especially if you spend 3 of those days looking for the Gulf Stream.

SV


"JAXAshby" wrote ...
it can be a lot longer than 4 days. In fact, 4 days might be considered
rather
quick for that trip.

N1EE wrote:

It is only 650 miles. That's four days.

Depends on the boat, depends on the weather. I think the record now is a little
under 3 days, but it would take a pretty fast boat to get there in four days.


Refridgeration always seems to break down
and ruin all your food. If you don't count
on it, it can't crap out on you. Bring rice,
pasta and, eggs, and a fishing pole.

Agreed, with the caveat that I've found modern refrigeration to be quite
reliable... provided the installation is done right... however it is a power hog.



Radar is nice for determining how far you
are from while making an approach. I suppose
a chart display will do that also. Both
together are reassuring.

Radar can be a great tool for figuring out approaches. Radar will tell you things
that a GPS will not... and vice versa of course.



You should have some long range communications
either an SSB that you know how to use, and
that works--many I've seen don't work and the
owners are cluesless that they don't, or
better--a sat-phone.

A good thing to have, but really not a necessity. The SSB hooked to a weather fax
would also be a great tool.


Also, and EPRIB is good.

Well, my own philosophy is to not worry about calling for help and thus not to
worry about keeping in touch either. One thing is for sure, cell phone coverage is
going to really suck most of the way.



I prefer foam lifejackets. It would not be
fun to find out in the middle of the ocean
that your inflatable doesn't work. If you
wear an inflatable, wear it outside of your
foulies.

Very good point. The inflatable harnesses are better than nothing, but they are
far from totally reliable. Also they do nothing to keep you warm nor protect you
from impacts. And as for havng one inflate inside your foul weather gear, that an
be a death sentence. Yet people wear them inside their jackets all the time.

BTW a few people mentioned "sextants." How about almanacs? A sextant, all by
itself, is not very useful.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

One thing is for sure, cell phone coverage is
going to really suck most of the way.

cell phone coverage will suck virtually the entire way New to Ber.


The inflatable harnesses are better than nothing

not really. fall overboard at sea with or without a PFD on and you can figure
on dying in the not too distant future.

BTW a few people mentioned "sextants." How about almanacs?

a sextant is almost as useless as tits on a boar. If lightning takes out all
your gps's it will also take out your quartz watches and you long distance
radios to reset them by. If you really do lose all your electronics, turn west
and sail until you sight land, stop at a Sunoco gas station and ask directions.

"JAXAshby" wrote in message
...
One thing is for sure, cell phone coverage is
going to really suck most of the way.

cell phone coverage will suck virtually the entire way New to Ber.


The inflatable harnesses are better than nothing

not really. fall overboard at sea with or without a PFD on and you can
figure
on dying in the not too distant future.

BTW a few people mentioned "sextants." How about almanacs?

a sextant is almost as useless as tits on a boar. If lightning takes out
all
your gps's it will also take out your quartz watches and you long distance
radios to reset them by. If you really do lose all your electronics, turn
west
and sail until you sight land, stop at a Sunoco gas station and ask
directions.


Rubbish. People who have an IQ of less than 186, may well find that their
watches still function after a lightning strike. I know of one boat that
lost her electronic instruments in a strike. The crew (and their watches)
were fine. One of the crew thought that she got a "tingle" from a winch
after the strike!!!!




Regards


Donal
--

so, take a sextant and almanac and sight tables and timex's(with extra
batteries) and ssb (for time checks)(with battery backup) and calculators (with
extra batteries), work pads, temp compensators, and practise, practise,
practise, practise just in case the DOD decides to get you.

You best hope there are enough sunny days so you can tell north from south, and
east from west, which if you know that you can find land anyway.

Oh, btw, remove enough provisions to store all that useless antique stuff
above.

a sextant is almost as useless as tits on a boar. If lightning takes out
all
your gps's it will also take out your quartz watches and you long distance
radios to reset them by. If you really do lose all your electronics, turn
west
and sail until you sight land, stop at a Sunoco gas station and ask
directions.


Rubbish. People who have an IQ of less than 186, may well find that their
watches still function after a lightning strike. I know of one boat that
lost her electronic instruments in a strike. The crew (and their watches)
were fine. One of the crew thought that she got a "tingle" from a winch
after the strike!!!!




Regards


Donal
--

"Donal" wrote:
"JAXAshby" wrote:
[some typical Jax pseudo-science about lightning]

Rubbish. People who have an IQ of less than 186, may well find that their
watches still function after a lightning strike. ...snip...

Just jumping in for the fun of it. IIRC, Jax claims an IQ of 154
*based on the MENSA IQ test*. This test uses a standard deviation of
24, instead of the more typical 15. Therefore, his claimed IQ, in
numbers most of us are more used to using, is in the low 130s.

As to the original question, I'd vote for refrigeration; I love
refrigeration. And, yes, I'd bring along my sextant (mostly 'cause it
gets bored just sitting there doing nothing, although my slide rule
keeps it company). Obsolescence sucks.

It is if you wish to sail along a line of latitude.

Cheers MC





DSK wrote:

N1EE wrote:


It is only 650 miles. That's four days.


Depends on the boat, depends on the weather. I think the record now is a little
under 3 days, but it would take a pretty fast boat to get there in four days.


Refridgeration always seems to break down
and ruin all your food. If you don't count
on it, it can't crap out on you. Bring rice,
pasta and, eggs, and a fishing pole.


Agreed, with the caveat that I've found modern refrigeration to be quite
reliable... provided the installation is done right... however it is a power hog.



Radar is nice for determining how far you
are from while making an approach. I suppose
a chart display will do that also. Both
together are reassuring.


Radar can be a great tool for figuring out approaches. Radar will tell you things
that a GPS will not... and vice versa of course.



You should have some long range communications
either an SSB that you know how to use, and
that works--many I've seen don't work and the
owners are cluesless that they don't, or
better--a sat-phone.


A good thing to have, but really not a necessity. The SSB hooked to a weather fax
would also be a great tool.



Also, and EPRIB is good.


Well, my own philosophy is to not worry about calling for help and thus not to
worry about keeping in touch either. One thing is for sure, cell phone coverage is
going to really suck most of the way.



I prefer foam lifejackets. It would not be
fun to find out in the middle of the ocean
that your inflatable doesn't work. If you
wear an inflatable, wear it outside of your
foulies.


Very good point. The inflatable harnesses are better than nothing, but they are
far from totally reliable. Also they do nothing to keep you warm nor protect you
from impacts. And as for havng one inflate inside your foul weather gear, that an
be a death sentence. Yet people wear them inside their jackets all the time.

BTW a few people mentioned "sextants." How about almanacs? A sextant, all by
itself, is not very useful.


How about sight reduction tables?

Cheers

MC wrote:

It is if you wish to sail along a line of latitude.

Not a good way to approach Bermuda. There's reefs and stuff.

DSK

Is there really no approach from the west along a line of latitude until
landfall can be made?

Cheers

DSK wrote:

MC wrote:


It is if you wish to sail along a line of latitude.


Not a good way to approach Bermuda. There's reefs and stuff.

DSK

On Mon, 19 Jan 2004 16:31:38 -0500, "John Cairns"
wrote this crap:

Interested in some opinions here, what equipment do I absolutely need? Do I
need radar, do I need a GPS with a chartplotter, do I need a SSB, should the
boat have refrigeration?

Make sure you have enough battiers, for GPS, flashlights, radios, etc.

Make sure you have enough rum.




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