing to keep with instruments or equipment you want to stay dry. DeoxIT is amazing stuff at cleaning the corroded bits, like crackly spots on an amp or a switch that only works some of the time. A good soft case is worth its weight in gold (they seem to cost almost as much as hard cases!) and is definitely the best method of storing your instruments.”
Whether for work, leisure, or artistic expression, the bond between sailing and music remains as strong as ever, and with proper care and consideration, your musical instruments can serenade you with beautiful tunes against the backdrop of the open sea. By following these guidelines, you’ll be able to enjoy harmonious sailing while ensuring your cherished instruments remain in excellent condition for years to come.
Marissa and her husband, Chris, live aboard their 1979 Cheoy Lee 41 Avocet and have been cruising since 2022. They are currently in the Sea of Cortez where the wild landscape is full of inspiration for writing, video production, and of course music. Follow them on Youtube (Sailing Avocet) or svavocet.com. You can follow Kris @big.sierra, Griff @gothbabemusic, and Phil @Sailingsonder.