Over the last couple of decades I’ve played small venues across Ireland and the UK as a solo artist, constantly refining my setup — lighter PA systems, compact lighting, and streamlined gig rigs. The modern column array I use now is brilliant on land, but it’s still far too big to haul down a marina walkway or stash aboard a small yacht.
This season I tried a different approach. For a few local gigs I used my foldback monitors as the main PA, just to see if the idea had legs. It turns out they work surprisingly well for small bars and restaurants — simple, portable, and perfectly adequate for the kind of intimate gigs I enjoy doing while cruising.
The challenge is electric guitar. Carrying a dedicated guitar amplifier on board isn’t realistic, so I may have to return to using the Headrush Pedalboard as my amp and effects solution. It’s compact, reliable, and gives me the tones I need without lugging heavy gear around.
So the question is this: can I make do with what I already have, or is there a more space‑efficient setup for the water‑borne musician? The goal is a rig that’s light, rugged, and small enough to live happily on S.V. Arrested — without sacrificing the sound that keeps the gigs fun.
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