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?
John Cairns

How about a Bible?

Seriously - the majority of such trips have been made without any of the gear
you mention. On the other hand, I have all that (except the SSB) when I go out
for a day sail.


"John Cairns" wrote in message
...
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?
John Cairns

None of those are absolute but you will need a sextant or GPS and charts
(paper). The following are essential IMHO: EPIRB, hand held VHF, flares,
grab bag and raft (or inflateable dinghy to be carried inflated on
deck). Add to that your own CO2 life vest with harness which has a
strobe light and whistle attached. You can clip the handheld VHF to it
too. Proper wet weather gear (say Musto offshore). Some good books and
music. Enough food and water for 2x the anticipated trip duration. Baby
wipes. Skin cream, sun block. Log book. Emergency nav lights. Bolt
cutters. Axe. Hacksaw. Pop rivet gun. Drill and bits. Spare sheets.
Storm jib/sails. Life lines. Harness lines. That'll do for starters.

Cheers

John Cairns wrote:

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?
John Cairns

I would have thought Chapman's or Bowditch would be more useful than a
Bible, unless you happen to be particularly religious.
John Cairns
"Jeff Morris" wrote in message
...
How about a Bible?

Seriously - the majority of such trips have been made without any of the
gear
you mention. On the other hand, I have all that (except the SSB) when I
go out
for a day sail.


"John Cairns" wrote in message
...
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?
John Cairns

Well, if you were thinking that a fridge might be an absolute necessity, maybe
you should be religious!



"John Cairns" wrote in message
...
I would have thought Chapman's or Bowditch would be more useful than a
Bible, unless you happen to be particularly religious.
John Cairns
"Jeff Morris" wrote in message
...
How about a Bible?

Seriously - the majority of such trips have been made without any of the
gear
you mention. On the other hand, I have all that (except the SSB) when I
go out
for a day sail.


"John Cairns" wrote in message
...
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?
John Cairns

These days, it would be wiser to opt for several handheld GPSs as backups
to an installed GPS, rather than a sextant. In bad weather, you're unlikely
to be able to use the latter.

"MC" wrote in message
...
None of those are absolute but you will need a sextant or GPS and charts
(paper). The following are essential IMHO: EPIRB, hand held VHF, flares,
grab bag and raft (or inflateable dinghy to be carried inflated on
deck). Add to that your own CO2 life vest with harness which has a
strobe light and whistle attached. You can clip the handheld VHF to it
too. Proper wet weather gear (say Musto offshore). Some good books and
music. Enough food and water for 2x the anticipated trip duration. Baby
wipes. Skin cream, sun block. Log book. Emergency nav lights. Bolt
cutters. Axe. Hacksaw. Pop rivet gun. Drill and bits. Spare sheets.
Storm jib/sails. Life lines. Harness lines. That'll do for starters.

Cheers

John Cairns wrote:

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?
John Cairns

Get a multihull, then you don't need the liferaft.

wrote in message
...
On Tue, 20 Jan 2004 10:46:28 +1300, MC wrote:

None of those are absolute but you will need a sextant or GPS and charts
(paper). The following are essential IMHO: EPIRB, hand held VHF, flares,
grab bag and raft (or inflateable dinghy to be carried inflated on
deck). Add to that your own CO2 life vest with harness which has a
strobe light and whistle attached. You can clip the handheld VHF to it
too. Proper wet weather gear (say Musto offshore). Some good books and
music. Enough food and water for 2x the anticipated trip duration. Baby
wipes. Skin cream, sun block. Log book. Emergency nav lights. Bolt
cutters. Axe. Hacksaw. Pop rivet gun. Drill and bits. Spare sheets.
Storm jib/sails. Life lines. Harness lines. That'll do for starters.



A good list, except that a dinghy is generally not interchangable with a
liferaft. Sometimes a dinghy is all you have, but a purpose specific
liferaft is
a much better choice if you have to abandon ship for any reason.

BB

Cheers

John Cairns wrote:

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?
John Cairns

If you believe that you need a bible...

Cheers

Jonathan Ganz wrote:

Get a multihull, then you don't need the liferaft.

wrote in message
...

On Tue, 20 Jan 2004 10:46:28 +1300, MC wrote:


None of those are absolute but you will need a sextant or GPS and charts
(paper). The following are essential IMHO: EPIRB, hand held VHF, flares,
grab bag and raft (or inflateable dinghy to be carried inflated on
deck). Add to that your own CO2 life vest with harness which has a
strobe light and whistle attached. You can clip the handheld VHF to it
too. Proper wet weather gear (say Musto offshore). Some good books and
music. Enough food and water for 2x the anticipated trip duration. Baby
wipes. Skin cream, sun block. Log book. Emergency nav lights. Bolt
cutters. Axe. Hacksaw. Pop rivet gun. Drill and bits. Spare sheets.
Storm jib/sails. Life lines. Harness lines. That'll do for starters.



A good list, except that a dinghy is generally not interchangable with a
liferaft. Sometimes a dinghy is all you have, but a purpose specific

liferaft is

a much better choice if you have to abandon ship for any reason.

BB


Cheers

John Cairns wrote:


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?
John Cairns

So explain to us, if you will, how many cruising cats have sunk on the Bermuda
run.


wrote in message
news
On Mon, 19 Jan 2004 16:03:14 -0800, "Jonathan Ganz"
wrote:

Get a multihull, then you don't need the liferaft.


Boy are you STUPID!

BB


wrote in message
.. .
On Tue, 20 Jan 2004 10:46:28 +1300, MC wrote:

None of those are absolute but you will need a sextant or GPS and charts
(paper). The following are essential IMHO: EPIRB, hand held VHF, flares,
grab bag and raft (or inflateable dinghy to be carried inflated on
deck). Add to that your own CO2 life vest with harness which has a
strobe light and whistle attached. You can clip the handheld VHF to it
too. Proper wet weather gear (say Musto offshore). Some good books and
music. Enough food and water for 2x the anticipated trip duration. Baby
wipes. Skin cream, sun block. Log book. Emergency nav lights. Bolt
cutters. Axe. Hacksaw. Pop rivet gun. Drill and bits. Spare sheets.
Storm jib/sails. Life lines. Harness lines. That'll do for starters.



A good list, except that a dinghy is generally not interchangable with a
liferaft. Sometimes a dinghy is all you have, but a purpose specific
liferaft is
a much better choice if you have to abandon ship for any reason.

BB

Cheers

John Cairns wrote:

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?
John Cairns

Get a multihull, then you don't need the liferaft.


you don't need training wheels not to need an inflatable rubber saucer, aka
liferaft.