Question for Long-Term Cruisers: What Are Your 'Top Five' . . . ?

[wingNwing]

Originally Posted by Cruisingdad

I read that on the edge of my seat, just knowing that you were going to have BBQ grill in there and... NOTHING! Not a single mention!! And after all that advice I gave you... who'da thought??? (SMILE)

Brian

Okay Brian, this one's for you

Top 5:
(1) my rail-mounted GRILL
(2) the little legs on my GRILL that allow me to take it ashore for beach parties
(3) the fish turner to cook fish on my GRILL
(4) the kabob baskets so food pieces don't drop off skewers when I'm cooking on the GRILL
(5) the windproof lighter for lighting my GRILL

3 things I wish I'd known:
(1) in February, I want the heat in the cabin, so it's better to bake than GRILL
(2) even in the wind, my GRILL stays lit if I'm careful
(3) tuna works better if you take it out of the can before you GRILL it

[wingNwing]

Originally Posted by wolfenzee

As my father was retired Navy, safety and tools were drilled into me. And I grew up in the sort of environment where you had to know how to fix just about everything. I look at the "if it's broken get a new one or call a repairman" attitude on land with contempt....on a boat it just doesn't work.

Wolf, I hope we get to share an anchorage someday! Sounds like we have very similar philosophies. Dan grew up in southwest Kansas, son of a farmer-stockman and former Marine. So what do the amber waves of grain and the ocean have in common? A lot, it turns out. Both require independence, creative problem-solving, improvisation, patience, a love of the outdoors and wide horizons. I'm the daughter of an engineer & pilot, who thought the city lights looked best in the rear-view mirror.

[SurferShane]

Originally Posted by doug86

Remember, your vessel is a vehicle that is intended to move you over the surface of the earth. That the journey can be dangerous focuses our attention on the vessel and our ability to make a safe passage, then next to our ability to have a comfortable passage - but always the discussion is about the things, boats & equipment that create those opportunities. Diesel engines, watermakers, solar panels etc; all these things should be on the list of luxurious distractions that we suffer, not on a debated list of necessities that we need to acquire to fulfill our desire to be outside.

Outside, not just opposed to indoors, but outside of the mainstream consumer oriented debit card swiping petty politics television reality show society where the evening news substitutes for sunsets and landlubbers shop for shoes instead of beaches where no shoes have ever been worn.

Sometimes, we get focused on all this preparation of the vessel and her equipment, and we lose sight of what attracted us to the idea of cruising in the first place: a transformation of the soul.

Spend as much time preparing your self to embrace the joys and challenges of cruising as you would preparing your vessel to take your body someplace. Getting your boat ready is easy when you remind yourself that you are trying to leave a bunch of this stuff at the dock. Otherwise, just buy a plane ticket.

Nirvana! (No – not loud music!)

[sneuman]

Originally Posted by wolfenzee

I would have to say KISS is the most important thing (systems and/or components that rely on electrical/electronic the require more reliable manual back-ups could do perfectly well with just the manual ). Creature comforts that keep it from being an over glorified camping trip. A well equipped galley.

Manual chartplotter = paper chart.

[bene505]

Originally Posted by wingNwing

Okay Brian, this one's for you

Top 5:
(1) my rail-mounted GRILL
(2) the little legs on my GRILL that allow me to take it ashore for beach parties
(3) the fish turner to cook fish on my GRILL
(4) the kabob baskets so food pieces don't drop off skewers when I'm cooking on the GRILL
(5) the windproof lighter for lighting my GRILL

3 things I wish I'd known:
(1) in February, I want the heat in the cabin, so it's better to bake than GRILL
(2) even in the wind, my GRILL stays lit if I'm careful
(3) tuna works better if you take it out of the can before you GRILL it

I know it was said in jest, but could you post pictures of 2 and 3? Didn't know there were BBQs that cam with legs.

Regards,
Brad

[RaySea Lady]

Originally Posted by bene505

I know it was said in jest, but could you post pictures of 2 and 3? Didn't know there were BBQs that cam with legs.

Regards,
Brad

Freestyle? Infrared Portable Grill

Small portable, short legs. available electric or propane

[wingNwing]

Originally Posted by bene505

I know it was said in jest, but could you post pictures of 2 and 3? Didn't know there were BBQs that cam with legs.

Regards,
Brad

Brad - here's a link to the BBQ closed: Kuuma 83705 Stow n Go charcoal grill You can see the little latches that hold the cover shut, fold the legs up and carry it by the handle to the beach. Here's a link to the same grill, open: Kuuma 83790 Stow n Go gas grill This one comes in propane or charcoal version. (Disclaimer - I don't have a particular stake in this brand, it just happens to be the one that was on sale at WM the day I was looking). The kabob baskets came from Bed Bath & Beyond; the fish flipper came from the BBQ section at True Value and is similar to this: Cuisinart Simply Grilling Non-Stick Fish Filet Basket CNFB-432

[Cruisingdad]

Hey Brad,

I have legs for my Magma. Very easy to put on and take off (to take to the beach).

Jaye,

That's more like it! Now, ummm, nesting cookware??? HEHE! Just kidding!

Brian

[rusky]

Hey Brian, I see that wherever you go, you are closely attached to the bbq.
regards
David
previously on bbq'd van de stadt 36 'saint anna', now on Peterson sans bbq

[wolfenzee]

Instead of having legs that attach to the BBQ when you take it off the rail, how about legs that attach to a platform on the rail. My Dickinson "Sea-B-Que" has a sort of angle iron legs to it, which I attach to a platform on the rail with wing nuts and use as just plain legs otherwise...if it is a soft surface like sand I just put it on a board.

[wingNwing]

Originally Posted by Cruisingdad

Hey Brad,

Jaye,

That's more like it! Now, ummm, nesting cookware??? HEHE! Just kidding!

Brian

Naah, too easy:

(1) the smallest pot in the nesting cookware set Brian recommended
(2) the medium pot in the nesting cookware set Brian recommended
(3) the largest pot in the nesting cookware set Brian recommended
(4) the skillet pot in the nesting cookware set Brian recommended
(5) the detachable handles in the nesting cookware set Brian recommended

...see what I mean?

[wolfenzee]

There was a space behind the companion way steps under the nav deck....just unused. I put a piece of counter (24"x18" tongue and groove Cumaroo) under which all my pots hang. My cast iron skillets and griddle as well as all utensils and knives are equally available.

[Hudson Force]

As this is my third shot at this anwer it could be considered my top fifteen, but let me take a different approach.
1) Reliable crew
2) "do it yourself" independance
3) Adaptability
4) Amiability
5) Recognizing that exotic destinations are only a day's sail away

[Bluefuss]

Dumd question from a newby, what is an AIS?

[Bash]

Originally Posted by Bluefuss

Dumd question from a newby, what is an AIS?

A tracking system used primarily by commercial vessels. You get to see where the ships are (and their speed, direction, et cetera) and they get to see where you are.