On 24 Jan 2004 09:18:25 -0800, (Parallax)
wrote:

After many yrs of being a cheapskate sailor sailing without the
expensive gadgets thayt many other ppl have, I now find myself able to
afford to buy some of the gadgets I used to shun. All those yrs of
making do without has colored my thought processes so I naturally
avoid gadgetry. However, my recent installation of roller furling
really made sailing easier so I am reconsidering my attitude toward
gadgets. I would like input from other ppl on what gadgets really
make sailing better and what ones are simply a techno-pain in the ass.

For example: GPS is a necessity but I will keep my paper charts and
hand compass. Depthsounder is necessary. Permanently mounted VHF
necessary.

So:

My idiosyncratic answers:

I have used good and bad roller furlers, but hanks are for me. If we
had a rig with a big foretriangle and postage stamp main, a roller
would be a necessity for an elderly couple like us, but with a
fractional, big-main rig no way.

Knotlog- really useful or does the reading off the GPS suffice?

GPS suffices for practical stuff, but the knotmeter tells how fast you
are sailing. We allow ourselves a bottle of bubbly when we sail over
10 knots (in a 23-year old keel boat).

Handheld VHF- useful or not?

Useful backup when the mounted one goes down. I wouldn't be without
it.
Electronic masthead windmeter (I'd like one but am doubtful about its
robustness)- useful or not?

Nice, but I haven't fixed ours since it broke two years ago.


Radar- Takes too much power I think for a sailboat.

In New England I wouldn't be without it. Depends where you are. We
sailed without radar for 30 years, but the last 14 seasons were enough
to convince me. Not only do I want a radar, I want the screen at the
helm, not below.

Lazy jacks- (I am sure I can make my own) but really useful or not?

Not to me. I bought an expensive Harken lazyjzcks kit when we bought
Gjo/a in 1989, but after dealing with them on OPBs I never installed
it. Our main is 47-ft hoist, 15 feet foot. If it were a lot bigger, I
might rethink the matter.

Any other useful things?


Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC J36 Gjo/a


"Wanting to meet a writer because you like his work is like wanting to meet a duck because you like pate."
Margaret Atwood

Knotlog- really useful or does the reading off the GPS suffice?
This gives you speed over water, gps will not; it will give you speed over
surface (if tide is coming in; and you're doing 1 knott on the gps, you may be
doing 6 over water)

Handheld VHF- useful or not?
VERY -- Frequently; I cannot get below to my fixed mount; or if I'm in my dingy
calling to my boat -- and it's always a good backup.

Electronic masthead windmeter (I'd like one but am doubtful about its
robustness)- useful or not?
depends on how much you need to know wha the wind is doing -- I'd say if you do
bay sailing, aren't a racer,a nd have sailed for years w/o it; you can live w/o
it.

Radar- Takes too much power I think for a sailboat.
If you sail fog or high traffic area at night -- very useful.. you just need to
adjust your battery banks...

Lazy jacks- (I am sure I can make my own) but really useful or not?
If you raise & lower your main a lot in a day; then it is; if you don't I think
it's "one more thing" to break -- I adhear to KISS on my boat -- I don't hve
roller furling, I do have a twin head foil...


---
Remove x's to send.

Knotlog- really useful or does the reading off the GPS suffice?
This gives you speed over water, gps will not; it will give you speed over
surface (if tide is coming in; and you're doing 1 knott on the gps, you may be
doing 6 over water)

Handheld VHF- useful or not?
VERY -- Frequently; I cannot get below to my fixed mount; or if I'm in my dingy
calling to my boat -- and it's always a good backup.

Electronic masthead windmeter (I'd like one but am doubtful about its
robustness)- useful or not?
depends on how much you need to know wha the wind is doing -- I'd say if you do
bay sailing, aren't a racer,a nd have sailed for years w/o it; you can live w/o
it.

Radar- Takes too much power I think for a sailboat.
If you sail fog or high traffic area at night -- very useful.. you just need to
adjust your battery banks...

Lazy jacks- (I am sure I can make my own) but really useful or not?
If you raise & lower your main a lot in a day; then it is; if you don't I think
it's "one more thing" to break -- I adhear to KISS on my boat -- I don't hve
roller furling, I do have a twin head foil...


---
Remove x's to send.

On 24 Jan 2004 09:18:25 -0800,
Parallax wrote:
After many yrs of being a cheapskate sailor sailing without the
expensive gadgets thayt many other ppl have, I now find myself able to
afford to buy some of the gadgets I used to shun. All those yrs of
making do without has colored my thought processes so I naturally
avoid gadgetry. However, my recent installation of roller furling
really made sailing easier so I am reconsidering my attitude toward
gadgets. I would like input from other ppl on what gadgets really
make sailing better and what ones are simply a techno-pain in the ass.

For example: GPS is a necessity but I will keep my paper charts and
hand compass. Depthsounder is necessary. Permanently mounted VHF
necessary.

So:

Knotlog- really useful or does the reading off the GPS suffice?

GPS offers you speed, knotlog says speed through the water, both are
useful.

Handheld VHF- useful or not?

Absolutely! one of our dockmates was on his way back from Canada, when
(as near as he can figure out) his diesel stove caught fire (it had been
shut offm but was still hot) and the boat burned to the waterline. He
couldn't get into the cabin for the smoke, so he bailed with what he had
in the cockpit. He credits the handheld VHF with saving his life. Not
only was he able to call for assistance, but he vectored the Canadian
coast guard boat to him in the water, since the dink had gone away.

He now has 2 handheld flares in the cockpit as well.


Electronic masthead windmeter (I'd like one but am doubtful about its
robustness)- useful or not?
Radar- Takes too much power I think for a sailboat.
Lazy jacks- (I am sure I can make my own) but really useful or not?
Any other useful things?

--
Jim Richardson http://www.eskimo.com/~warlock
Dash Dash Space

On 24 Jan 2004 09:18:25 -0800,
Parallax wrote:
After many yrs of being a cheapskate sailor sailing without the
expensive gadgets thayt many other ppl have, I now find myself able to
afford to buy some of the gadgets I used to shun. All those yrs of
making do without has colored my thought processes so I naturally
avoid gadgetry. However, my recent installation of roller furling
really made sailing easier so I am reconsidering my attitude toward
gadgets. I would like input from other ppl on what gadgets really
make sailing better and what ones are simply a techno-pain in the ass.

For example: GPS is a necessity but I will keep my paper charts and
hand compass. Depthsounder is necessary. Permanently mounted VHF
necessary.

So:

Knotlog- really useful or does the reading off the GPS suffice?

GPS offers you speed, knotlog says speed through the water, both are
useful.

Handheld VHF- useful or not?

Absolutely! one of our dockmates was on his way back from Canada, when
(as near as he can figure out) his diesel stove caught fire (it had been
shut offm but was still hot) and the boat burned to the waterline. He
couldn't get into the cabin for the smoke, so he bailed with what he had
in the cockpit. He credits the handheld VHF with saving his life. Not
only was he able to call for assistance, but he vectored the Canadian
coast guard boat to him in the water, since the dink had gone away.

He now has 2 handheld flares in the cockpit as well.


Electronic masthead windmeter (I'd like one but am doubtful about its
robustness)- useful or not?
Radar- Takes too much power I think for a sailboat.
Lazy jacks- (I am sure I can make my own) but really useful or not?
Any other useful things?

--
Jim Richardson http://www.eskimo.com/~warlock
Dash Dash Space

Josh Assing wrote in message . ..
Knotlog- really useful or does the reading off the GPS suffice?
This gives you speed over water, gps will not; it will give you speed over
surface (if tide is coming in; and you're doing 1 knott on the gps, you may be
doing 6 over water)

Handheld VHF- useful or not?
VERY -- Frequently; I cannot get below to my fixed mount; or if I'm in my dingy
calling to my boat -- and it's always a good backup.

Electronic masthead windmeter (I'd like one but am doubtful about its
robustness)- useful or not?
depends on how much you need to know wha the wind is doing -- I'd say if you do
bay sailing, aren't a racer,a nd have sailed for years w/o it; you can live w/o
it.

Radar- Takes too much power I think for a sailboat.
If you sail fog or high traffic area at night -- very useful.. you just need to
adjust your battery banks...

Lazy jacks- (I am sure I can make my own) but really useful or not?
If you raise & lower your main a lot in a day; then it is; if you don't I think
it's "one more thing" to break -- I adhear to KISS on my boat -- I don't hve
roller furling, I do have a twin head foil...


---
Remove x's to send.


OK, I'll reluctantly forgo the windmeter. Will get the GPS, hand held
VHF and maybe the knotlog. At least the knotlog will fill the space
left by the old one that has never worked for the 12 yrs I have owned
my boat. I have always had a permanently mounted compass and hand
compass (ok, 2 hand compasses). GPS chart plotters seem sorta silly
since I imagine its hard to get a good overview of your entire area
and planned course. Besides, I just like the excercise in trig in
plotting my position (normally use hand compass, knotstik towed spd
indicator, and paper charts to do coastal nav, till now, DR and Loran
out of sight of any marks). I suspected the lazy jacks were not
really worthwhile which is why I never made them. As far as Radar and
battery banks, I have two batteries, a 25 watt solar panel and no
access to shore power for charging although the diesel does a good job
of that. I do have an old Autohelm autopilot that I love for
loooooooong trips. My sailing is primarily coastal cruising.

DBO

Josh Assing wrote in message . ..
Knotlog- really useful or does the reading off the GPS suffice?
This gives you speed over water, gps will not; it will give you speed over
surface (if tide is coming in; and you're doing 1 knott on the gps, you may be
doing 6 over water)

Handheld VHF- useful or not?
VERY -- Frequently; I cannot get below to my fixed mount; or if I'm in my dingy
calling to my boat -- and it's always a good backup.

Electronic masthead windmeter (I'd like one but am doubtful about its
robustness)- useful or not?
depends on how much you need to know wha the wind is doing -- I'd say if you do
bay sailing, aren't a racer,a nd have sailed for years w/o it; you can live w/o
it.

Radar- Takes too much power I think for a sailboat.
If you sail fog or high traffic area at night -- very useful.. you just need to
adjust your battery banks...

Lazy jacks- (I am sure I can make my own) but really useful or not?
If you raise & lower your main a lot in a day; then it is; if you don't I think
it's "one more thing" to break -- I adhear to KISS on my boat -- I don't hve
roller furling, I do have a twin head foil...


---
Remove x's to send.


OK, I'll reluctantly forgo the windmeter. Will get the GPS, hand held
VHF and maybe the knotlog. At least the knotlog will fill the space
left by the old one that has never worked for the 12 yrs I have owned
my boat. I have always had a permanently mounted compass and hand
compass (ok, 2 hand compasses). GPS chart plotters seem sorta silly
since I imagine its hard to get a good overview of your entire area
and planned course. Besides, I just like the excercise in trig in
plotting my position (normally use hand compass, knotstik towed spd
indicator, and paper charts to do coastal nav, till now, DR and Loran
out of sight of any marks). I suspected the lazy jacks were not
really worthwhile which is why I never made them. As far as Radar and
battery banks, I have two batteries, a 25 watt solar panel and no
access to shore power for charging although the diesel does a good job
of that. I do have an old Autohelm autopilot that I love for
loooooooong trips. My sailing is primarily coastal cruising.

DBO

OK, I'll reluctantly forgo the windmeter. Will get the GPS, hand held
VHF and maybe the knotlog. At least the knotlog will fill the space
left by the old one that has never worked for the 12 yrs I have owned
my boat. I have always had a permanently mounted compass and hand
compass (ok, 2 hand compasses). GPS chart plotters seem sorta silly
since I imagine its hard to get a good overview of your entire area
and planned course. Besides, I just like the excercise in trig in
plotting my position (normally use hand compass, knotstik towed spd
indicator, and paper charts to do coastal nav, till now, DR and Loran
out of sight of any marks). I suspected the lazy jacks were not
really worthwhile which is why I never made them. As far as Radar and
battery banks, I have two batteries, a 25 watt solar panel and no
access to shore power for charging although the diesel does a good job
of that. I do have an old Autohelm autopilot that I love for
loooooooong trips. My sailing is primarily coastal cruising.


Sounds reasonable enough, if you are sailing in a never-foggy area.



Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC J36 Gjo/a


"Wanting to meet a writer because you like his work is like wanting to meet a duck because you like pate."
Margaret Atwood

OK, I'll reluctantly forgo the windmeter. Will get the GPS, hand held
VHF and maybe the knotlog. At least the knotlog will fill the space
left by the old one that has never worked for the 12 yrs I have owned
my boat. I have always had a permanently mounted compass and hand
compass (ok, 2 hand compasses). GPS chart plotters seem sorta silly
since I imagine its hard to get a good overview of your entire area
and planned course. Besides, I just like the excercise in trig in
plotting my position (normally use hand compass, knotstik towed spd
indicator, and paper charts to do coastal nav, till now, DR and Loran
out of sight of any marks). I suspected the lazy jacks were not
really worthwhile which is why I never made them. As far as Radar and
battery banks, I have two batteries, a 25 watt solar panel and no
access to shore power for charging although the diesel does a good job
of that. I do have an old Autohelm autopilot that I love for
loooooooong trips. My sailing is primarily coastal cruising.


Sounds reasonable enough, if you are sailing in a never-foggy area.



Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC J36 Gjo/a


"Wanting to meet a writer because you like his work is like wanting to meet a duck because you like pate."
Margaret Atwood

Ken Heaton wrote:
without sinking the boat.
Most removable sensors can be removed and a plug screwed in place without
letting too much water in, depending on ease access in the bilge and how
quick you are of course.


I always dreaded cleaning the impeller because I guess I wasn't quick
enough to keep from getting everything in the vacinity of the sender
wet. It's amazing how much water can come through a 2 inch hole 3.5
feet below the waterline, even if just for a second.