First time cruising, what should I have on board?

[sailorboy1]

I find snarky sarcastic posts about snarky sarcastic posts the height of the internet

[Tayana42]

It's good to have someone on the forum you can just simply ignore.


S/V B'Shert

[zboss]

Originally Posted by RadioZ

Do I really need a tow policy? My boat only draws 4', and I'm being fairly conservative with plotting our course to avoid shallow areas. I know that it's good to have regardless, but what are the chances that I'll actually need it?

The boat came with a fixed VHF, and I'm planning on picking up a handheld backup with DSC.

Tow policy (the gold one not the cheap one) is HIGHLY recommended to anyone with any boat of any size and with any experience level. There will be a time when you need them and you would not believe just how expensive towing can be... think in the THOUSANDS for what you would think would be a very short tow.

We got towed less than a mile and if I had not had the insurance I think it would have been about 300-400 dollars.

[Bulawayo]

Thanks, Impi -originally from Natal with that boat name? I'm still a member at RNYC - since 1984.

[Bulawayo]

Originally Posted by Tayana42

It's good to have someone on the forum you can just simply ignore.


S/V B'Shert

.....but would they ever know?

[impi]

Originally Posted by Bulawayo

Thanks, Impi -originally from Natal with that boat name? I'm still a member at RNYC - since 1984.

Stellenbosch boy - Cape Town - now a cruising citizen of the world I am pleased to say

[weavis]

Originally Posted by impi

Stellenbosch boy - Cape Town - now a cruising citizen of the world I am pleased to say

My mother was from Durban.
When I visited in the 80's, my step grandfather took me to the Royal Natal Yacht Club (Durban). I loved it. I got a history lesson about it being the oldest club in S.A. The food was wonderful and the drinks flowed.
Lovely Club, Lovely people and a treasured memory.

[Bulawayo]

Its moved premises now by 100meters to a better location but the old charm/character has gone. Back to the thread...............

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by sparrowhawk1

Yep I've calibrated a few depth sounders by slowly running the boat aground in a sand bottom with a shallow slope. Then noting the depth read on the sounder before backing up

That's how I've done ours. It has the advantage of not having to do any math for keel offsets or waterline. When my sounder hits 4.4 I know I'll hit. We have a 5'7" keel. The only math I have to do is the difference between 4.4 and what the sounder is reading to know what's under my keel.

There's no "right way" to do it, it's a philosophical choice. Some use the bottom of the keel at 0, some use the waterline (why they do that is beyond me! ).

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

Quite right about the swim mask or even goggles, you can see more clearly through them under water.

A wet suit is also a great thing to have.

Eventually, with everything you already have, you'll build up what you think is necessary.

Have a great trip.

[sartorst]

I also use the grounding calibration method and if it is not intentional you will not soon forget the numbers

[weavis]

Originally Posted by Bulawayo

Its moved premises now by 100meters to a better location but the old charm/character has gone. Back to the thread...............

Bummer.

[zboss]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

That's how I've done ours. It has the advantage of not having to do any math for keel offsets or waterline. When my sounder hits 4.4 I know I'll hit. We have a 5'7" keel. The only math I have to do is the difference between 4.4 and what the sounder is reading to know what's under my keel.

There's no "right way" to do it, it's a philosophical choice. Some use the bottom of the keel at 0, some use the waterline (why they do that is beyond me! ).

IMO - intentionally grounding your boat is NOT the way to calibrate your depth sounder but is a good way to damage your boat on a rock.

Either measure the vertical distance from your depth sounder to the ground when you are out of the water and on blocks (to account for the boat bobbing in waves), or use a portable handheld depth sounder (lead line, rock on a string, whatever) and match up the return.

You don't need to know to the inch how deep your boat sits. We supposedly draw 5' but loaded for cruising the Bahamas we draw 5'9". Our depth sounder sits 3' above the bottom of the keel so we set the sounder to 6' for good measure. It took several months of playing around to get it right.

Personally, I wish depth sounders were a bit more intelligent. I would like to see three depths... one depth showing beneath the keel, another that shows actual depth, and then another display that shows your depth at the next low and high tide at that location. This makes sure I don't anchor too shallow and that I put out the right amount of scope.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by zboss

IMO - intentionally grounding your boat is NOT the way to calibrate your depth sounder but is a good way to damage your boat on a rock.

Oh, sorry, forgot to include: Knowing the material of the bottom, like, what you read from a chart, suggests you do this on soft mud. NOT rocks. If you're in Maine, there's gotta be mud somewhere.

Look, I already said it's philosophical and no right way.

It works for me, and obviously many others.

Your boat, your choice.

The only rocks I like are in my drinks.

Originally Posted by zboss

It took several months of playing around to get it right.

Took me one minute.

[sparrowhawk1]

On my first post I said on a sandy slightly sloping bottom I guess I should have said in Clearwater too. But I agree to each his own. Easy and accurate or. ..