Inexpensive indispensables (a living list):
Sea Foam $7
Added to the gas tank keeps the outboard fuel system copacetic and saves $$ in maintenance. My recent outboard overhaul revealed a pristine carburettor after 125 hours of use.
Pee bottle $10
Nearly drowned several times trying to pee over the side in rough weather. Now I sit in comfort safe in the cockpit. Also, don't have to go up on a wet cold deck in the middle of the night to go for a pee.
Gorilla Grip (or similar work gloves) $5.50
Work as well as any fancy sailing gloves. Tough nitrile palm and fast drying nylonish back.
PVC work gloves $7
They don't look stylish - the crew on "yachts" will look at you aghast, but these are as good or better than fancy "waterproof" sailing/helmsman's gloves that can cost big boat dollars. ALL OTHER gloves will get wet eventually. These are a bit clumsy, but you can tie knots with them on. They will get clammy after hours of use, but with a pair of the above Gorilla Grip or polypro gloves as liners, they will keep you hands dry and warm in the worst conditions.
Plastic basin $12
With one of these babies, you can do anything that you can do in a fancy galley: you can also wash the dishes and yourself when necessary.
Poop bags $12
Forget about fancy Heads, whether hand pump, electric, or composting. Don't even think about a sloshy portable toilet. These self-sealing bags are the creme de la creme of the camp toilet genre. All you need is a comfy bucket, and these bags self seal and can be disposed in the trash at your convenience. I believe that they are legal for disposal of human waste in California (but don't quote me).
Lanacote $13
Lanolin (sheep wool oil) anti-corrosion goop. Use it to assemble all hardware on the boat so it will come apart in the future, especially with stainless steel in aluminum fastenings. There are much more expensive products, but this stuff is so cheap you can have a tub of it on the boat and slap it on all of your projects. You can also use it for all electrical fittings to keep the water out. The only catch is that it is quite smelly (like sheep).
Sea Foam $7
Added to the gas tank keeps the outboard fuel system copacetic and saves $$ in maintenance. My recent outboard overhaul revealed a pristine carburettor after 125 hours of use.
Pee bottle $10
Nearly drowned several times trying to pee over the side in rough weather. Now I sit in comfort safe in the cockpit. Also, don't have to go up on a wet cold deck in the middle of the night to go for a pee.
Gorilla Grip (or similar work gloves) $5.50
Work as well as any fancy sailing gloves. Tough nitrile palm and fast drying nylonish back.
PVC work gloves $7
They don't look stylish - the crew on "yachts" will look at you aghast, but these are as good or better than fancy "waterproof" sailing/helmsman's gloves that can cost big boat dollars. ALL OTHER gloves will get wet eventually. These are a bit clumsy, but you can tie knots with them on. They will get clammy after hours of use, but with a pair of the above Gorilla Grip or polypro gloves as liners, they will keep you hands dry and warm in the worst conditions.
Plastic basin $12
With one of these babies, you can do anything that you can do in a fancy galley: you can also wash the dishes and yourself when necessary.
Poop bags $12
Forget about fancy Heads, whether hand pump, electric, or composting. Don't even think about a sloshy portable toilet. These self-sealing bags are the creme de la creme of the camp toilet genre. All you need is a comfy bucket, and these bags self seal and can be disposed in the trash at your convenience. I believe that they are legal for disposal of human waste in California (but don't quote me).
Lanacote $13
Lanolin (sheep wool oil) anti-corrosion goop. Use it to assemble all hardware on the boat so it will come apart in the future, especially with stainless steel in aluminum fastenings. There are much more expensive products, but this stuff is so cheap you can have a tub of it on the boat and slap it on all of your projects. You can also use it for all electrical fittings to keep the water out. The only catch is that it is quite smelly (like sheep).
Hi Fellow sailor,
ReplyDeletecongratulations for your nice and informative blog. I enjoyed you also your practical advise on useful items for daysailing. I built a 27' outrigger sailing canoe by Gary Dierking and start exploring the SF Bay. Redwood city is my home port so to speak.
Any new blogs about your summer adventures? I don't see new postings after May.
Greetings
Chris