I've just bought my first sailboat, and am waiting for spring so I can launch
her. It will be a long wait. In the meantime I have to re-outfit her safety
gear since I bought her in the USA and imported to Canada where some of our
safty gear requirements are different.

I see 4 ways to go about getting the necessary gear:

1. Wait until spring and go to some of the local "boot sales"/swap and
sell's/garage sales. This would be really inexpensive, but its safety gear,
do I really want to depend on other folks' castaways?

2. Wait until January and go to the boat show. While show sales may make
things less expensive, I have a love/hate relationship with trade shows and
wouldl come away feeling exhausted. I'd also be lucky if the first mate went
along since she fares poorly anyplace there is a crowd.

3. Shop at local chandleries. Thisis likely the most expensive way to go
about things, but would giv eth ewarm fuzzy feeling of supporting local
economy and so on. Trouble is the local chandlery is an hour's drive away in
the city. Not something fun to do.

4. Shop online. I could buy all the kit in one fell swoop save some bucks,
and have it shipped to my door. seems most convenient, but takes away from
learning new stuff from folks who should know and I always seem to end up
with the hassels of returns.

What are your preferred shopping methods - and what would you do?

--
Message posted via BoatKB.com
http://www.boatkb.com/Uwe/Forums.asp...iling/200711/1