51 replies to this topic

[Ajax]

Looks like I'll be sailing to Solomons on Thursday. I'd like to depart early Thursday morning. This is an easy, shake-down cruise in the Pearson to get back into the groove of longer trips after an inactive winter, and a spring of short day-sails.

Shit that I know I have onboard:

• Working VHF
• Solid, working engine with spare impeller, ignition components, hand-crank and consumables (oil)
• Mainsail, spare main, 170%, 150% 130%, storm jib
• 2 sets of jib sheets, one set of spin sheets that could be used for jib sheets
• 2 good batteries, plus solar panel
• 2 GPS + netbook chartplotter, + paper charts of the area
• 2 auto/manual inflate PFD's, 1 Type I offshore PFD, several Type II "orange brick" PFD's
• several harnesses and tethers
• Foulies, towels, warm clothes
• Stove fuel, oil lamp fuel, matches, lighter
• All navigation lights work correctly, spare bulbs onboard
• 2 first aid kits
• Working electric bilge pump
• Wooden plugs, Forespar foam plug
• Recent flares, LifeSling, signal flags
• 2 air horns
• knives
• binoculars

Thoughts?

[IrieMon]

"Working electric bilge pump"

Gotta assume you also have a manual backup ? Spare batteries for portable GPS (if one is that type).

Hmmmm... nothing about "adult consumables"...

Good Luck, fun trip !

[Ajax]

"Working electric bilge pump"

Gotta assume you also have a manual backup ? Spare batteries for portable GPS (if one is that type).

Hmmmm... nothing about "adult consumables"...

Good Luck, fun trip !

I do NOT have a manual backup. That's why I posted the list.

I'll buy one prior to departure, thanks for the tip. I forgot that I sold my manual pump with the Coronado.

I'm working on the provisions list now...

[kent_island_sailor]

You should be good. If you are going by yourself - WEAR the PFD and keep the handheld VHF on you. It is a dangerous time of year when warm or hot air temps make people let their guard down and sometimes they end up in the water and in short order discover the water is still chilly and there are not that many boats around to pick you up.

[Ajax]

Oh, I forgot to add: 30 feet of chain, a couple hundred feet of nylon rode and a 30 lb. danforth anchor. (+) for the chain, but (-) for the type of anchor.

[Innocent Bystander]

Sunscreen and a hat. Some bungee cord to play with self steering. Plenty of water for the trip.

LRF is for high presure to dominate with wind south at 5 knots. Play the current. With moderate N winds Tues and Wed, you might find stronger floods and weaker ebbs on Thursday. 5 knots on the Bay can be 0-5 or 5-10. Know when to declare "I've had enough fun" and start up the iron genny if your VMG drops too low.


I have an empty slip if you want a place to tie up.

[Ajax]

Thanks IB. Got the sunscreen and hat. I saw the prediction for light air. I hope I don't have to motor the whole damn way. Thanks for the offer of a parking spot.

[SailAR]

Unless you are suspect of your primary mainsail, I don't see the need to carry the second. Ultimately weight is bad.

Also I would strongly recommend that you have a permantly installed manual bilge pump. I don't know if your boat is "leaky", but I always preferred to manually pump out the bilge on long trips and count the strokes. Good way to know if you are taking in more water than "normal".

[mrgnstrn]

my opinions:

way too many sails. I'd pick the 150, 130, and storm jib (how small is this storm jib?)
no spare main, it's trash anyway. if you rip your new main, it'll be too nasty for the old one too. and jib only sailing home is easy to do.

Bring a smattering of nuts, bolts, screws, cotter pins, and ring dings.

Bring a smattering of wire and a combo crimper/stripper. not the super fancy one, just something to jury rig until you get home and get out the proper wire, double crimper, heatshrink, etc.

"lash-it." you can either buy it per-foot at Fawcetts, or a spool of it at Bacons. it will last you years, and is good for all the little shit. I just made up some short leashes to keep lines from snagging on stuff. Remember how we ripped a cam cleat off the side of the deck with the jib sheet because it got hooked under it? fixed that with some lash-it. simply said, lash-it is la'shit.

<I'll be here all week, tip your waiters>
-m

[Cruisin Loser]

No manual bilge pump? We have 2 permanently installed, one which operates from below, the other from the cockpit.

And a bucket.

Are the soft wood tapered plugs lashed to each thru hull? Not necessary for inshore cruising, but not a bad idea.

Is yours a wheel or tiller boat? If wheel, do you have an emergency tiller and access to the top of the rudder stock? The way we do it is lash the key to the deck plate to the emergency tiller.

You didn't mention drinking water. You should leave with full tanks, plus a couple of gallons in jugs, just in case.

[Soñadora]

as my non-sailing friends would say, "couldn't you just drive there?"

how new is your battery setup? One thing that almost killed an overnighter for us was corrosion on the battery terminals. Make sure your terminals are clean.

[Jose Carumba]

Fuel and spare parts for the Atomic Bomb?

[Ajax]

my opinions:

way too many sails. I'd pick the 150, 130, and storm jib (how small is this storm jib?)
no spare main, it's trash anyway. if you rip your new main, it'll be too nasty for the old one too. and jib only sailing home is easy to do.

Bring a smattering of nuts, bolts, screws, cotter pins, and ring dings.

Bring a smattering of wire and a combo crimper/stripper. not the super fancy one, just something to jury rig until you get home and get out the proper wire, double crimper, heatshrink, etc.

"lash-it." you can either buy it per-foot at Fawcetts, or a spool of it at Bacons. it will last you years, and is good for all the little shit. I just made up some short leashes to keep lines from snagging on stuff. Remember how we ripped a cam cleat off the side of the deck with the jib sheet because it got hooked under it? fixed that with some lash-it. simply said, lash-it is la'shit.

<I'll be here all week, tip your waiters>
-m

Ok, I'll ditch the spare main. I have a complete, compact electrical kit. I have a new, complete cotter pin set and various bits of hardware, and spare blocks. I'll look into some "lash-shit".

No manual bilge pump? We have 2 permanently installed, one which operates from below, the other from the cockpit.

And a bucket.

Are the soft wood tapered plugs lashed to each thru hull? Not necessary for inshore cruising, but not a bad idea.

Is yours a wheel or tiller boat? If wheel, do you have an emergency tiller and access to the top of the rudder stock? The way we do it is lash the key to the deck plate to the emergency tiller.

You didn't mention drinking water. You should leave with full tanks, plus a couple of gallons in jugs, just in case.

I have a bucket. No, the plugs aren't lashed to the through-hulls yet. Boat is tiller-steered, no spare, but the tiller isn't made of driftwood either. I didn't cover provisions, only "gear".

as my non-sailing friends would say, "couldn't you just drive there?"

how new is your battery setup? One thing that almost killed an overnighter for us was corrosion on the battery terminals. Make sure your terminals are clean.

Battery terminals are clean and solid. Inspected last week as I was installing the solar panel.

Fuel and spare parts for the Atomic Bomb?

Covered in the OP. (Yes)

[PNW Matt B]

• Camera
• Comfortable back rest for cockpit seating
• Music or entertainment audio
• Reading material

You're going out to meet a boat that's just sailed around the Americas. Take a camera and get some good shots. The other items are safety equipment; escorting him in is going to be slow. If you can settle in to a comfortable spot in the cockpit where you can see Matt's boat out of the corner of your eye while you read, and set the habit of scanning the horizon every page (or two), you'll be much safer than trying to "stay alert" the whole way in. Won't happen, then you zone out, then something bad happens and you're not alert enough to deal with it even with plenty of gear onboard. I don't recommend movies or TV because they're too absorbing.

[Greever]

Looks like I'll be sailing to Solomons on Thursday. I'd like to depart early Thursday morning. This is an easy, shake-down cruise in the Pearson to get back into the groove of longer trips after an inactive winter, and a spring of short day-sails.

Shit that I know I have onboard:

• Working VHF
• Solid, working engine with spare impeller, ignition components, hand-crank and consumables (oil)
• Mainsail, spare main, 170%, 150% 130%, storm jib
• 2 sets of jib sheets, one set of spin sheets that could be used for jib sheets
• 2 good batteries, plus solar panel
• 2 GPS + netbook chartplotter, + paper charts of the area
• 2 auto/manual inflate PFD's, 1 Type I offshore PFD, several Type II "orange brick" PFD's
• several harnesses and tethers
• Foulies, towels, warm clothes
• Stove fuel, oil lamp fuel, matches, lighter
• All navigation lights work correctly, spare bulbs onboard
• 2 first aid kits
• Working electric bilge pump
• Wooden plugs, Forespar foam plug
• Recent flares, LifeSling, signal flags
• 2 air horns
• knives
• binoculars

Thoughts?

I think you are set, besides food and drinks....

[Ajax]

Thanks guys. It's just been a while since I took a trip and I wanted to be prepared.

It'd be embarassing to sink within a 55 mile trip while trying to link up with a guy who'd just sailed 28,000 miles.

[v-max]

Minor point, put a lanyard on all buckets before you actually need to. Fires develop quickly on boats and having a lanyard already attached could make the difference. I use long sail ties for lanyards. They'll let the bucket reach the water and still have enough lanyard to haul it back up. Quite a bit of strength with sail ties too.

Have a great trip!

[steele]

Kind of paranoid, but I carry a mask and a knive to dive on the prop in case it gets fowled, may not be an issue, but crab pots are a hazard in our area.

[EighthDeadlySin]

Oh, I forgot to add: 30 feet of chain, a couple hundred feet of nylon rode and a 30 lb. danforth anchor. (+) for the chain, but (-) for the type of anchor.

Really, 30 pounds? 12-15 is more typical for a boat your size.....looks like you may have just found an easy way to save 15 pounds when you race. (And 30 feet of chain is nice for cruising, but too heavy for racing. 6 should do in the Bay.)

[Ajax]

Oh, I forgot to add: 30 feet of chain, a couple hundred feet of nylon rode and a 30 lb. danforth anchor. (+) for the chain, but (-) for the type of anchor.

Really, 30 pounds? 12-15 is more typical for a boat your size.....looks like you may have just found an easy way to save 15 pounds when you race. (And 30 feet of chain is nice for cruising, but too heavy for racing. 6 should do in the Bay.)

Thanks for pointing that out. I think I can find a smaller anchor and rode to scale back to, for racing.

[Jose Carumba]

Fuel and spare parts for the Atomic Bomb?

Covered in the OP. (Yes)

Doh! Second Item on list even.

[WHL]

Jacklines along the deck.

and +1 to the manual bilge pumps, one operable from on deck and one below.

[bljones]

I see spare parts, but where's the tools to install them?
In the tool bag, at a minimum- BFH, LFH, vice grips, pliers, adjustable wrench, oil filter wrench, test light, screw drivers, wrenches, sockets, ratchets, hacksaw, wire cutters, wire stripper, crimper, rags, gloves.

[Ajax]

I see spare parts, but where's the tools to install them?
In the tool bag, at a minimum- BFH, LFH, vice grips, pliers, adjustable wrench, oil filter wrench, test light, screw drivers, wrenches, sockets, ratchets, hacksaw, wire cutters, wire stripper, crimper, rags, gloves.

Got all that, forgot to list it in the OP.

[Mephisto Cat]

You'll have no problems... Enjoy the passage.

on the warm clothes... - take enough changes in case you get wet...

On the Nav lights - typically they go out at the wors times - as with everything else on a boat. You probably wont be able to replace the bulb right away... I carry one of those portable LED dual color red/green lights. They are typically designed for small craft, but they do a grat job as a spare on any boat. They are quite bright. Just clip it in place, or tape it on to the pulpit - a very quick fix.

[Soñadora]

Thanks guys. It's just been a while since I took a trip and I wanted to be prepared.

It'd be embarassing to sink within a 55 mile trip while trying to link up with a guy who'd just sailed 28,000 miles.

y',now, you'll be pretty much okay for 54.9 miles of that trip. Statistically speaking of course

[froggie]

Yellow smoke ?
Oops - wrong vessel.

Remember to take your dock lines (and a couple of spares) and fenders.

[Cruisin Loser]

Who're you going to see Ajax? I missed something.

[SailAR]

wwww.solotheamericas.org

welcoming Mr. Rutherford home as he completes his solo circumnavigation of the Americas.

Poor guy has been beaten up pretty good since making back close to the U.S.

[WarBird]

Jacklines along the deck.

and +1 to the manual bilge pumps, one operable from on deck and one below.

....and pump water through both to make sure they work.

Jacklines along the deck.

and +1 to the manual bilge pumps, one operable from on deck and one below.

....and pump water through both to make sure they work.

[Weyalan]

Since you are cruising, not racing, I'd take the 130 and the storm jib (but I don't know your local conditions). I wouldn't take a spare main... its only 55 miles, so if you do manage to blow out the main, you can almost certainly motor or motorsail with headsail. My experience with Danforth picks has been less than stellar. A (lighter) plough would be a better choice, for mine. Personally, for multi-day cruising, I take a spare anchor (+chain & rode). A decent flashlight (or two). Short handed, I like to have a hand-held VHF (in addition to the main VHF at the nav station)... if you find yourself in close proximity with other shipping, being able to communicate via hand-held, on deck, from the helm, is prefereable to comms from the nav station.

[Balder]

Rum! I know you said this wasn't a provisions list, but Rum is not a provision in my mind. Bilge pumps, sails, lifejackets, compass, chart, anchor, rum. other items optional.

[stickboy]

Warm hat & gloves always on board
Handheld VHF is a good backup.
Dinghy? Outboard? Fuel?
Flashlight(s)
Rum(always on board - even on the hardB) )
more line, less sails
radar reflector
ditto the mask, fins and snorkle, up here I add a thin wetsuit
spare sunglasses (voice of experience there)
tunes

[Ishmael]

Wax toilet seal. You can seal any hole up to 4" with a wax toilet seal, a bunk flat, and 14 linebackers to stand on it. Try to not get torpedoed, OK?

That (torpedoed) really is a problem around here, but nothing you have to worry about, most of the time.

[Ajax]

Wax toilet seal. You can seal any hole up to 4" with a wax toilet seal, a bunk flat, and 14 linebackers to stand on it. Try to not get torpedoed, OK?

That (torpedoed) really is a problem around here, but nothing you have to worry about, most of the time.

Hm... the toilet wax is a clever idea. I'll add that to my permenant kit.

Guys, I have rum! I swear! Rum is onboard. Like right now. And Coke. I need more rum but at least I have some for now.

I have flashlights, a dive mask and snorkel. Forgot to list them in the OP. I hope like hell I don't have to go into the water, it's still cold.

[Tucky]

"lash-it." you can either buy it per-foot at Fawcetts, or a spool of it at Bacons. it will last you years, and is good for all the little shit. I just made up some short leashes to keep lines from snagging on stuff. Remember how we ripped a cam cleat off the side of the deck with the jib sheet because it got hooked under it? fixed that with some lash-it. simply said, lash-it is la'shit.

Ok, I'll ditch the spare main. I have a complete, compact electrical kit. I have a new, complete cotter pin set and various bits of hardware, and spare blocks. I'll look into some "lash-shit".

I carry a bunch of spectra in various dimensions and lengths as a prep for all kinds of repairs. I've fixed shackle failures, eyebolt failures, you name it with spectra lashings. Multiple wraps are STRONG and you can cobble something up with no tools to speak of.

[PNW Matt B]

Guys, I have rum! I swear! Rum is onboard. Like right now. And Coke. I need more rum but at least I have some for now.

Yes, but *what kind* of rum?

[Ajax]

Guys, I have rum! I swear! Rum is onboard. Like right now. And Coke. I need more rum but at least I have some for now.

Yes, but *what kind* of rum?

Just spiced Bacardi right now. I like it with Coke. I'm in the process of sampling various types to determine the best stock to carry.

[hard aground]

Guys, I have rum! I swear! Rum is onboard. Like right now. And Coke. I need more rum but at least I have some for now.

Yes, but *what kind* of rum?

Just spiced Bacardi right now. I like it with Coke. I'm in the process of sampling various types to determine the best stock to carry.

Together the coke Ajax and just use ice. If your palette isn't enjoying that yet then oj is a better mix. Pineapple juice is even better.

You also happen to be missing chicks from your list too. A bit disappointing that everyone else seems to have missed that too.

[Ishmael]

That's just assumed, since we harassed him about the lack of prophylactics on the last list. I notice that is a huge gap in his planning this year.

Spiced Bacardi...what are you, shemale? Pusser's or Black Seal, with Jamaican ginger beer. Don't forget the lime.

[steele]

Get one of these,

 313KHQS5cSL._SL500_AA300_.jpg   13.11K   7 downloads

Dorcy cyberlight, $18 at amazon, I just got mine with an order of suncscreen (wishfull thinking in Seattle), truly blinding bright. Kind of a lesson in simple minds being easily amused, as my wife would point out, but did I mention it is really bright?

[Cavelamb]

That's just assumed, since we harassed him about the lack of prophylactics on the last list. I notice that is a huge gap in his planning this year.

Spiced Bacardi...what are you, shemale? Pusser's or Black Seal, with Jamaican ginger beer. Don't forget the lime.

Mount Gay!

Avoid spiced rum, or rum with a picture of a pirate on the label.
But Ajax is ok in most other respects.

I figured the lack of XX chromosomes was due to daughters on board.
Conflict of interest?

[Cavelamb]

Get one of these,

 313KHQS5cSL._SL500_AA300_.jpg   13.11K   7 downloads

Dorcy cyberlight, $18 at amazon, I just got mine with an order of suncscreen (wishfull thinking in Seattle), truly blinding bright. Kind of a lesson in simple minds being easily amused, as my wife would point out, but did I mention it is really bright?

After a couple hundred hours of night sailing (last summer was HOT down here),
I've decided that "really bright" is a bad idea.

Even worse are those LED things on the hat or headband.
I won't let them on the boat any more.

Once eyes have adjusted to the dark, anything bright just ruins the night vision adaptation.

So I've collected several flashlights - of various sizes - to be used as needed.

The first line is the Mini Mag Light - with LED adapter. The batteries for the ones in the
cockpit were run through my camera first. They come out of there at about 1.2 volts.
That dims the light nicely, and aids the cause economically as well as saving the planet (a little bit).

Then there are a couple of Mini Mag lights below with fresh batteries ( the blue flashlights).
There are two "lanterns" in the cabin with C cells and incandescent bulbs.
They are for rooting around below and NEVER come on deck.
I found that the Sunbrella hatch cover can hang over the open hatch and act as a
light screen. But a large towel will work as well.

A good pair of 7X50 binoculars are a God-send.
They are a lot more helpful for seeing what's out there than any kind of light.

Lastly, when dusk is approaching, go through the boat and get her ready for "Night Ops".
Everything stowed, nothing in the way to trip over.

Lights, water, floats, (RUM), jacket, towel, etc. all located where they can be found and fetched easily.

Then kick back and enjoy the ride.

[Ajax]

Well the trip to Solomons is a bust, but I'll be racing tonight. My first beercan race in what I consider to be the "main season" instead of at the tail end, where people are hauling out, and participants are sparse.

To that end, I've had to completely reverse everything we've talked about here. I've removed about 250lbs. of "cruising fat". Forecast for today is 60F degrees, 60% chance of rain, and zilch to 5kts of breeze.

I've scoured the boat to make it light, and my Subaru is unhappy at being turned into a sail and gear locker. I've got my class flags flying, light air sheets ready, paperwork all filled out and onboard, etc.

I've got a very newbie crew. I think my daughter is one of the more experienced ones if that gives you a clue, but at least I have almost a full boat. In other news, my crusade to bring back Pearson 30 OD racing is bearing fruit. We may soon have enough boats for a fleet start for the Miles River Race!

[Roleur]

For when you do go on that practice cruise...

I didn't see it anywhere, so to be sure. Fuses for whatever onboard might have a fuse.

[Bruce T. Shark]

For when you do go on that practice cruise...

I didn't see it anywhere, so to be sure. Fuses for whatever onboard might have a fuse.

Atomic bomb - spare impellor, spare condensor and points (if still using them)are all you need, plus a quart of oil. Got stranded in Cuttyhunk for a week cause of condser crapping out, fixed it in 30 mins when it happened 35 years later.

Single handing? Jacklines - sorry buy them, make them but use them. A string tied to your ladder (u got one?) so you can pull it down from in the water...that MP30 freeboard is HIGH from water level.

Everything else you got covered.

BTW - the MP30 sails nicely by herself with the jib sheeted in tight and the main about 3/4 of the way out, she sails pretty much on a beam reach (learned that neat trick singlehanding from annapolis to hampton - non-stop).

[Merit 25]

Ajax, let me know if you do plan to come to solomons this year. We'll get a beer.

[Solen]

If you haven't left: Keep you zipper down - so we can collect the insurance money.

[stickboy]

Single handing? Jacklines - sorry buy them, make them but use them. A string tied to your ladder (u got one?) so you can pull it down from in the water...that MP30 freeboard is HIGH from water level.

That freeboard is a matter of motivation. I went overboard at the mooring one night trying to grab a sternline off my friend that was rafting to us under sail (dead engine, light air). I was back up over the coaming and tying him off before anyone knew I went in, The 6 volt flashlight I had in my hand at the time didn't last long after that. though.

[Cruisin Loser]

"lash-it." you can either buy it per-foot at Fawcetts, or a spool of it at Bacons. it will last you years, and is good for all the little shit. I just made up some short leashes to keep lines from snagging on stuff. Remember how we ripped a cam cleat off the side of the deck with the jib sheet because it got hooked under it? fixed that with some lash-it. simply said, lash-it is la'shit.

Ok, I'll ditch the spare main. I have a complete, compact electrical kit. I have a new, complete cotter pin set and various bits of hardware, and spare blocks. I'll look into some "lash-shit".

I carry a bunch of spectra in various dimensions and lengths as a prep for all kinds of repairs. I've fixed shackle failures, eyebolt failures, you name it with spectra lashings. Multiple wraps are STRONG and you can cobble something up with no tools to speak of.

My robotics kids leave for the World Championships on Monday, lash-it is a key part of their bots. I saw it last summer, bought 3 spools for me, one for them.

Our hydraulic backstay adjuster crapped out on the way to Bermuda last summer. A spectra lashing held the mast up all the way back. good stuff.

[floating dutchman]

Well the trip to Solomons is a bust, but I'll be racing tonight. My first beercan race in what I consider to be the "main season" instead of at the tail end, where people are hauling out, and participants are sparse.

To that end, I've had to completely reverse everything we've talked about here. I've removed about 250lbs. of "cruising fat". Forecast for today is 60F degrees, 60% chance of rain, and zilch to 5kts of breeze.

I've scoured the boat to make it light, and my Subaru is unhappy at being turned into a sail and gear locker. I've got my class flags flying, light air sheets ready, paperwork all filled out and onboard, etc.

I've got a very newbie crew. I think my daughter is one of the more experienced ones if that gives you a clue, but at least I have almost a full boat. In other news, my crusade to bring back Pearson 30 OD racing is bearing fruit. We may soon have enough boats for a fleet start for the Miles River Race!

That, in red. That is the key, Just Bob (of all people) said to me a while back when I was on about my wife not taking to this whole sailing thing said that was the key. If your Kids take to sailing the the wife starts to feel like she is missing out and will want "in" or to words to that effect. He was dead right.
You never mention your wife with regurds to sailing so I assume she not into it, but you mention your family a bit so I guess you are a family type of fella.
For me the owning a boat is having a "family caravan" That you can sail!

[lbjordal]

I think this is a pretty good checklist. Not complete by any means, but a good start.

http://www.ssaa.com....k_Form_2002.htm