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Old 12-06-2011, 09:34   #16
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Re: "Nice to haves" for 6mos. in Caribbean?

Wow, what great response and advice. Thanks for chiming in!

$576 a week for fun sounds like a much better way to go...
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Old 12-06-2011, 09:55   #17
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Re: "Nice to haves" for 6mos. in Caribbean?

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Wow, what great response and advice. Thanks for chiming in!

$576 a week for fun sounds like a much better way to go...
More than enough in the first week for a kindle and mp3 player, with change left over for many happy hours
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Old 12-06-2011, 10:16   #18
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Re: "Nice to haves" for 6mos. in Caribbean?

You won't need a radar, genset or watermaker for your proposed trip.
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Old 12-06-2011, 12:16   #19
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Re: "Nice to haves" for 6mos. in Caribbean?

Zeehag, get your ham license if you want two way HF communications. A solid days study on the internet with an online test prep site should allow you to pass the Technician and General Ham License Exam. You need the General License to talk on the HF frequencies but have to pass the Technician test first. They both can be taken in sequence at the same sitting. Takes about 3 hours with the waiting for the exam results, etc between exams. I took the tests in Oceanside at a Hamfest because I was back there visiting. Check the internet for a test site nearest you.

You are still talking more than a $1,000 for a cheap, in cost, not performance, Ham outfit. $400 for a used ICOM 718 transceiver, $300 for ICOM AH-4 tuner. The rest will go into the antenna and ground plane system. Expect to pay at least $600 for a used Pactor Modem with level III software installed if you want to send email.

The Sony is a good radio but strictly recieve only, no upgrade possible. Personally wouldn't leave home without some form of HF reciever for time and weather over WWV. You can buy an ICOM 718 and use for recieve only with a simple long wire antenna if you want to go cheap to start but add transmit capability later. Still feel more comfortable having backup HF recieve radio.

There has been a number of threads on HF radios on this site. Might want to check the archives.
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Old 12-06-2011, 14:13   #20
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Re: " Nice to haves " for 6mos. in Caribbean ?

Since its a 6 month trip, I wouldn't bother with the full HAM rig, instead I would rent a sat phone.
Cheaper and no installation.
Plus you would have internet access even at sea, although painfully slow, be fast enough for emails and pull down weather forecasts.
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Old 13-06-2011, 07:44   #21
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Re: " Nice to haves " for 6mos. in Caribbean ?

Again, thanks for all the great input. I'll check out some the strings in reference to communications, radio, and internet connectivity and try and get smart before I ask more questions in that regard.
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Old 13-06-2011, 07:51   #22
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Re: " Nice to haves " for 6mos. in Caribbean ?

why does one wish internetz at sea??is much nicer without it, imho....
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Old 13-06-2011, 08:02   #23
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Re: " Nice to haves " for 6mos. in Caribbean ?

Agreed, it is often a burden, but the added communication with family at home and the aspect of home schooling a child make it attractive...

Wait a minute...didn't you just send this using the internet "on board cruising?"

LOL
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Old 13-06-2011, 08:07   #24
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Re: " Nice to haves " for 6mos. in Caribbean ?

using my free wifi in my marina as i wait out hurrycame season in pairadice...LOL...but at sea i dont use any internetz as there is sooo much to do without it--and so much to learn ....and so many fishies to catch and eat.....
my momma is ok with me not communicating as long as i use a spot so she knows exactly where i disappear..... she is 82 or so....and i keep in touch with family via facebook when in port...so i find no need for internetz at sea--momma wants me to get an ssb transceiver so i can send and receive emails while i am out--but i think is because dad is failing faster than she wants to believe---and i am her firstborn kid....(the dad thing is kinda expected--)
i believe that home schooling a kid at sea shuld involve a lot of sea time with what the sea gods provide to learn as well as internetz inport....combined is a good mix, ye think??? but then i dont have a young kid. also, make sure the kids have physical exercise--i have seen a few cruising kids with a lil way too much fat on bones and nothing to exert selves with as far as physical work..... kayak or rowboat is great for kids.
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Old 13-06-2011, 08:15   #25
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Re: " Nice to haves " for 6mos. in Caribbean ?

Ahh... I get it.

Yes, that type of access sounds like what we'd like. With our current plans, I don't see spending too much time actually at sea. Hey that's a little punny.

Anyway, thanks for the input.
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Old 13-06-2011, 08:19   #26
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Re: " Nice to haves " for 6mos. in Caribbean ?

there IS free wifi in most marinas ---- some anchorages supply it when ye pay for dinghy landings, if they have it-and wifi cafes arent too far away from where boats land---gives more money for having fun.....
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Old 14-06-2011, 12:35   #27
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Re: " Nice to haves " for 6mos. in Caribbean ?

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why does one wish internetz at sea??is much nicer without it, imho....
In a word: weather, yes, you can use SSB/Fax, but internet gives on-demand and access to other sources.
Tom
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Old 14-06-2011, 13:16   #28
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Re: " Nice to haves " for 6mos. in Caribbean ?

In my case, wife said no solo sailing without two way communication. Since she doesn't have a ham license or a radio of her own, email is a great way to do it. You can use a SAT phone but initial cost, per minute connection charges and a contract for something that I'd only use for a month just didn't make sense. Been married too long and divorce is messy and expensive so the Pactor Modem was a dirt cheap solution.

We kept in touch twice a day or so and she forwarded the Emails to the rest of the family. Downloaded the GRIBs every morning to figure out where I needed to go to keep the wind. Even finalized the details for the insurance which I had to have on arrival in Hawaii. Emailed a few other friends who'd helped me in the preparation of the boat for the voyage. Didn't spend a lot of time on emailing but enough to make it very worthwhile. Some countries now require prior notice to arrival which you can do with email.
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Old 14-06-2011, 15:48   #29
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Re: " Nice to haves " for 6mos. in Caribbean ?

Man I must be a nomad... I have sailed 30 years with out all this fun stuff and I am still here.. I sail for the solitude. I wonder what you are all doing out there....wow My friend Chris and his buddy Ferdinand discovered many places without all this gear..

Nice to haves, sunscreen, hat, sunscreen, hat, food, more food.. a few spares a hat.. You are in the Caribbean, there are all the amenities you need. Not like you are in the Galapagos...
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Old 14-06-2011, 15:58   #30
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Re: " Nice to haves " for 6mos. in Caribbean ?

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Man I must be a nomad... I have sailed 30 years with out all this fun stuff and I am still here.
Bravo, sailor!
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