Problems with any of your Onboard Gear?

[Richard]

Hi Everyone. I am the owner of a 25-year-old Irwin that continually needs upgrading. I spent a ton of money on her over the past year. I want to try a little reverse psychology in my question...

This question is open-ended and I am wondering if you could tell me about any gear you have onboard your boat that you would NOT recommend to others and WHY. Maybe it's stuff that you inherited when you bought your boat or maybe it's something you purchased that did not live up to your expectations. Are there IMPROVEMENTS that could be made? I'd love to hear about experience with any products whether they are "attached" to your boat or not. Thanks!

[MARC D]

Depends almost totally on how and where you're going to use your boat. For what project? Week-end day-sailing? Going south some day? Or live aboard? Marina life or on the hook?

[Richard]

Marc- I'm interested in anything people have to say about their stuff, not just specific purposed items...so this thread could be beneficial to anyone that reads it.

[MARC D]

OK.

What I like most on my boat is the totally enclosed cockpit with a great view forward. We can sail the boat for days on offshore without having saltwater in the cockpit. And the Selden In-mast furling allows us to reef the main from the cockpit. After almost 6000 miles, never had to go on deck once while sailing (except when using assymetrical). It's only my wife and I, so this is the most important security item for us.

Marc

[bbowers2004]

Seems our reefing system needs another tube of grease, because it seems harder each time, and I find myself on the bow trying to fix the furling system often...need to take a better look at it I suppose.

[sailorboy1]

I don't have much use for my shore power connection.

[zeehag]

lol my shore power connexion only works in summer... go figger....

[Rick]

Cable steering; I have removed the cable from two cruising sailboats. The reason is that all good autopilots are electro-hydraulic and most easily tee into a hydraulic system. There is a myth amongst sailboaters that one has no "feedback" with hydraulic steering. It is not possible to use arm power to turn a wheel that somehow connects to the rudder (without power steering) and not feel the force required to do so. Also there is a myth that hydraulic steering leaks fluid. Does your hydraulic brake system on your car leak? Don't think so.

Simple calculations yield the proper ram and pump sizes to buy for the installation. The pump can be mounted below deck using an endless chain connected to the stock sprocket in the helm that the cable system connects to.

[zeehag]

funny. the hydraulic steering in my cars ALWAYS leaked....rodlmffao.....
HOWEVER my simrad hydraulic autopilot does NOT leak.
BUT it is only one of 2 systems intact for steering. i do not use my simrad in close quarters, my cable steering works fine for that.

here, our problem is wifi. it does not connect most of time, is due to the wyndham grand plaza hotel not having the proper set up for the complex they need to serve, or at least brag on serving.....and their tech guy is broken, as he doesnt realize the modem is what handles connectivity. he thinks throwing an antenna at it will fix the problem......

ohkaayyy..... so , effectively, marina navidad has no wifi to boats.......that is why gods made banda ancha that also sometimes works.....

[ontherocks83]

Noodles....... those stupid swimming noodles that guests like to bring on board and then "donate" to the boat. They do nothing but take up space, make that annoying squeaking sound when you touch them, get things wet, and only get used for a few minutes when swimming before being left about.

[tbodine88]

Porta potty. I've only used it twice in 14 years. Crew never use it but then we stay pretty close to shore most of the time. Also prefer a buck for longer cruises.

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by ontherocks83

Noodles....... those stupid swimming noodles that guests like to bring on board and then "donate" to the boat. They do nothing but take up space, make that annoying squeaking sound when you touch them, get things wet, and only get used for a few minutes when swimming before being left about.

those things make excellent must be changed every season dolphin striker protectors and dinghy gunwhale fenders for dinks sitting in water next to your boat. i donot use em fro swimming.

[a64pilot]

Dolphin striker protectors? I don't understand.

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Dolphin striker protectors? I don't understand.

i anchor out more than half the year. wind and current do not always match. i put one of these nasty things on my dolphin striker and not only am i able to find out exactly where the chain hits it on occasion, but it muffles some of the sound of the chain vs dolphin striker.
i also use em to float dinghy painters...lol works great.

mebbe put green ones on my whisker stays...lol