CAMPER VANS

CAMPER VANS

For 18 months starting in 1974 and ending in 1975 I was a live aboard on my boat. During that time when I was in the Bahamas several other live aboard’ s whom I met asked what I did prior to now sailing. I explained that I sold insulation which was used to make sleeping bags and proceeded to show them the ones I had on board. I made them myself.

Not thinking much about it I told them they packed down small and did not retain odor of the ocean or the dampness. I then learned from them they had on almost every boat this inexpensive cotton lined polyester filled bags. They are quite bulky and could not be stowed away. The boats ranged in size from 24 to 40 feet and storage is at a minimum. Hence, they left them out all of the time, while I could stuff them away at my discretion in a corner of one of the quarter births.

I read an article in the most recent issue of Colorado Magazine about the growth of people living in camper vans. Camper vans pose the same problem as live aboard’ s on boats, limited space.

The most practical thing to do with respect to sleeping bags is to have a Wiggy’s bag. I believe our Nautilus model will work very well in almost all conditions throughout the year in the lower 48. Of course, for the skiing crowd the Hunter Super Light would be best.

Wiggy’s bags do not retain any moisture which is very important. All other bags do especially down bags. these bags require being aired for great lengths of time especially down bags. they would need frequent launderings. Wiggy bags can be laundered in any lake or stream if necessary. Drying time is very quick on sunny days so hang them outside in the sunshine.

When its time to move on just put them in their stuff sacks and stow them away.

Another use is to keep cold things cold and hot things hot, just wrap them in your Wiggy’s sleeping bag. Multi usefulness.

I was pleasantly surprised to learn how many families have taken to the road. The education the children and I suspect their parents are getting is fantastic. Considering the vast number of families doing this I can only imagine at some point they will start to settle down and will meet people in their new neighborhood who have done the something. They will have lots to talk about which has never been done before.

I periodically remines my time on the boat and how fortunate I was to be able to have had the experience. I have a bookkeeper who lived in an RV with her husband and two children for I think 3 years and they loved the experience. The more who endeavor to do this the better the country can be because the travelers are meeting people from all over the country and I like to think are finding out they are no different than themselves, for the most part.

Happy trails.