This might not go well but here goes...

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by AmzngGrace

Crealock 37 from 1978. Original owner gone and now its mine.
He was a minimalist to be sure but hadn’t sailed it over last few years.

Here goes:
What dont I need.
I:
Got a boat that has dry bilges and floats.
Rudder
Small Pisces 2 stroke engine that is doing well
Old sails
Rigging OK.
Reef lines OK
Anchors OK.
Depth, vhf, lights ok
Paper charts and Navx and gps and cell phone and IPad

I am wondering if I really need anything else. Things like lazy jacks, topping lift, boom vang, preventer, autopilot, radar, AIS. I am sure there are tons of things I could get to keep me in the marina with my new to me boat but how minimal can I go?

FYI: inland PNW San Juans only; no off shore, no overnight sailing.

I doubt you need a thing.

[waterman46]

Originally Posted by AmzngGrace

Crealock 37 from 1978. Original owner gone and now its mine.
He was a minimalist to be sure but hadn’t sailed it over last few years.

Here goes:
What dont I need.
I:
Got a boat that has dry bilges and floats.
Rudder
Small Pisces 2 stroke engine that is doing well
Old sails
Rigging OK.
Reef lines OK
Anchors OK.
Depth, vhf, lights ok
Paper charts and Navx and gps and cell phone and IPad

I am wondering if I really need anything else. Things like lazy jacks, topping lift, boom vang, preventer, autopilot, radar, AIS. I am sure there are tons of things I could get to keep me in the marina with my new to me boat but how minimal can I go?

FYI: inland PNW San Juans only; no off shore, no overnight sailing.

You don't need anything else. You have much more than we had when we sailed on the CA coast in the past. Nav by GPS is great!

But today is much safer and more convenient. If the VHF does not have DSC, then I would replace it with one that has both DSC and AIS receive.

If you singlehand you want an autopilot. If funds are limited you can go the cheap route which will have it's own control box so you don't need a MFD.

Replace rigging if it's over 30 years old (lasts very well in PNW).

Safety: harnesses, jacklines and MOB retrieval (Lifesling).
A liferaft would be nice, or your dinghy in a pinch.

Unless your sails show signs of outright failure, you could delay replacement.

Radar would be a big asset if you ever are caught in fog but really it's almost duplicated by AIS for big traffic.

[JPA Cate]

Hi, AmzngGrace,

Seconding the motion some kind of preventers. Almost lost Jim overboard once because one was not set, and the sea conditions rolled the boat so far down, we had an accidental gybe, when we were not running deep.

What Jim has done on all his boats I've been on, is to run double preventers, permanently run, so that gybing is always done with the boom under control. We usually use the secondary winches for the preventers. Ours go through rope clutches, so we can take off the line from the winches. On the small boom of the Yankee 30, we used nylon 3 strand for the line, for the stretch; one the PJ Standfast 36, nylon double braid; and on this boat, with it's huge main, we use polyester double braid.

Also, sail the boat for a season before you decide what you want to add. If I had to look into my somewhat smoky crystal ball, I'd say you have new sails and an autopilot in your future.

Ann

[spotfire]

You have everything you need to have. Get out and enjoy your new vessel.

Be sure the inavx has the tides and curents around seattle and the SanJuans. You will find the current is the big gatekeeper here.

You can waste a lot of fuel in Agate pass, or the swinomish channel, if you try to push against the current.

for now you should get out and get familiar with your new to you boat.

See you out there.

[sailingchiro]

Go sailing ASAP. Watch the currents around the big boulders in the San Juans. Time on the boat will tell you what you want. It will be a forever list of items as long as you own the boat. But use the boat.

[Lost Horizons]

Originally Posted by AmzngGrace

Shilshole marina, Ballard, Seattle, WA.

I suggest exploring South Sound this season and saving San Juans until you move to Anacortes. The farther you go from Seattle, the better it gets, at least as far as I am concerned. There are many tranquil places around Key Peninsula and in that general area. Kayaking there is fun. Currents are not too bad in Puget Sound except when you go under bridges, such as Tacoma Narrows where the current runs around 5 knots or so. Not many other places where you can go 12 knots over ground under sail in ideal conditions.

You will probably get a slip at Cap Sante in October after they no longer have transients. If you have a choice, get one on a new dock F, they are much better than older slips in the northern section. A little costlier, but well worth it.

[KP44]

I'd suggest a good VHF radio with sound signals like the Standard Horizon. Put a good antenna at the mast top with very good coax that has low loss. Put a hailer horn on your mast at about spreader height.
I had many days with fog on Puget Sound and this takes care of your fog signals. It can also be used as a loud speaker but I never needed one.
The VHF is handy to have.