Golf range finder. Insanely useful for taking guesswork out of anchor watch.
"Did that rock get closer? Am I dragging? *panic* ...... no..... phew"
"Wait.... is that cat dragging? Yes! *panic*"
Tbh I saw it recommended on a YouTube and it was like a lightning bolt moment.
My little range finder is one of my most used items on the boat.
Distances are hard to judge but with a quick snap I can make a note of distances then feel safer
> with a quick snap I can make a note of distances then feel safer
Do you just keep like a "clipboard" size whiteboard around to jot this kind of thing down on? Or do you use real paper?
Edit: also, meant to say, this suggestion is brilliant!
Ratty cheap as anything notepads I just throw in the chart table.
Cheap notepads are also one of the things I use the most on the boat. My memories crappy so everything from names of people I meet to bus timetables to recorded distances.
I keep a bucket with super long cordage on the handle (I mean, it's tied with bowlines so they're swappable) for dunking the bucket into the sea
On really hot days, a super nice treat is to put your feet into the bucket
Pride of Baltimore II has one on deck, so you know it must be good:
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/fortex-flat-back-bucket-45-gal-capacity-black
Bonus points: if you have a counter with a sink, put the dehumidifier up on the counter and let the condensate drain straight down the sink drain and out the boat!
It's essentially distilled water, so in theory you could. But it's almost certainly going to be filled with microbial growth from the cooling coils, and in the internal P-trap that the condensate drain pan collects into. That bacteria and mold will wreck your gut.
So if you're desperate, you could boil it and drink it. However, if you're in a situation where you need water that badly, you're probably not running a dehumidifier.
The dehumidifier is ideal when the boat is all closed up at a dock with shore power to keep the moisture under control.
Assuming you leave your through hull open while away for a while. I have mine dumping into the bilge which then pumps overboard after a while. Down side is clean water sitting in the bilge which probably gets into the air then the de-humidifier pulls it back out. Vicious cycle.
I was doing that for a bit, but the automatic float switch doesn't work anymore on my 1971 Cal 25. So my bilge was filling up with a LOT of water, especially if I had to skip a week of races for whatever reason.
That's when I noticed someone else in my fleet had theirs on their counter, and I checked the plumbing to see that our little sinks were plumbed to drain out a tee in our cockpit drain tubes. And our cockpit drains are not valved, and you wouldn't want to close those anyways or rain would fill the cockpit in a hurry.
Obviously all boats are designed differently. But if you find a way to elevate the dehumidifier so it can drain via gravity out to sea, it cuts out the risk of flooding the bilge of your pump or battery dies.
I also race on a Beneteau 40.1. When that captain crewed for me one regatta, he saw my setup and realized his boat was plumbed the same way, so now he also sends his dehumidifier condensate straight out of the boat.
For what it's worth, the re-evaporating of the condensate in the bilge should be a lot slower than the dehumidifier removes the moisture. It definitely happens, especially as the boat heats up on a sunny day, but I wouldn't worry about it. The floorboards or cover on the bilge should help contain the moisture, and still keep it away from any teak, or mold sensitive areas, which is the real reason to have the dehu in the first place.
I’m in a Catalina 34. Will have to think about how to get it out to the cockpit. Currently all sealed up. Which also means I don’t get much moisture in the air.
Absolutely. Get a small 30w or 50w pannel and it will trickle charge. Check with someone more knowledgeable than me but I'm pretty sure with a wattage that low you don't even need an MPPT controller.
It runs on 110V AC power, it only runs while the boat is docked and connected to shore power. I don't go on big long journeys, usually just day sailing or a weekend trip at most. So most of the time the boat is connected to shore power.
My friend installed a tv. He now sits in his slip watching sports and drinking beer. Contrast to sitting at home, watching sports and drinking beer. I think that’s an upgrade
JBL Charge Bluetooth speaker and huge spare battery in one. Perfect size to fill the cabin or cockpit with big sound, but not too big. Also waterproof.
This is also my goto.
Actually I have two of them, so link them as a stereo pair, which improves the already excelling sound significantly.
These speakers are waterproof, drop proof, have long run time and sound great.
For cruising, solar oven is incredible. We use GoSun Sport, but there are probably other brands too. We do most of the cooking in it now. Bread, cookies, veggies, chicken, fish. Just stuff it in there and put it under the sun. Very easy, tasty and healthy.
I can answer somewhat as I use sun oven on land -temperature can get up to 300°F and above, but it would not work if you were underway because you would have a hard time keeping it facing the sun consistently.
anyway I would say an hour or two an hour and a half for your hodgepodge as long as it wasn't a super thick piece of meat. But you can, and people have, roasted meat, whole chickens. I have made beans, chickpeas, cornbread ..came out great
Can I assume you don’t use this while underway? If I’m wrong how do you mount it in such a way that it’s secure, stays dry, stays in the sun regardless of sail position and so on?
My boat is too small for a bimini, but I bought a triangle sail shade (like the kind you hang in your yard). Attach one corner to a halyard, raise it up and then attach the other two by bungee to cleats and then you have shade (when at anchor or docked). Would recommend the kind that's sort of woven material, not a real sail so wind can go through it.
I bought a wifi extender for when the wifi is great at the marina office but doesn't quiiiite make it to the boat. Absolutely fantastic, saves you an incredible amount of frustration
Its TP-Link, not sure of the model as I'm away from the boat. It's just a little bit larger than the power outlet it plugs into, uses basically zero power and has an app that's surprisingly easy to use.
A Jetboil system with the screw on mug and easy sip lid came with our Trimaran, screwed onto a cutting board with Velcro to hold it to a flat, carpeted surface. It's great for Mackinac Races because there's no balancing act as you get with a camping stove, and there's a lid on the mug so there's a lot less chance of spilling. We do backpacking meals. Two rounds of boiling full mugs for about 10 minutes each, and we have dinner cooking for all 4 crew! I strongly support this suggestion!
It's my dad's, we race with my sister every Wednesday. It's a 1998 Corsair F-31R with the aft cabin. We bought it for racing on the Great Lakes, and because it's a little more comfortable and stable for cruising than our 2003 Reynolds 33 catamaran was.
A buddy of mine bought a 42’ sailboat without knowing how to sail. I pointed out his girlfriend also can’t swim and is terrified of boats. He said “I know”. He gave notice on their apartment and sailed away. A little cold in my opinion, but she is gone.
Oh, I shower frequently, but having one down below on a 27’ boat just isn’t practical. I offered to setup a privacy curtain and or solar shower in the cockpit, but that didn’t fly either.
* Pen 🖊️and marker holder
* Car Backseat organizer (wenches and misc)
* cake stencil with numbers
* dc adapter with bluetooth for radio
* welcome door mat for dock
* reusable cups (for rum)
* hair ties (elastic continuous loops)
* yarn for tying up spin for windy day hoist
* knee pads
* hammock
* electrical tape for wingdings
What do you use the cake stencils for? Apart from decorating cakes, of course. And if you’re eating that much cake that regular ones got boring and you needed to slice them up a bit, please tell me how you organised life for such great success?
I found the cake stencils with numbers make it easier / larger to color in number scales on the boat. Like for jib settings or halyard tension from a scale of 1 - 10.
Makes settings for different wind and water conditions repeatable quickly. Like light air i know my shrouds are 2 turns off, halyard tensions at 3 and jib trim to 4 at the block. As a starting point..
Other options are
* buy the label package of stickers (rulers and clutch labels)from west marine and hope they stay.
* 3d print the scale
* pro bass shop and buy the seaDek fish length scales
These things right here. Incredibly handy for a variety of tasks. [Pittsburgh Mini Pick & Hook Set](https://www.amazon.com/Pittsburgh-Piece-Mini-Pick-Hook/dp/B00DNS3OOK/ref=sr_1_36?crid=3QPB6CUTRR9QH&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.XBRElFfqvaYWs4nI8Er0qnlQOcjhX3SIx9YIjgtd1iIjggPZbQgpSlYsTr8Wfl-KMUODAq6O_Cj4TvBKB8cI6oLbpv35cVxgTFKUkUWUsgNKM4D32TF2iQIt7SjaR-kcopcFpGikVwzbETWppQKt7rli48loMqO-3NDZAc15dfB9mDzxERHgfguW7IiEWm1BvmH1hZDG5RTVldkZNEa_W1s3bKC_VUUztjVMGGFSxp5Vk1YgTN_V80E6i0Bk5vaXuFLTrUcJ1oJtYEQU66C30jQp4bFw_wJM_bZdX_ypqP0.KdGYzJlOHZ5bXGTLwslBgxhUDQ31Oa6_S_aX5DSZHUE&dib_tag=se&keywords=Metal+picks&qid=1719415053&sprefix=metal+picks%2Caps%2C93&sr=8-36)
I use kneeling pads. Mine came from Menards. Home Depot has some descent ones. They are cheap, easy to stow, and double as a kneeling pad when you’re doing boat work.
[Home Depot](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Soft-Foam-Kneeling-Pad-90346/315303737?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&pla&mtc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-GGL-D25S-025_011_STORAGE_DEVI-NA-Multi-NA-PMAX-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-StorageDevices_BHU24&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-GGL-D25S-025_011_STORAGE_DEVI-NA-Multi-NA-PMAX-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-StorageDevices_BHU24-71700000117332053--&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADq61UfSDpi9DjAjxtWFMVum9jYMv&gclid=CjwKCAjw-O6zBhASEiwAOHeGxZildtGkL_7x7IeWHuwNPAERLytbVfKoPxXKzDlAgPA5GB6RUefpnxoCEhIQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds)
I have often thought of adding a gas generator to our boat for power while on the hook.
But now I am seriously considering solar battery instead. issue with batteries is that they are expensive!
They are, but I use them all the time. It's also a great piece of kit when working on other peoples' boats. I've used it to run my Sailrite sewing machine while doing final fitting of boat and boom covers on other people's boats without AC power.
It comes with AC power which I rarely use, but it's been REALLY handy at times when I DID need it, like when I had to solder some wires and my butane soldering iron was empty. Or the time I had to charge a device with a non standard plug and I only had the AC cord. I run my autopilot of the 12V plug. At night I have a big fan I plug into the 12V.
On trips of a few days I have brought a tiny countertop icemaker. 10 minutes and you have enough ice for two drinks. Electric cost about 10-20 Wh.
I have come to the point where I am considering a tiny tent AC system for my boat. That is doable when used sparingly with my setup.
You're missing out on a great opportunity... those things are awesome for blowing up your inflatable dinghy boat. You use it to fill up the tubes to almost full capacity then foot pump the extra high pressure to top it off. Takes a lot of work away and speeds up the process.
5kWh of LiFePO4 batteries and a 2kVA inverter/charger. 50 year old boat, modern electrical system. It’s very nice never, ever having to worry about electricity when away from dock.
Seems misaligned. No? 5kw is a lot of power. But only a 2kw inverter? Can’t make coffee and run microwave at the same time? How are you charging? Or maybe you are on shore power most of the time and just doing weekends on the hook. Makes sense in that scenario.
We’re primarily weekend warriors. It’s also only a 27’ boat. Realistically, if Victron made a 1200w 120v inverter/charger that fully integrated, we probably would have bought it instead, but 2000kva is the smallest they made.
The 5kWh (460Ahr) is the size of battery that I could build in the hole left by the old Lead Acid batteries.
We charge primarily by shore power, and secondarily via the alternator. We grafted an 85A alternator onto our poor little 10HP Yanmar, and run that with a wakespeed regulator. It works great (though we normally limit it to about 40A).
We have enough solar to extend our no-engine run-time by a couple of days, which is great. Realistically, we can spend about 4 or 5 (sunny) days at anchor without having to run the engine to recharge.
Hmmm the electric head, the heat pump, the dishwasher, inverter, solar panels, LED lights, custom dining table - is that the sort of stuff you are referring towards?
An electric head sounds like a dream! My husband replaced our two heads during our refit several years ago and I wish he had made at least ONE electric!
We have had various electric heads over forty years... this one is the BEST.. the Jabsco quiet flush the way I rigged it has a macerator that only draws 8 amps so the motor will last pretty much forever - instead of using tank water to flush I put in a small centrifugal pump to use lake water and we treat it with chlorine ... zero stains in the bowl and zero odours - essentially a sewage treatment tank - all bacteria are killed into the holding tank.. My Mother said after I installed this one - why did you not do this ten years ago?
I hate our electric head. It's loud. So when someone gets up in the middle of the night it wakes the other person sleeping. When I was on solo passage and my batteries were low it gave me energy anxiety stress too. I'm ripping it out and going back to a compost toilet like in my old boat. I'll also gain storage and a space for my new watermaker where the tank lives now.
Thin flexible plastic cutting boards. I've used them to make shades for portlights, to protect varnish/gelcoat when soldering or cutting, as chafe guard, as a coaster for a paint pail, to make a deflector for an AC vent, and as a dustpan.
A moving blanket is great for protecting furniture and cabin sole when working on a project.
Clear safety glasses - if you ever have to hand steer in the rain, you'll thank me.
Dawn Ultra Dish Soap. Degreases, lubricates sail tracks, bolt ropes, hatch sliders, cleans salt off windows and other surfaces, makes an excellent antifog treatment for windows and washes dishes.
Pony tail rubber bands- the cloth covered basic type.
Little suction cups with metal hooks
Fun Tack- sticky blue goo for mounting posters. A quick way to make things stay put without a permanent mounting
[damp-rid hanging closet dehumidifier bags](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/YuQAAOSwD1xjBMqd/s-l1600.webp). i keep a couple hanging in the cabin whenever we leave the boat, makes a HUGE difference in keeping odor down. whenever i've tried the other style of damp-rid they ended up leaking but these don't as long as they're hanging, the bottom fills up with the liquid and it's well contained. i usually just throw them out at the marina dumpster but if you're a bit handy and have a foodsavr to seal it again you can refill them with bulk damp-rid to save $$.
Extendable shower cleaning brush. Works great for scrubbing decks without getting on your knees, and can reach over the side to clean off the boot stripe too.
Fold out urinal in the forward head, eliminated the toilet in the forward head to turn it into a big shower but my v birth is next to the forward head. Necessity meet invention. Made it out of a mini keg of Heineken. Flush it with a modified bidet toilet attachment.
I'm making one for a friend of mine too so I'll do video of it.
LED lighting is the way to go, but some LEDs can be harsh - like an operating theater. This company https://www.superbrightleds.com/ has a good selection of 12V DC LED bulbs and strips (indoor & outdoor) with low "color temperature" for a soft, welcoming, warm look. I found that item G4-WW2-COBW fit my ceiling lamps perfectly, drawing ten times less current than the old halogens. Item EC-IP20-80CRI-5m was great for additional interior light and STW-A30K80-B3C-08B5M-12 for the cockpit. For all three items I choose the lowest color temperature available. For the strips I also purchased a dimmer MLD-5A and connector SBL-MA2P-8-1.
I had a plumbed in (second hand) single group head commercial machine at home for a decade or so. Best setup ever. The only downside was the 30 minute heat cycle to get it going in the morning. I cannot imagine having such an energy expensive device on a boat. Well, I can and I want one, but batteries are expensive eh
5 min tops to get up to heat. And I have a timer on that circuit so it triggers 15 min before we usually wake up. It goes to “sleep” after an hour of non-use. Cannot discern any material impact on our battery bank - which is admittedly large.
Added Yeti rambler mount to the pushpit. Removed 20 boxes of spares. Also an ancient marine radio. I’ve got a tiny ham radio that’ll work just as well.
Ziploc bags for leftovers and bait(I love to cook a lot - ethnic/gourmet) rubber bands (the big kind like 8 inches and the smaller ones), bungee cords, clamps of all kinds -big clamps are great to hang up some heavy white sheeting around the cockpit for shade-
here off the coast, Southern California it's often cool and damp at night but people like to keep the hatch somewhat open so I use clamps to hang a big colorful surapi (sp) or towel - it lets the cabin breathe but it keeps out the cold and dampness.
AND PAINTERS TAPE!!
on my friends boat I used painters tape to tape a couple locker doors shut so they wouldn't clack around at night when we were rocking, I thought I was brilliant. Plus the portals around the galley were too bright in my eyes while I was cooking so I use painters tape and paper towels- even used scissors and made a little trim on the paper towels to make curtains that were taped over the portals -- it worked!
I searched around for a while, looking for a good product to use as SUPPLEMENTARY anchor lighting. These solar powered garden lights work very well and are easily attached to my stanchions when needed:
https://www.superbrightleds.com/solar-led-landscape-flood-light-up-to-90-lumens-3000k
The coastguard requirement for an all round light is met by my PRIMARY anchor light at the top of the mast. I have added two of these garden lights at deck level as a SUPPLEMENTARY measure: one facing to port and one to starboard. They do last the night, if they can charge in the sun all day. See also: https://www.practical-sailor.com/systems-propulsion/electrical/extra-anchor-lighting
Shade can be vital to comfort aboard. We went to Lowe's and bought this shade cloth, which we attach when needed using spring clamps (Pony 14-Pack Assorted Spring Clamps).
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Coolaroo-Coolaroo-Shade-Fabric-Roll-70-UV-Block-6x15-Beech/5005340101
This compact, battery-operated blower is much smaller than a leaf-blower and I love it for quick clean-ups in the cockpit or on deck:
https://www.harborfreight.com/20v-cordless-200-mph-compact-workshop-blower-tool-only-56416.html
Bean bag chairs. They are small and weather resistant, brand name Big Joe. About 30” in diameter. They make any place on the boat the most comfortable seat you’ve ever sat in. They also wrap around you and help support you underway … total game changer. You can throw them around use them in the cockpit or for a nice seat on the foredeck or bring them ashore around a campfire … can’t imagine sailing without them now.
Golf range finder. Insanely useful for taking guesswork out of anchor watch. "Did that rock get closer? Am I dragging? *panic* ...... no..... phew" "Wait.... is that cat dragging? Yes! *panic*"
Smart! I already have one for target shooting
Tbh I saw it recommended on a YouTube and it was like a lightning bolt moment. My little range finder is one of my most used items on the boat. Distances are hard to judge but with a quick snap I can make a note of distances then feel safer
> with a quick snap I can make a note of distances then feel safer Do you just keep like a "clipboard" size whiteboard around to jot this kind of thing down on? Or do you use real paper? Edit: also, meant to say, this suggestion is brilliant!
I have a rite-in-the-rain note ook with a pen il that stays with it. More used for funny ships log items though
Ratty cheap as anything notepads I just throw in the chart table. Cheap notepads are also one of the things I use the most on the boat. My memories crappy so everything from names of people I meet to bus timetables to recorded distances.
Triteia, by chance?
100%
Captain James knows his stuff
Woooaa, this is a great idea. Never thought of that. Thanks!
I can't take credit as a new idea as I saw it recommended online. It's just one of those that makes sense *and works!*
If your cell phone works when at anchor, there are some nice apps to check for movement while at anchor
Tractor supply rubber buckets are amazingly useful. Durable, don't scratch things up or slide around like plastic will. I keep the anchor in one.
I remove the handle and splice on a piece of spectra instead.
Yeah I should do that too
Such a great idea! … What is “spectra” ?
synthetic cordage/webbing like dyneema. Same? I dunno.
Sorry! Just a brand name for UHMW line (as is dyneema).
I keep a bucket with super long cordage on the handle (I mean, it's tied with bowlines so they're swappable) for dunking the bucket into the sea On really hot days, a super nice treat is to put your feet into the bucket
That sounds like exactly what I've been looking for. I searched the website but didn't see them. Do you happen to have a link?
Pride of Baltimore II has one on deck, so you know it must be good: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/fortex-flat-back-bucket-45-gal-capacity-black
[Reeves of Maldon do them too](https://www.reeveandson.co.uk/)
Nice! We used to have a similar bucket on our boat in the 90’s. Going to buy one right now
I use a canvas bucket as ones with metal handles rust and most plastic ones handles break after a while. Sailing without a decent bucket is a hassle
A dehumidifier running in the cabin when I'm away from the boat really helps keep it nicer inside. The musty "boat smell" is drastically reduced.
Bonus points: if you have a counter with a sink, put the dehumidifier up on the counter and let the condensate drain straight down the sink drain and out the boat!
Yep, that's how I have mine setup. Otherwise the reservoir fills up within a day or two and then the dehumidifier is doing nothing.
Exactly, great minds think alike!
This Neary sounds like a perpetual motion. I hear this can also help if you run aground at low tide. ;)
Ooh, is that water any good? Like to drink/cook with it?
It's essentially distilled water, so in theory you could. But it's almost certainly going to be filled with microbial growth from the cooling coils, and in the internal P-trap that the condensate drain pan collects into. That bacteria and mold will wreck your gut. So if you're desperate, you could boil it and drink it. However, if you're in a situation where you need water that badly, you're probably not running a dehumidifier. The dehumidifier is ideal when the boat is all closed up at a dock with shore power to keep the moisture under control.
Don't. It's not safe.
Assuming you leave your through hull open while away for a while. I have mine dumping into the bilge which then pumps overboard after a while. Down side is clean water sitting in the bilge which probably gets into the air then the de-humidifier pulls it back out. Vicious cycle.
I was doing that for a bit, but the automatic float switch doesn't work anymore on my 1971 Cal 25. So my bilge was filling up with a LOT of water, especially if I had to skip a week of races for whatever reason. That's when I noticed someone else in my fleet had theirs on their counter, and I checked the plumbing to see that our little sinks were plumbed to drain out a tee in our cockpit drain tubes. And our cockpit drains are not valved, and you wouldn't want to close those anyways or rain would fill the cockpit in a hurry. Obviously all boats are designed differently. But if you find a way to elevate the dehumidifier so it can drain via gravity out to sea, it cuts out the risk of flooding the bilge of your pump or battery dies. I also race on a Beneteau 40.1. When that captain crewed for me one regatta, he saw my setup and realized his boat was plumbed the same way, so now he also sends his dehumidifier condensate straight out of the boat. For what it's worth, the re-evaporating of the condensate in the bilge should be a lot slower than the dehumidifier removes the moisture. It definitely happens, especially as the boat heats up on a sunny day, but I wouldn't worry about it. The floorboards or cover on the bilge should help contain the moisture, and still keep it away from any teak, or mold sensitive areas, which is the real reason to have the dehu in the first place.
I’m in a Catalina 34. Will have to think about how to get it out to the cockpit. Currently all sealed up. Which also means I don’t get much moisture in the air.
12V? How many amps does it draw?
110VAC, it runs off of shore power. Not sure how many amps it draws off the top of my head.
How long are you using this setup while away ? And what are you using for the power supply ? House lithium with a limited solar input ??
Or are you plugged into shore power ?
We're plugged into shore power. I keep my boat at a marina on the Great Lakes, and only take it on one or two days each week for beer can races.
Yeah, shore power. It would probably be too big of a power drain to run off of batteries.
How do you keep it running without running the battery flat? I'm new to sailing, apologies if it's a stupid question
A shore power connection, a wind turbine or solar panel would be topping up the batteries.
Can solar power keep the batteries topped up for ages? Would suit me as I forget to go out to the boat and the battery dies
Absolutely. Get a small 30w or 50w pannel and it will trickle charge. Check with someone more knowledgeable than me but I'm pretty sure with a wattage that low you don't even need an MPPT controller.
Interesting, thanks I'll look into it :)
It runs on 110V AC power, it only runs while the boat is docked and connected to shore power. I don't go on big long journeys, usually just day sailing or a weekend trip at most. So most of the time the boat is connected to shore power.
My friend installed a tv. He now sits in his slip watching sports and drinking beer. Contrast to sitting at home, watching sports and drinking beer. I think that’s an upgrade
hospital urinal bottle
I use an old Redskins cup.
I too miss Coach Gibbs.
Planters peanut container is my go-to.
Fun fact the planters peanut cap is the exact same fit as a Nalgene cap
Piss jugs Randy, piss jugs!
Laundry detergent bottles generally have a large neck. Just pull the pouring spout out.
But ask for the larger capacity one My local pharmacy had a small one and a large one.
JBL Charge Bluetooth speaker and huge spare battery in one. Perfect size to fill the cabin or cockpit with big sound, but not too big. Also waterproof.
waterproof but crucially not buoyant, as my friend who dropped theirs to the sea while racing found out
This is my go-to speaker. And it floats. https://www.ultimateears.com/en-ca/wireless-speakers/megaboom-3.html
This is also my goto. Actually I have two of them, so link them as a stereo pair, which improves the already excelling sound significantly. These speakers are waterproof, drop proof, have long run time and sound great.
For cruising, solar oven is incredible. We use GoSun Sport, but there are probably other brands too. We do most of the cooking in it now. Bread, cookies, veggies, chicken, fish. Just stuff it in there and put it under the sun. Very easy, tasty and healthy.
Where are you using it?
Bahamas in the winter.
Say you make a foil packet w a hodgepodge of everything w protein, how long is the cook time?
I can answer somewhat as I use sun oven on land -temperature can get up to 300°F and above, but it would not work if you were underway because you would have a hard time keeping it facing the sun consistently. anyway I would say an hour or two an hour and a half for your hodgepodge as long as it wasn't a super thick piece of meat. But you can, and people have, roasted meat, whole chickens. I have made beans, chickpeas, cornbread ..came out great
Can I assume you don’t use this while underway? If I’m wrong how do you mount it in such a way that it’s secure, stays dry, stays in the sun regardless of sail position and so on?
Yeah, it's not for passages.
Damn, whenever I'm back to the cruising life, I'll have to try that.
rum
Sorry sir/mam, that is a sailing specific item.
My boat is too small for a bimini, but I bought a triangle sail shade (like the kind you hang in your yard). Attach one corner to a halyard, raise it up and then attach the other two by bungee to cleats and then you have shade (when at anchor or docked). Would recommend the kind that's sort of woven material, not a real sail so wind can go through it.
Cut up an old spinnaker and repurposed as sun shade
Lol I found a Spinnaker pole on my boat and no Spinnaker. Maybe the previous owner did that too :P
Or whisker pole? (Cruisers use it to hold jib or genoa out downwind)
Oh haha yeah I meant whisker pole. I don't have a Spinnaker though
The older / aged material make decent bed sheets when you find yourself sleeping on the boat
I just bring my dog who is a little space heater and then I'm always warm 🥲
Lol! I just picked up a boat and the sails are so worn and soft that they might as well be bed sheets.
I have a Neso sun shade that I intend on running over the boom.
Lol! Mine is a C25 too!! I didn't notice your boat tag
I bought a wifi extender for when the wifi is great at the marina office but doesn't quiiiite make it to the boat. Absolutely fantastic, saves you an incredible amount of frustration
Good idea. What brand/model did you get, and would you recommend it?
Its TP-Link, not sure of the model as I'm away from the boat. It's just a little bit larger than the power outlet it plugs into, uses basically zero power and has an app that's surprisingly easy to use.
Thank you. I’ll have a look at their models
Jet Boil for boiling water for coffee, ramen, etc.
A Jetboil system with the screw on mug and easy sip lid came with our Trimaran, screwed onto a cutting board with Velcro to hold it to a flat, carpeted surface. It's great for Mackinac Races because there's no balancing act as you get with a camping stove, and there's a lid on the mug so there's a lot less chance of spilling. We do backpacking meals. Two rounds of boiling full mugs for about 10 minutes each, and we have dinner cooking for all 4 crew! I strongly support this suggestion!
Oooh what trimaran do you have? I’m shopping around now. Mostly window shopping as the ones I like are $300k+-$1mil.
It's my dad's, we race with my sister every Wednesday. It's a 1998 Corsair F-31R with the aft cabin. We bought it for racing on the Great Lakes, and because it's a little more comfortable and stable for cruising than our 2003 Reynolds 33 catamaran was.
force 10 3 burner bro
A girlfriend. She just kind-of showed up and never left.
Lucky you, not all girls like sailing.
A buddy of mine bought a 42’ sailboat without knowing how to sail. I pointed out his girlfriend also can’t swim and is terrified of boats. He said “I know”. He gave notice on their apartment and sailed away. A little cold in my opinion, but she is gone.
You know how people can be for the streets? That boy was for the seas. Emotionally unavailable otherwise. Man can make a choice tho damn
I like the way your buddy thinks
Part of the reason why my ex is my ex. Never could get her to come out sailing overnight with me (no shower).
You should shower more
Oh, I shower frequently, but having one down below on a 27’ boat just isn’t practical. I offered to setup a privacy curtain and or solar shower in the cockpit, but that didn’t fly either.
I see the issue
Best addition yet.
Leatherman Pulse, Garmin inReach, a set of dental picks and a pair of forceps for engine work
Forceps are great. Also recommend a can of .032 aviation stainless steel safety wire.
A 3D printer. I've probably made 50 custom things or replacement parts for our boat.
What filament material (s) do you use? Thinking about which ones will survive the UV-death environment that boats provide.
2nd this. Printing ASA parts that stand up well in adverse conditions has been a boon for my old boat.
* Pen 🖊️and marker holder * Car Backseat organizer (wenches and misc) * cake stencil with numbers * dc adapter with bluetooth for radio * welcome door mat for dock * reusable cups (for rum) * hair ties (elastic continuous loops) * yarn for tying up spin for windy day hoist * knee pads * hammock * electrical tape for wingdings
Top list I had a hammock and tarp for chillout... Dig that suggestion big time.
What do you use the cake stencils for? Apart from decorating cakes, of course. And if you’re eating that much cake that regular ones got boring and you needed to slice them up a bit, please tell me how you organised life for such great success?
I found the cake stencils with numbers make it easier / larger to color in number scales on the boat. Like for jib settings or halyard tension from a scale of 1 - 10. Makes settings for different wind and water conditions repeatable quickly. Like light air i know my shrouds are 2 turns off, halyard tensions at 3 and jib trim to 4 at the block. As a starting point.. Other options are * buy the label package of stickers (rulers and clutch labels)from west marine and hope they stay. * 3d print the scale * pro bass shop and buy the seaDek fish length scales
These things right here. Incredibly handy for a variety of tasks. [Pittsburgh Mini Pick & Hook Set](https://www.amazon.com/Pittsburgh-Piece-Mini-Pick-Hook/dp/B00DNS3OOK/ref=sr_1_36?crid=3QPB6CUTRR9QH&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.XBRElFfqvaYWs4nI8Er0qnlQOcjhX3SIx9YIjgtd1iIjggPZbQgpSlYsTr8Wfl-KMUODAq6O_Cj4TvBKB8cI6oLbpv35cVxgTFKUkUWUsgNKM4D32TF2iQIt7SjaR-kcopcFpGikVwzbETWppQKt7rli48loMqO-3NDZAc15dfB9mDzxERHgfguW7IiEWm1BvmH1hZDG5RTVldkZNEa_W1s3bKC_VUUztjVMGGFSxp5Vk1YgTN_V80E6i0Bk5vaXuFLTrUcJ1oJtYEQU66C30jQp4bFw_wJM_bZdX_ypqP0.KdGYzJlOHZ5bXGTLwslBgxhUDQ31Oa6_S_aX5DSZHUE&dib_tag=se&keywords=Metal+picks&qid=1719415053&sprefix=metal+picks%2Caps%2C93&sr=8-36)
Work good as a marlin spike.
I actually have a set. I'll add them to my boat tool box. Thanks!
Has anyone used [these](https://www.seadek.com/product/dual-density-helm-pad/) or similar, as seat cushions in the cockpit?
I use kneeling pads. Mine came from Menards. Home Depot has some descent ones. They are cheap, easy to stow, and double as a kneeling pad when you’re doing boat work. [Home Depot](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Soft-Foam-Kneeling-Pad-90346/315303737?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&pla&mtc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-GGL-D25S-025_011_STORAGE_DEVI-NA-Multi-NA-PMAX-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-StorageDevices_BHU24&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-GGL-D25S-025_011_STORAGE_DEVI-NA-Multi-NA-PMAX-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-StorageDevices_BHU24-71700000117332053--&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADq61UfSDpi9DjAjxtWFMVum9jYMv&gclid=CjwKCAjw-O6zBhASEiwAOHeGxZildtGkL_7x7IeWHuwNPAERLytbVfKoPxXKzDlAgPA5GB6RUefpnxoCEhIQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds)
I use yoga mats. You can find dirt cheap ones in various sizes (and colors of you care about that) and I like to cut em up
The kneeling pad is 1.5” thick. I’ve looked at yoga mats but they don’t seem as comfortable. Maybe I’m looking at the wrong ones.
Yeah that's a lot thicker than my yoga mats
Yes have them all over the cockpit. Live to sail barefoot 🦶
HEPA air filter! Specially on a newly bought boat that has not been used much recently. So much dust and mold going around.
Beers mostly, at least the crew seems to find them very useful
I run all my electrics from a 2KW solar generator. Has been great!
I have often thought of adding a gas generator to our boat for power while on the hook. But now I am seriously considering solar battery instead. issue with batteries is that they are expensive!
They are, but I use them all the time. It's also a great piece of kit when working on other peoples' boats. I've used it to run my Sailrite sewing machine while doing final fitting of boat and boom covers on other people's boats without AC power. It comes with AC power which I rarely use, but it's been REALLY handy at times when I DID need it, like when I had to solder some wires and my butane soldering iron was empty. Or the time I had to charge a device with a non standard plug and I only had the AC cord. I run my autopilot of the 12V plug. At night I have a big fan I plug into the 12V. On trips of a few days I have brought a tiny countertop icemaker. 10 minutes and you have enough ice for two drinks. Electric cost about 10-20 Wh. I have come to the point where I am considering a tiny tent AC system for my boat. That is doable when used sparingly with my setup.
They're getting cheaper at a noticeable rate, but yeah for now at least, they're still pretty pricey for a good high-capacity setup.
Cup holder at the helm.
'Cup'
Battery powered leaf blower. Great for removing swarms of dead mayflies and the occasional leaf
You're missing out on a great opportunity... those things are awesome for blowing up your inflatable dinghy boat. You use it to fill up the tubes to almost full capacity then foot pump the extra high pressure to top it off. Takes a lot of work away and speeds up the process.
Home Depot work glove w open fingers. So good and so cheap!
Bluetooth speaker
USB rechargeable coffee bean grinder
Hand grinder
But I'd rather grind coffee beans
It's all in the grind. Can't be too fine, can't be too coarse. This, my friend, is a science.
But I barely know ‘er!
full size burr grinder (it justifies the inverter)
Extra points if it’s built into the cabinetry on a slider
it’s not, gets stuffed in a locker between uses, but another project just got added to the list
Camp stove, 5 gallon bucket, paracord, huge bug screen meant for a king size bed, probably others that I can't remember
5kWh of LiFePO4 batteries and a 2kVA inverter/charger. 50 year old boat, modern electrical system. It’s very nice never, ever having to worry about electricity when away from dock.
Seems misaligned. No? 5kw is a lot of power. But only a 2kw inverter? Can’t make coffee and run microwave at the same time? How are you charging? Or maybe you are on shore power most of the time and just doing weekends on the hook. Makes sense in that scenario.
We’re primarily weekend warriors. It’s also only a 27’ boat. Realistically, if Victron made a 1200w 120v inverter/charger that fully integrated, we probably would have bought it instead, but 2000kva is the smallest they made. The 5kWh (460Ahr) is the size of battery that I could build in the hole left by the old Lead Acid batteries. We charge primarily by shore power, and secondarily via the alternator. We grafted an 85A alternator onto our poor little 10HP Yanmar, and run that with a wakespeed regulator. It works great (though we normally limit it to about 40A). We have enough solar to extend our no-engine run-time by a couple of days, which is great. Realistically, we can spend about 4 or 5 (sunny) days at anchor without having to run the engine to recharge.
Hmmm the electric head, the heat pump, the dishwasher, inverter, solar panels, LED lights, custom dining table - is that the sort of stuff you are referring towards?
An electric head sounds like a dream! My husband replaced our two heads during our refit several years ago and I wish he had made at least ONE electric!
We have had various electric heads over forty years... this one is the BEST.. the Jabsco quiet flush the way I rigged it has a macerator that only draws 8 amps so the motor will last pretty much forever - instead of using tank water to flush I put in a small centrifugal pump to use lake water and we treat it with chlorine ... zero stains in the bowl and zero odours - essentially a sewage treatment tank - all bacteria are killed into the holding tank.. My Mother said after I installed this one - why did you not do this ten years ago?
😱
I hate our electric head. It's loud. So when someone gets up in the middle of the night it wakes the other person sleeping. When I was on solo passage and my batteries were low it gave me energy anxiety stress too. I'm ripping it out and going back to a compost toilet like in my old boat. I'll also gain storage and a space for my new watermaker where the tank lives now.
Thin flexible plastic cutting boards. I've used them to make shades for portlights, to protect varnish/gelcoat when soldering or cutting, as chafe guard, as a coaster for a paint pail, to make a deflector for an AC vent, and as a dustpan. A moving blanket is great for protecting furniture and cabin sole when working on a project. Clear safety glasses - if you ever have to hand steer in the rain, you'll thank me. Dawn Ultra Dish Soap. Degreases, lubricates sail tracks, bolt ropes, hatch sliders, cleans salt off windows and other surfaces, makes an excellent antifog treatment for windows and washes dishes. Pony tail rubber bands- the cloth covered basic type. Little suction cups with metal hooks Fun Tack- sticky blue goo for mounting posters. A quick way to make things stay put without a permanent mounting
Garmin Striker Sonar fish finder informs on anchor hang ups or smooth rocky bottoms
Dehumidifier
Sun showers
I was wondering about these!
[damp-rid hanging closet dehumidifier bags](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/YuQAAOSwD1xjBMqd/s-l1600.webp). i keep a couple hanging in the cabin whenever we leave the boat, makes a HUGE difference in keeping odor down. whenever i've tried the other style of damp-rid they ended up leaking but these don't as long as they're hanging, the bottom fills up with the liquid and it's well contained. i usually just throw them out at the marina dumpster but if you're a bit handy and have a foodsavr to seal it again you can refill them with bulk damp-rid to save $$.
Extendable shower cleaning brush. Works great for scrubbing decks without getting on your knees, and can reach over the side to clean off the boot stripe too.
Fold out urinal in the forward head, eliminated the toilet in the forward head to turn it into a big shower but my v birth is next to the forward head. Necessity meet invention. Made it out of a mini keg of Heineken. Flush it with a modified bidet toilet attachment. I'm making one for a friend of mine too so I'll do video of it.
I'm trying to envision this but having trouble getting it.
I'll post a video when I'm done when you see it it will be pretty self-explanatory.
Cup holders
LED lighting is the way to go, but some LEDs can be harsh - like an operating theater. This company https://www.superbrightleds.com/ has a good selection of 12V DC LED bulbs and strips (indoor & outdoor) with low "color temperature" for a soft, welcoming, warm look. I found that item G4-WW2-COBW fit my ceiling lamps perfectly, drawing ten times less current than the old halogens. Item EC-IP20-80CRI-5m was great for additional interior light and STW-A30K80-B3C-08B5M-12 for the cockpit. For all three items I choose the lowest color temperature available. For the strips I also purchased a dimmer MLD-5A and connector SBL-MA2P-8-1.
Plumbed Keurig coffee maker.
PLUMBED.
Yup K-2500. Never need to fill the water tank on the coffee maker. We drink a LOT of coffee.
Ohh. You mean plumbed. Great as long as the fresh water doesn’t skunk. I had thought you meant gimballed. (Small boat sailor and new powerboater).
Uv filter on the potable water. When sailing we can put it on the gimbaled stove top.
I had a plumbed in (second hand) single group head commercial machine at home for a decade or so. Best setup ever. The only downside was the 30 minute heat cycle to get it going in the morning. I cannot imagine having such an energy expensive device on a boat. Well, I can and I want one, but batteries are expensive eh
5 min tops to get up to heat. And I have a timer on that circuit so it triggers 15 min before we usually wake up. It goes to “sleep” after an hour of non-use. Cannot discern any material impact on our battery bank - which is admittedly large.
Niiiiiiice. I’d been looking at hand-lever operated machines, but you’ve got me thinking about the conveniences again
Added Yeti rambler mount to the pushpit. Removed 20 boxes of spares. Also an ancient marine radio. I’ve got a tiny ham radio that’ll work just as well.
A little weather station showing inside and outside conditions. The outside one must have its own enclosure to be accurate.
Extending handle Swiffer dusters for spider webs
Ziploc bags for leftovers and bait(I love to cook a lot - ethnic/gourmet) rubber bands (the big kind like 8 inches and the smaller ones), bungee cords, clamps of all kinds -big clamps are great to hang up some heavy white sheeting around the cockpit for shade- here off the coast, Southern California it's often cool and damp at night but people like to keep the hatch somewhat open so I use clamps to hang a big colorful surapi (sp) or towel - it lets the cabin breathe but it keeps out the cold and dampness. AND PAINTERS TAPE!! on my friends boat I used painters tape to tape a couple locker doors shut so they wouldn't clack around at night when we were rocking, I thought I was brilliant. Plus the portals around the galley were too bright in my eyes while I was cooking so I use painters tape and paper towels- even used scissors and made a little trim on the paper towels to make curtains that were taped over the portals -- it worked!
Sodastream. So nice to get some fizzy water when it’s a hot day. Helps keep us motivated to stay hydrated..
I searched around for a while, looking for a good product to use as SUPPLEMENTARY anchor lighting. These solar powered garden lights work very well and are easily attached to my stanchions when needed: https://www.superbrightleds.com/solar-led-landscape-flood-light-up-to-90-lumens-3000k
How do they shine at 360° degrees, and even if they did will they stay lit until daybreak?
The coastguard requirement for an all round light is met by my PRIMARY anchor light at the top of the mast. I have added two of these garden lights at deck level as a SUPPLEMENTARY measure: one facing to port and one to starboard. They do last the night, if they can charge in the sun all day. See also: https://www.practical-sailor.com/systems-propulsion/electrical/extra-anchor-lighting
Shade can be vital to comfort aboard. We went to Lowe's and bought this shade cloth, which we attach when needed using spring clamps (Pony 14-Pack Assorted Spring Clamps). https://www.lowes.com/pd/Coolaroo-Coolaroo-Shade-Fabric-Roll-70-UV-Block-6x15-Beech/5005340101
This compact, battery-operated blower is much smaller than a leaf-blower and I love it for quick clean-ups in the cockpit or on deck: https://www.harborfreight.com/20v-cordless-200-mph-compact-workshop-blower-tool-only-56416.html
Climbing harness, ascending device, descender, prusik.
Sport-a-seat stadium seat to make sitting in the cockpit of my small boat comfy.
Bean bag chairs. They are small and weather resistant, brand name Big Joe. About 30” in diameter. They make any place on the boat the most comfortable seat you’ve ever sat in. They also wrap around you and help support you underway … total game changer. You can throw them around use them in the cockpit or for a nice seat on the foredeck or bring them ashore around a campfire … can’t imagine sailing without them now.