What did you take / plan for and didn't need to?

[David_Old_Jersey]

I am guessing that most folk who have set out into the wide blue yonder (WBY) do a fair bit of research, ask lots of questions and then carefully consider their options / make their plans.

I guess we have all heard stories about folk who stocked up on 2 years of toilet rolls, baked beans or whatever before setting off into the YBW........cos' abroad might not have any


But I am just curious about what folk carefully planned for / bought in bulk / worried about / modifications you made to the boat / equipment you bought.........and with hindsight and experiance realise that you didn't actually need to do at all / did not need to do quite so thoroughly / didn't need to worry about so much...............before actually departing into the YBW.


Oh, just occurred to me that their is the sister question to this - "what do you wish you had done (etc etc!) before heading into the YBW?" (either because it was essential or ot would just have made life / your learning curve easier).

[ssullivan]

When I was doing this in other people's boats, the primary concern was taking all the spares you need. We had a fantastic workshop with every tool, screw, etc... you would ever need, fully stocked at all times. Also, second on the list was usually food. Everyone has their one favorite snack (Dr. Who had his jelly babies - lol). I found that provisioning up WELL at the natural foods store (Whole Foods) in Ft Lauderdale before heading into the Caribbean was one of the best things to do. Not that we didn't eat a ton of great local produce (mangoes, avacados, Dr. Seimer's juice drinks), but having those few little items from home helps you keep your head about you if things get a little crazy.

We also stocked up on sunblock, saline solution and little odds and ends like that. Wasn't 100% necessary, unless you demand a certain brand.

Best to stock up on any prescription meds in a *different* country since meds in the States are overpriced (don't know about the UK's prices).

Just a few things, from a larger boat perspective. Many of the same ideas apply to our sailboats.

[GordMay]

Canned goods - especially those you wouldn't normally consider for shore-side use.

[senormechanico]

When we took off for Mexico in the early '90's we took nearly a year's worth of tp on advice of several friends. What a waste of space!
I also took too many tools. They began to rust, so I gave a lot of them away to the locals in small villages.

[David_Old_Jersey]

what is "tp"???

[Islandmike]

Toilet Paper...

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Island Mike

Toilet Paper...

Cheers

[roverhi]

Peanut butter, Popcorn, and Tabasco. Amazing how much of this stuff you run through. Especially the peanut butter with the great bread in FP.

Aloha
Peter O.

[GordMay]

Maggie claims that we’ve been married so long, that we’re on our second bottle of "Tabasco".

[Harriet]

In some cases the issue becomes price, not availability. We used to go to the Bahamas every year, where the cost of paper goods is outrageous. So we always provisioned an excess of paper goods to ensure that we didn't have to buy them over there. But where people live, food is available. So we don't worry that much about running out of edibles.

[ssullivan]

Right, Harriet. If you are bouncing through the Caribbean, some things will cost more or less in different areas, so you plan accordingly. Good pont.

[Auspicious]

I shipped a lot of stuff to the boat. When I unpacked, I found a clothes iron. I don't remember packing it, but by golly it was there.

You probably don't need a clothes iron. I didn't.

[kydivemaster]

I cruised a very small 20 nordica off and on for a few years. I took her thr-out southern FL and the Bahama's I learned to pack very light. But I found you can never have too many gallon sized zip-lock baggies, spam, or powdered milk and eggs.

Keith

[Talbot]

I would hope that everyone who sets off carries a large amount of stuff they hope will never be used.

Flares
EPIRB
Liferaft
Lifejackets etc


amongst others.

[coot]

Originally Posted by Talbot

I would hope that everyone who sets off carries a large amount of stuff they hope will never be used.

Yes - the rather significant distinction between "didn't need" and "didn't use". I had boxes of stuff that I didn't use, but very little that I didn't need.