Small boat Necessities - what can't you live without

captedteach · December 29, 2005, 02:56:33 PM

I turn on the music while I'm getting the boat ready to leave the mooring - it's the first thing that happens right after the beer cooler is put away.

seanshine · December 29, 2005, 10:06:52 PM

Easy answer. How could I live without an autopilot. Can't reach the rum and ice without it.....

Kailyst · December 30, 2005, 02:00:54 PM

Other than the obvious of sunscreen, drinking water and coffee???

The OFFICIAL Flag!!!!!

CapnK · December 30, 2005, 10:43:50 PM

LOL! I love it! :D

Jack Tar · January 02, 2006, 02:04:12 PM

So OK what do you do for fun when your at anchor or underway. Here is what I have on board for those odd moments.

1. A pocket Kite Para sail design multi colors. I have sailed it underway it a blast or sail it when anchored . If Im meeting someone its easy to find my boat just look for the kite you can see it for miles. Might be good in the rescue kit too.

2. Water Cannon self explanitory

3. Balloon Launcher

4. Shrimp dipper always fun for kids at the dock.

5. Bubbles I usually have a few bottles of bubbles from the dollar store to give away to the kids or just have fun with. Might try one of the big bubble toys.

6. Project in work = Deck Cannon for announcing arrivals , waking the anchorage or repeling boarders .

captedteach · January 02, 2006, 06:17:50 PM

I keep Backgammon, Mancala, and BattleShip on the boat. I was gonna add a tennis ball cannon but decided that having to go around to pick up the 'ammo' would be a pain in the ass.

Solace · January 02, 2006, 08:12:11 PM

Might be a pain but think of the uses - you'll be waiting for those wake masters of the deep - or practicing your aim at jet skiiers (overheard one sailor down the St. Lawrence refer to jet skis as River Lice).

LOL ;D

s/v Faith · January 02, 2006, 09:19:54 PM

I'll second the Kite. Something just seems right about flying a kite from a sailboat. :)

Snorkle(sp) gear, I swim whenever it is warm enough, mask also helps out when scrubbing the bottom. Funny, you can see some interesting things in places you might not have expected.

Fishing gear, (not always a toy though). Once was asked if 'you can fish off that thing...?' Answer, any boat my wife steps aboard is a fishing boat. ;D

Jack Tar · January 03, 2006, 03:25:54 AM

Hey I forgot about the games. There all on the lap top too. Even a sailing simulator.

Zen · January 03, 2006, 07:56:19 PM

Zen's Gaming Supplies:

Kites (2), backgammon, Mah Jong, Chess, Chinese Checkers, computer/video games

Frank · January 03, 2006, 09:15:14 PM

Holy s..t 'Chinese checkers'..haven't thought of or heard of that game for YEARS...cool. When I was young I used to play with a friends Granny (and now I'm old enough to be a grandpa)

Zen · January 03, 2006, 09:19:40 PM

hahaha

I am a grandpa! :o

Frank · January 04, 2006, 08:54:39 AM

Ah...a simple item used daily,can't have enough of(they jump overboard)and have multiple uses.........'cloths pins'

Skipper Dave · January 04, 2006, 04:36:41 PM

Plain old deck of cards, wife and I play strip poker. (When its warm out)

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This morning it looked so nice out I thought I'd leave it out.

S/V "Tina Marie" Cal 2-27

oded kishony · January 04, 2006, 05:20:10 PM

Simple necessities:

Anyone have experience with Dutchman products?-One is a sailflaking system with lines from the boom to the topping lift threaded through the sail. The other is a boom brake/jibe preventer.

Zen · January 04, 2006, 07:59:07 PM

I have the Dutchman sail system on my boat. I am VERY pleased with it. Only thing I do not like its I can not put a tarp over the whole boom, because of the lines, so I do just a section of it. over the cockpit

Main sail is very easy to use. Does a great job on making it easy to get the sail put away. I can EASYLY do multi-reefing. I had to get the sail cover special made but found someone to do it on Ebay, for under 200.00 with special touches I wanted.

I almost had the preventer, but I did not bid enough and missed the sale on Ebay. However I have heard good things about them.

CapnK · January 05, 2006, 10:11:47 AM

LOL @ Dave. :)

Books and games. I do have a kite, but its been in the car for 6+ months, maybe I'll manage to get it down to the boat this spring. :)

I've got a nice Mancala board, and a number of small, folding games from the $1 Store (chess, chinese checkers, 'gammon, etc) as well as playing cards.

A couple of knot/splice books, and fids.

A StarScope for if it's nighttime.

I need to find someone to try out Dave's strip poker idea with... Now *that* would be fun! ;D

Amorous · January 05, 2006, 04:16:03 PM

Speaking of kites. I once saw a couple of guys on a sailboat 30' or so, in the Indian River who had one of those BIG sailboard kites flying. The wind was real light in the protection of the river and they were just screwing around with the sails down, but they were moving!

CapnK · January 05, 2006, 07:05:37 PM

Well, this is wandering off-topic, but there is a company selling kites intended to outperform spinnakers in many instances.

Kiteship

Currently they do not really recommend use of their kites by singlehanders (see FAQ's page), but I would like to experiment with the things, or something similar, with an eye towards Milk Run sailing. If you could set it and forget it, I can see where it would have some advantages even over twinned headsails, such as no chafe.

Maybe someday... :)

Pixie Dust · January 05, 2006, 09:29:46 PM

I left Carrabelle Marina to cross the Gulf to Tarpon Springs. Another boat of 3 guys headed out at the same time. Along with beer drinking, they were shooting skeet off the bow of the boat and hitting golf balls. TOO FUNNY!!

I keep wine, fishing and snorkle gear and Latts and Atts. :) I love to dingy to the beach and take walks.

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Small boat Necessities - what can't you live without

Amorous