Top 10: Equipment for Cruising

[DeepFrz]

Maybe not on your boat, but, on many boats these days;
Autopilot...needs electricity
Water system...electric pump
Nav system...what isn't connected to the 12 volt system?
Fuel system...electric fuel pump and fuel polisher
etc...

[boatman61]

1/ Boat..
2/ Good rigging and sails..
3/ Good hook and all chain..
4/ Good diesel engine..
5/ Tiller/Wheel Pilot..
6/ Wind generator..
7/ Solar Panels..
8/ Fridge/cold box..
9/ Good cooker with oven..
10/ My laptop C/P/Comms..

Everything I need for safe travel and stops and the means to power cold food/drink stores and the facility to cook great food.. who needs more..

[Littlechay]

Originally Posted by DeepFrz

Nav system...what isn't connected to the 12 volt system?
Fuel system...electric fuel pump and fuel polisher
etc...

Your nav system is a whole lot more than the gadgets, of which I have plenty (I am an electronics engineer)

If you use your boat and your fuel regularly you don't have to polish it.

Fuel is pumped from keel tanks to day tank by semi-rotary hand pump

Most cruising boats that I meet - I'm talking about long distance and high-latitude cruisers mostly here do not rely on electricity for any crucial system.

I acknowledge that they are there, but they should not be crucial to a voyages success or more importantly the enjoyment of the cruise.

I also acknowledge that the prime source of electricity; the batteries, and the maintenance thereof are not paid enough attention by most boat builders or owners.

Chris

[sailorchic34]

Ya'll are missing one of the most important items to have on the boat.

A Bucket!

Its practically duct tape for boats.

Used to:
haul water to wash decks,
back up bilge pump (maybe even the primary bilge pump)
back up toilet
parts hauler (when up the stick)
seat
water dish for the cat (if your boat sits in fresh water)

and many more.

Other then that, Mikes list works.
Though I don't have a new gen anchor or windless.

[sailorboy1]

lets make the trip worth doing:

BEER!

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

lets make the trip worth doing:

BEER!

Just another food group...

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

Just another food group...

much more than that! all your past posts are now in question

BTW - beer is part of a system because everything that it takes to keep it cold is part of BEER! I would even group food that you eat with the BEER as part of the system.

[MBLittle]

Originally Posted by sailorchic34

Ya'll are missing one of the most important items to have on the boat.

A Bucket!

Its practically duct tape for boats.

Used to:
haul water to wash decks,
back up bilge pump (maybe even the primary bilge pump)
back up toilet
parts hauler (when up the stick)
seat
water dish for the cat (if your boat sits in fresh water)

and many more.

Other then that, Mikes list works.
Though I don't have a new gen anchor or windless.

This was new to me when my wife noticed it. What a perfect solution to a boat we thought.

http://m.homedepot.com/p/Bucket-Head...0100/202017218



Sent from my LG-E980 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

much more than that! all your past posts are now in question

BTW - beer is part of a system because everything that it takes to keep it cold is part of BEER! I would even group food that you eat with the BEER as part of the system.

Astute analysis. Well done.

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by Littlechay

.................. Most cruising boats that I meet - I'm talking about long distance and high-latitude cruisers mostly here do not rely on electricity for any crucial system. ............
Chris

This explains a lot! I remember your earlier post when you said that a good heater was essential because it gets cold out there.

Were we choose to be it sometimes cools off. So much on these lists depends on what you cruise, where you cruise and how you cruise. We are "cockpit potatoes" cruising coastal in the best of weather. We may cruise straight out for many months at a time, but rarely over 80 mile hops per day. There are educational signs posted where we often cruise that describe the behavior of manatees. These say:

"Manatees are gentle and slow moving animals. Most of their time is spent eating, resting and traveling. ...... West Indian manatees have no natural enemies and they are harmless to other animals."

Our cruising friends and occasional crew have read these signs and exclaimed that they are just like us!

Our essential list would be different from many others. I do like that beer addition!

[Littlechay]

Originally Posted by CaptForce

This explains a lot! I remember your earlier post when you said that a good heater was essential because it gets cold out there.

Yea, I have no idea why anybody would want a fridge Actually I'm about to write a post asking for advice on OPs top ten tropical must haves as I have few miles in tropical conditions.

Manatees are cool creatures, nice to be likened to them

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by Littlechay

Yea, I have no idea why anybody would want a fridge Actually I'm about to write a post asking for advice on OPs top ten tropical must haves as I have few miles in tropical conditions.

Manatees are cool creatures, nice to be likened to them

Yeah, thanks, but they also resemble 500 pound baked potatoes. 'theres always the other view!

[captainbri]

An ax or demolition crowbar

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[tomfl]

Originally Posted by CaptForce

SNIP

So much on these lists depends on what you cruise, where you cruise and how you cruise. We are "cockpit potatoes" cruising coastal in the best of weather. We may cruise straight out for many months at a time, but rarely over 80 mile hops per day. There are educational signs posted where we often cruise that describe the behavior of manatees. These say:

"Manatees are gentle and slow moving animals. Most of their time is spent eating, resting and traveling. ...... West Indian manatees have no natural enemies and they are harmless to other animals."

Our cruising friends and occasional crew have read these signs and exclaimed that they are just like us!

Our essential list would be different from many others. I do like that beer addition!

Not just where you cruise, but how you cruise. I can sail from Key Largo to Bimini easily in daylight in the right weather window. Another daylight sail, admittedly only in the right weather window to the North Berrys, and after that it is all short day sails to Georgetown or the Abacos. But I have a good friend who leaves Boot Key and goes directly to Morgans; in my mind a much more taxing trip.

Same goes for once you get there. Some folks skin dive every day the weather permits till they are ready to drop (I admit guilty as charged). But I have met cruisers who never go in the water and would be in a fix if a rope got tangled in the prop. So just how many masks, snorkels, fins, and weight belts do you need. Not to mention a net and tickle stick, or pole spear. Same goes for fishing gear. I like to use Cuban yoyos, but some people have insanely expensive deep sea rods and reels while others never fish. Another friend of mine makes his kids use the sailing dinghy to go places and never lets them use the outboard powered dinghy; of course this means two dinghys.

Assuming a sound boat and rig the biggest gripe I have is about the folks who don't have good ground tackle, or if they do don't know how to use it.

And do have something like an Engel in the cockpit for the kids (and big kids like me) to open every time we want a cold drink so the big fridge only gets opened once or twice a day.

[downunder]

Originally Posted by tomfl

SNIP----------------------
Assuming a sound boat and rig the biggest gripe I have is about the folks who don't have good ground tackle, or if they do don't know how to use it.

And do have something like an Engel in the cockpit for the kids (and big kids like me) to open every time we want a cold drink so the big fridge only gets opened once or twice a day.

Some here (not me) would consider two fridges excessive for a singlehander cruising.