Equipment Needed for Coastal Cruising

[Flyingriki]

Can't seem to find a thread on this. Am looking for boats to sail from Florida to Central America and potentially, later on, across to the Med one way. Looking in the 40 footers.
Wonder, with all the cruising experience on this forum, what is the most important equipment to have on board.
I realize this can be very simple or far reaching depending on budget and personal needs but I'd sure like to hear some opinions on what you found necessary and not so much.
I crewed a boat from Vanuatu to Honolulu and the only special gear, other than being only a 3 year old 49' boat, was a watermaker and of course great electronics and a full cockpit cover.
I'm wondering about things like wind generator, solar panels, number of batteries, self steering vane, extra tankage, generator, AC, types of toilets, needed electronics, etc. Generally to consider what costs to figure when looking at certain boats and their equipment lists to get one ready for some quality retirement years before health gets in the way.
Thank you!

[Flyingriki]

Found this old thread: http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...es-139833.html


Oddly enough didn't come up with the search function but does in "similar threads"...
Seems to answer my question.

[model 10]

That is about all we do and we need everything anybody else does, wherever they might go. Exception might be a good watermaker. We can go almost a month with our water tanks

[Flyingriki]

Guy, what sort of tankage helps you go that long? Number of people? Use?

[Shrew]

Originally Posted by Flyingriki

C Am looking for boats to sail from Florida to Central America and potentially, later on, across to the Med one way.

Just an FYI, this is not what most people consider 'Coastal Cruising'. Florida to Central America to Mediterranean has you crossing at least 2 oceans. Many would consider those Offshore Passages.

[model 10]

Originally Posted by Flyingriki

Guy, what sort of tankage helps you go that long? Number of people? Use?

80 gal 2 people. Fresh water dishwashing too!
Even coastal cruising in CA has you out for several weeks and a couple hundred miles offshore sometimes.

[sailorboy1]

all you need is a boat that keeps the water out of the people tank, but on my 43' that I have lived crusied and lived on over 8 months we have

regular sails plus a spinnaker (only used 3 times last 8 months)
60 lb Manson Supreme with 200' chain (reduced from 350' once we left NE) with a windlass
45# Mantus anchor, 20' chain and 150' rope for it, anchor has never been wet
290W solar
440AH house battery and a start battery
3.5KW diesel generator
150 gal water
50 gal diesel
7.5' dinghy with 6HP outboard
below deck autopilot (among our most loved boat things)
17 year old electronics of chartplotter, radar (rarely used), depth, speed (doesn't work)
wifi extender antenna, 40" TV with DVD player
frig/freezer
air conditioning (godsend currently)
dodger/bimini
folding wheel (you will like more than you expected)
rail mounted BBQ connected to boat propane (we have extra full size propane bottle and a small bottle for backup)
full paper charts for the areas we are in (we are dinosaurs)
standard required safety stuff but none of the "we are going to die stuff"

[Flyingriki]

Originally Posted by Shrew

Just an FYI, this is not what most people consider 'Coastal Cruising'. Florida to Central America to Mediterranean has you crossing at least 2 oceans. Many would consider those Offshore Passages.

True, but unlike my 22 day delivery, it seems coastal to me! At least all but the Atlantic. Since that's far down the line I'll know what I want/need by then. Right now trying to set a boat budget with what they have vs. what I'll want to cast off.