Good morning, Ed~
I do not have a scull boat but thought I would respond to your request in a general way - that runs across many of the different gunning boats I have built, owned or worked on.
One trait is to have a place for everything you will have aboard while gunning. For example:
~ shelves for gloves, binoculars, shells, water bottle, lantern, etc.
~ dry storage for my coat or anything else (canvas cockpit cover) I want to keep dry - when in heavy weather or picking up the rig or clambering in and out of the boat. I usually have a bulkhead with a high (3 inches) threshold so bilge water could not sluice up forward - and the opening begins a couple of inches forward of the deck so rain and snow are less likely to get up there.
~ chocks for things I do not want bouncing or creeping around when under power. I am building some for a forward gas tank right now and my "big anchor" (seldom used but a critical safety feature) in my Sneakbox. The latter is lashed in place over the neatly coiled rode - so just a couple of tugs on slipped square knots and no rat's nest when I do need it.
~ chocks or holders for my oars and pushpole.
~ fire extinguisher mounted out of the way but not right near the motor of gas tank in case I did have a fire
Other things on most of my boats:
~ a canvas bucket and sponge. I use this for cleaning and getting all of the water out of the boat - but the bucket could be a lifesaver if I ever swamped.
~ a cockpit cover for trailing and storage. I am partial to canvas (Sunbrella) but rigid wood or 'glass (or aluminum) have their places. Key is that they keep weather and vermin out. And, quick and easy to deploy. I like canvas because a) it takes minimal storage space so can travel with me, and b) I can use it for other purposes in a pinch. I have used it to sleep under and also to rig on the weather side of the cockpit when crossing the bay in heavy seas.
~ toolbox with first aid kit, rags, registration
~ spray dodger on my Sneakbox - just for running - to keep seas (and spray) where they belong. I hunt with it folded down onto the foredeck.
~ low canvas "cowl" - like a low dodger but to hide the outline of my head
~ lap canvas to hide me from my chest down in boats where I am hiding on my back (Sneakbox, Scooter)
~ pushpole with "duckfoot" - for my Sneakbox and my canoes
Sorry I do not have time for photos right now - but a lot of these features are on my website.
All the best,
SJS
