The Philosophy Behind Sailing Simply and Cheaply

[barnakiel]

The CARD / MerVeille / SeaMe / Echomax and other radar detectors / reflectors are very nice but I find them way too expensive for what they do. You can get a small radar at the price of some of these toys. And those that show direction are passive while those that are active do not show where the radar is ...

An oversized rorc reflector way better in simplicity / cheap terms. And anybody can build them from scrap alloy plate.

This is often the case with nice boating toys that do not enter the mainstream of sailing or caravan industry. Too few items are made and prices remain too high for ever.

Go into any caravan store and that's where you find cheap things for your boat.

b.

[callmecrazy]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

The CARD / MerVeille / SeaMe / Echomax and other radar detectors / reflectors are very nice but I find them way too expensive for what they do. You can get a small radar at the price of some of these toys. And those that show direction are passive while those that are active do not show where the radar is ...

An oversized rorc reflector way better in simplicity / cheap terms. And anybody can build them from scrap alloy plate.

This is often the case with nice boating toys that do not enter the mainstream of sailing or caravan industry. Too few items are made and prices remain too high for ever.

Go into any caravan store and that's where you find cheap things for your boat.

b.

Paid $100 for my C.A.R.D... The benefits of taking time and waiting for the right deals are always appreciable.

A 'small radar' will still eat up too much power to use on my boat (2 grp31 batterys and limited solar input) to ever be useful for more than an hour at a time....
Again, the reflector was only $12... When you price things out at retail, these things are overpriced. But they are effective enough to consider at such massive discounts. And they're better than nothing...

Shop smart, keep it simple.

[s/v Breakaway]

CMC, where do you get these deals!?

[callmecrazy]

Originally Posted by s/v Breakaway

CMC, where do you get these deals!?

Mostly craigslist and ebay.

the trick is to WAIT. And always watch...

For these particular examples; I've known I wanted a radar reflector for many months, but didn't want to pay $50 for one... I figured if the time came to go offshore and I still didn't have one, I'd just pay the $50. But behold, the deal shows up and I was there to take it

The C.A.R.D. was on a boat that was being parted out on craigslist. The CARD wasn't advertised, but I went to check out the boat to see what it had anyway. Made an offer and he took it

Similar to thrift store shopping. It's impossible to just 'go buy what you want' from a thrift store. You have to be a regular visitor and just wait for the right stuff to show up. I might stop in the local thrift store twice a week, but only buy something once a month...

It's all about being in the right place at the right time.

Next month there will be a local 'boaters flea market'. I'm taking a few things to sell and will see what I can find

[Inquisitive]

I just got a c&c 32' sail for $25. Not sure what to do with it.

[callmecrazy]

Originally Posted by Inquisitive

I just got a c&c 32' sail for $25. Not sure what to do with it.

If you can't use it, sell it

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by callmecrazy

Paid $100 for my C.A.R.D... The benefits of taking time and waiting for the right deals are always appreciable.

A 'small radar' will still eat up too much power to use on my boat (2 grp31 batterys and limited solar input) to ever be useful for more than an hour at a time....(...)

Now I do not think you can get a new one anymore. S/h will be a deal till the last one drops or the technology changes (btw I believe CARD detects only one fqcy). The present product comes from France, named MerVeille (slightly improved CARD de facto). At USD 500 or thereabouts. Oops.

A small radar will use less than 1 A in watch mode, less than 4 A in full swing mode. You must have a most limited battery / charging options if you can use it only 1 hr at a time. Sure thing this is in line with keeping things simple.

We here are blessed to sail mostly areas where radar is sure nice (tropical rains) but not must (no fog). Also, our solars will deliver up to 8 A each full sun hour of the day. Nice. But again - not too likely if one is far outside of tropics.

Being in the tropics is making the sailing things simple. ;-)

b.

[callmecrazy]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Now I do not think you can get a new one anymore. S/h will be a deal till the last one drops or the technology changes (btw I believe CARD detects only one fqcy). The present product comes from France, named MerVeille (slightly improved CARD de facto). At USD 500 or thereabouts. Oops.

A small radar will use less than 1 A in watch mode, less than 4 A in full swing mode. You must have a most limited battery / charging options if you can use it only 1 hr at a time. Sure thing this is in line with keeping things simple.

We here are blessed to sail mostly areas where radar is sure nice (tropical rains) but not must (no fog). Also, our solars will deliver up to 8 A each full sun hour of the day. Nice. But again - not too likely if one is far outside of tropics.

Being in the tropics is making the sailing things simple. ;-)

b.

Well I hope you're right. As soon as I can afford to toss out $1500 for a used Radar system, I'll look into it

[callmecrazy]

PS:

This is a good example....

There's always something better out there.

THERE's ALWAYS SOMETHING BETTER!

It's the same never ending cycle on which consumerism is built.

[conachair]

Originally Posted by VirtualVagabond

The trouble is we're all control freaks. We like things simple so we can stay in control. Cruisers probably more than most.

Not sure that´s quite true, not with the cruisers i hung out with anyway. Maybe tending towards the opposite. The ones who have been out for a while that I met tended more to just take each day as it comes rather than try to control the future. Trying to control the world really doesn´t work.

I would say most simpler cruising boats became that way as the cruisers got fed up fixing the bits that broke a lot but kept the bits that didn´t. Not any deep philosphical thought out plan. Just a tendancy towards putting up with a few less toys because it´s easier doing without than it is fixing them. Again.

[conachair]

Originally Posted by callmecrazy

PS:

This is a good example....

There's always something better out there.

THERE's ALWAYS SOMETHING BETTER!

It's the same never ending cycle on which consumerism is built.

That´s what they keep telling us.

As an antidote.....

“What day is it?" asked Pooh.
"It's today," squeaked Piglet.
"My favorite day," said Pooh.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by callmecrazy

Well I hope you're right. As soon as I can afford to toss out $1500 for a used Radar system, I'll look into it

Why buy a used one at 1500 if you can have a new one at below 1400?

But sure this is already beyond 'cheap'.

b.

[callmecrazy]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Why buy a used one at 1500 if you can have a new one at below 1400?

But sure this is already beyond 'cheap'.

b.

Which one is that?

Don't forget to add the display, cabling, and mounting options... I was thinking complete package, used, is around $1500 (not that I've really prices them out or anythig )

(not that it matters, still too expensive!)

[zeta]

Furuno Radar 1623

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by zeta

Furuno Radar 1623

Zeta: you are the man!

b.