Your favourite small purchase

[Ruffriders]

What ideas do you have to share with other cruisers that have made your life aboard a little simpler, fun, efficient or any other reason.
I personally love Lucy lights and marine beam high power flash light.
Let’s share ideas.
https://store.marinebeam.com/marineb...or-flashlight/

[wagsea6b]

Was just at Autozone and picked up these cool LED strip lights for like $25.
You can set any color. Will make great red cockpit lighting for night, white to see in the cockpit at anchor or marina and a variety of colors to help find the boat in crowded anchorages.

[a64pilot]

$ 130 flashlight is above my pay grade, that ain’t small to me.

[Ruffriders]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

$ 130 flashlight is above my pay grade, that ain’t small to me.

That’s what I thought until a friend showed me, when you on anchor at night it’s amazing how many times you use it.

[Cheechako]

I think most mine fall into the "small upgrade" category rather than purchase. I did have a $19.95 500,000 candle power spot light that worked well.

[Ruffriders]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

I think most mine fall into the "small upgrade" category rather than purchase. I did have a $19.95 500,000 candle power spot light that worked well.

Upgrades, ideas, anything I am looking for, just a sharing ideas post

[boatman61]

Gas corkscrew..

[Bean Counter]

Bluetooth floating waterproof speakers

[Cheechako]

Some favorite small upgrades that come to mind then:
-tip out or swing out garbage bin, on the back of a low cabinet door.
-Storage under companionway steps, bins or drawers etc.
-Handheld remote for electric windlass in lieu of deck buttons.
-Leather straps to hang pan lids inside back of galley doors.
-Stern shower, to rinse the salt off after diving/snorkeling.

[Ruffriders]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Some favorite small upgrades that come to mind then:
-tip out or swing out garbage bin, on the back of a low cabinet door.
-Storage under companionway steps, bins or drawers etc.
-Handheld remote for electric windlass in lieu of deck buttons.
-Leather straps to hang pan lids inside back of galley doors.
-Stern shower, to rinse the salt off after diving/snorkeling.

Love the pan strap idea, I purchased a garden pump sprayer and fill with fresh water for after dive rinse, uses a tiny bit of water for a full rinse including dive equipment

[AJ_n_Audrey]

About $60 (not counting Sunbrella fabric I bought separately) for a connecting canvas between bimini and dodger. The shade is wonderful at anchor or motoring in flat water. I'll probably go back to the canvas guy who made it and get side curtains as well before I head south again.

Also spent about $60 for a high-lumens LED rechargeable flashlight - it was 50% off when I bought it. I use it all the time; both at night and for looking in the bilge, under the engine, etc.

[fatherchronica]

Something we enjoyed and was a little useful was a 12 volt, waterproof, LED light on a 12 foot cord that we put over the side at night. The green lights attract phytoplankton, which inturn attracts bigger things that eat phytoplankton which attracts things that eat those things until sometimes after a half an hour or so big fish, or crabs, or foot long worms. It was always interesting. And we used it a few times for vessel location in an anchorage, but we had those solar lanterns that changed color for that. I imagine that if you were a hard partying Canadian you could use it to locate your boat at a slip in a marina most of the time.

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by AJ_n_Audrey

About $60 (not counting Sunbrella fabric I bought separately) for a connecting canvas between bimini and dodger. The shade is wonderful at anchor or motoring in flat water. I'll probably go back to the canvas guy who made it and get side curtains as well before I head south again.

Also spent about $60 for a high-lumens LED rechargeable flashlight - it was 50% off when I bought it. I use it all the time; both at night and for looking in the bilge, under the engine, etc.

Good one, I liked the connector I had for sure. In a tropic (or Florida!) down pour it helps keep the water out of the boat a lot. Forget the side curtains if you are headed south. You'll just have to store them and they will likely deteriorate a lot while stored.

[brazenarticle]

I found a Ray-O-Vac led flashlight at the Home Depot register for $19 about two years ago, everytime I use it I'm impressed. Certainly not a Marine Beam but a pretty good poor man's alternative. Here it is on Amazon for a bit more money,( https://www.amazon.com/Rayovac-Sport.../dp/B00JMCGXF8) seen on sale it is a solid buy.

Shadecloth in a 4x8 panel and attached with a couple spring clips is a lifesaver when the sun is blasting into the cockpit. Cost is about $40 Shade Cloth from ShadeClothStore.com

[AZUS]

Bluetooth headsets that go by the brand name "Marriagesavers" - and they are.

No more yelling or missed hand signals between Admiral and me when docking, anchoring or med mooring. We have found that we often use them on passages, with one of us up front and one of us at the helm, just to chat and experience the passing ships, seas, sealife, islands, etc. together.

We keep them routinely plugged into USB charger between uses. The best small to medium purchase on our boat!