At 06:06 7/29/2000, The Gunnings wrote:
>I consider my Vanagon something of a land "boat" mini-yacht.  Maybe a scow.
>Akin the "Prairie Schooner" of yore.  Where's my saloon?  Cheers,  Dave
>Gunning

The saloon (recently artsy-fartsy rich-bahstid types have taken to calling 
it the "salon") is the main open area in an ordinary yacht.  It has sitting 
social  accomodations; as the boat gets smaller, dining facilities, very 
likely any navigation facilities and probably sleeping as well.  Sometimes 
the galley intrudes.  In Scamp, the arrangements from forward to aft are: 
forepeak, forward cabin, head, main saloon with galley aft, [going outside] 
bridge deck, cockpit, lazarette.  The bridge deck, on boats that have them, 
is what keeps a cockpit-ful of water from instantly migrating 
downstairs...a useful design for a seagoing boat.

In a Westy the saloon would be the area bounded by the seats, not including 
the upstairs cabin.

  sa�loon (s�-l�n�) n. 1. A place where alcoholic drinks are sold and 
drunk; a tavern. 2. A large room or hall for receptions, public 
entertainment, or exhibitions. 3. Nautical. a. The officers' dining and 
social room on a cargo ship. b. A large social lounge on a passenger ship.

cheers,
david
David Beierl - Providence, RI
  http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"