The Cruisers Essentials List

[s/v Beth]

Jedi- we were both writing at the same time. See if my response answers your concerns. Your Sundeer 64 cruises at a different level than an Allied Seawind. And sheet to tiller steering- have used it for a couple of years now.

[gjordan]

Newt, We had almost everything on the list in one form or another with the exception of transmitters. No epirb, no vhf, and no way to charge the one battery on the boat, which only powered the masthead tricolor. When the battery went dead half way to the Marquesas I put up a kerosene anchor light. Boy was I fooling myself with that little light. The only electronics were a Zenith Transoceanic and a self contained depth sounder. I cant imagine anybody in there right mind cruising without a depth sounder. Oh yes! the ditch kit was a bag with several water jugs and several tubes of sunblock. This was on the 26 footer. The next boat had a motor and a few more comforts.____Grant.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by s/v Beth

Jedi- we were both writing at the same time. See if my response answers your concerns. Your Sundeer 64 cruises at a different level than an Allied Seawind. And sheet to tiller steering- have used it for a couple of years now.

I thought this list was for a 30 foot boat and thus I answered for a 30' boat. I know those too, sailed one for 17 years

Logbook, horn etc. is essential for every boat incl. Allied Seawind.

cheers,
Nick.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

emergency rudder?! wtf... the most crazy things are on the list but an emergency tiller, which really is a must-have item is nowhere to be found!

Allow me to point out the increasing number of distance sailing events where an emergency rudder is mandatory equipment. Of course, if a boat has a wind vane with a rudder, this sometimes counts as the back-up rudder. I personally consider it crazy for someone with a spade rudder to venture offshore without a back-up rudder. (And yeah, yeah, yeah, I realize that some of you full-keelers consider it a sacrilege to venture offshore with a spade rudder, but I'd just as soon not discuss religion with you fellows.)

Nick's point about the emergency tiller is well taken, however. We should add that item just above the emergency rudder.

[Bash]

By the way, the claim that some of the characters on this forum have been making about sailing for years without a specific piece of gear should be taken with a grain of salt. After all, there are any number of sailors who have survived multi-week passages without bothering to pack a toothbrush. That doesn't make the practice advisable.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Bash

Allow me to point out the increasing number of distance sailing events where an emergency rudder is mandatory equipment. Of course, if a boat has a wind vane with a rudder, this sometimes counts as the back-up rudder. I personally consider it crazy for someone with a spade rudder to venture offshore without a back-up rudder. (And yeah, yeah, yeah, I realize that some of you full-keelers consider it a sacrilege to venture offshore with a spade rudder, but I'd just as soon not discuss religion with you fellows.)

Nick's point about the emergency tiller is well taken, however. We should add that item just above the emergency rudder.

You have an emergency rudder because of an sailing event? One can easily fabricate an emergency rudder from gear already on the list plus creativity. The whisker pole, rope and a piece of interior plywood makes a rudder. I can't even make my brain think about carrying a spare emergency rudder and have never seen a cruiser with one.

ciao!
Nick.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

Logbook, horn etc. is essential for every boat incl. Allied Seawind.

I consider a ship's bell essential as well, even though the USCG no longer seems to agree.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Bash

I consider a ship's bell essential as well, even though the USCG no longer seems to agree.

I was about to list it and then remembered I tossed ours...

anchoring day sign must go on the list. Lots of places enforcing it. Yellow Q flag already on he list?

Dodger should go back on the list. If you don't need one you didn't have enough storms yet

ciao!
Nick.

[sailorchic34]

Hum I for one like Newt's essentials list guide. As I understand it, its the basic list required for cruising. Of course everyone has their own ideas of what is and is not required. But for a basic list its pretty inclusive.

OH sure, a Rib and outboard would be nice, but it really does not fit well on smaller sail boats. Least wise on mine anyway.

Yes an emergency rudder can be made from other parts. I've two different options for one on mine, just with bits and pieces. But for the average person starting out thinking about an emergency rudder is a start

Really it depends on your boat size and budget as to the extent one fluffs up the list. Maybe we need to have three or four lists, One for the basic keelboat (the newt list!), One for 40-50 foot and up, one for cats and one for powerboats.

We all are from different parts of the globe with different social / economical backgrounds. One size does not and will never fit all... (not on this forum anyway).

[boatman61]

Sound Hull
Sound deck and fittings
Sound rig
Good sails
Strong rudder and tiller/steering
Good storage
Good water tanks
Good auto pilot plus back up
Good sounder
Good charts
Good GPS
OpenCPN with laptop and tracker
Good cooker
Sea toilet
VHF
And a woman young enough not to give a ****....

[Doodles]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Sound Hull
Sound deck and fittings
Sound rig
Good sails
Strong rudder and tiller/steering
Good storage
Good water tanks
Good auto pilot plus back up
Good sounder
Good charts
Good GPS
OpenCPN with laptop and tracker
Good cooker
Sea toilet
VHF
And a woman young enough not to give a ****....

I think it was Reese Palley who said the woman had to be young enough to climb the mast. :-)

[atoll]

Originally Posted by rlaribee

As for toilet paper: Traveling in Asia made me realize the majority of the world doesn't use TP. Living in Iraq taught me how to use water instead of TP, and once I became use to it, I found I preferred it for MANY reasons. The advantages are many, not the least of which is disposal. (Someday when I move back to the US I will have bidets installed in the toilets.)

another bonus ! it stops you biting your fingernails.........

[David_Old_Jersey]

For me things like an emergency tiller is on the list marked "Prudent", rather than Essential......a spare rudder is on the list: "One day I may wish I had one onboard" ).

I don't think anyone has mentioned a Hat (horns optional!).

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by boatman61

And a woman young enough not to give a ****....

Would also make the bucket optional

[Me-and-Boo]

Thank you all. I am at the stage of fitting my boat with essentials and optionals as she is almost ready to sail/motor up the Chesapeake Bay.

In spite of the minimalists, the depravationists, and those who are still using their original lodestone instead of a modern compass and think electronics cause their log raft to sink, this is a good checklist.

Many checklists are from the golden age of sail, and Shanghai was used as a verb. I have been looking for a full and comprehensive list to start my list from. This one is very good for that.