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Conference unifix::sailing

Title:	SAILING
Notice:	Please read Note 2.* before participating in this conference
Moderator:	UNIFIX::BERENS

Created:	Wed Jul 01 1992
Last Modified:	Mon Jun 02 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	2299
Total number of notes:	20724

2127.0. "priority & budget decisions" by GLDOA::ROGERS (hard on the wind again) Wed May 11 1994 21:40

    This should be a nice inoffensive but important topic for discussion. 
    It involves priorities on equipment for coastal (actually Great Lakes
    but that is close enough) cruising.
    
    I weathered a serious personal crises that started a few years ago and
    ended last year.  Part of the survival plan was liquidation of just
    about everything.  The boat would have gone too if I could have found a
    buyer.  But the point is that recovery is underway and the boat is in
    the water and this year's vacation will cover some serious distance.  
    
    However a lot of inventory is gone (liquidated).  No loran, vhf, MOM
    package, spinakers, blocks, almost of all the spare rigging, all
    harnesses, the backup anchor, the extra rodes...you get the idea.
    
    What's left, is adequate sails (2 mainsails, #1 and #3 genoa and jib,
    storm sail, and jibtop reacher) and some rudimentary navigation stuff
    like a handbearing compass, new charts, parallels, dividers, stuff like
    that and Jacklines
    
    My intention is not to sail at night, plan my destinations for 10hr
    runs at worst wind conditions (dead upwind).  Remain flexible on
    departue conditions at each stop (squarerigger style).  And use the
    very limited budget left for gear.   Here is the question, what should
    be a must have and in priority and what would be very useful and what
    would be just "nice" if the money holds out.  We are probably talking
    about $900 to $1100 max.
    
    Here's my thoughts:
    
    		Must have
    
    			1. VHF radio
    			2. MOM package
    			3. At least two harnesses
    			
    
    		Very useful to have
    
    			1. Tiller autopilot.
    			2. Loran unit
    			
    
    		Nice stuff
    
    			1. Inflateble dingy (rowing sevylor type)
    			2. ????
    
    What are your thoughts (don't tell me to stay home please!)
    
    Fire away...er, let's here em  :>)

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
2127.1	go for it!	WRKSYS::SCHUMANN	Dot your t's and cross your i's	`Thu May 12 1994 12:06`	27
	Your gear list sounds OK to me. I'd skip the autopilot if you're not planning to sail overnight. You can make a crude tiller brake by running a line from one gunwhale around the tiller once or twice to the other gunwhale. The friction from the line holds the tiller in place so the helmsman only needs to make occasional adjustments. If you plan your runs for 10 hours max worst case, you will limit your day's distance substantially, since a 10 hour beat in stiff wind will get you less than half the distance of a 10 hour reach. Most shorelines on the Great Lakes have plenty of harbors, so there's generally a good place to duck into when bad weather is coming. (An exception is the southeastern shore of Ontario.) There's really no big danger if you get stuck at sea overnight, provided you have running lights and harnesses. Just stay away from shore and shipping lanes until morning. In the summer, there are only a few hours of darkness anyway. You don't really need a LORAN, but you should be able to pick up a used one real cheap. It's a major convenience. If you buy a dinghy, you can anchor and save a pile of money on slip fees and mooring fees. If you row the dinghy, get a fiberglass one, not inflatable, because it'll row better especially in wind. What's a MOM package? --RS
2127.2	Time for serious sailing	MUZICK::THOMPSON	Mike LMO2-1/M13	`Thu May 12 1994 13:11`	24
	It is possible that with less equipment, you may spend more time actually sailing. What you by will buy depend on priorities. I suggest safety be a high priority suggesting: A VHF would seem most desirable for weather news and the cheapest will pick up that. Inflatible FPD including a built in harness. (This makes it more likely that both will be worn more often.) Heavy anchor and rode. You never know when... Don't skimp on foul weather gear and warm boots. If the area features shallow water, you might decide to increase the priority for getting a depth sounder or a loran. Enjoy the sailing! Mike
2127.3	more on .0	GLDOA::ROGERS	hard on the wind again	`Thu May 12 1994 17:10`	18
	In .0 I should have added that the original NKE computer and instruments is still installed and I have the very good medical supplies still intact. Also my Line Seven gear w/boots and spare set is still on board. The primary anchor is still aboard ( a Danforth Hi-tensile 2500). Western lake Erie is shallow (max is 60ft) average is 32ft, even 30 miles out. Lots of traps for the unwary. A MOM is a Man Overboard Module from Survival Technologies. Costs about $500. In my opinion, West Marine misses the boat by a very wide margin by backing life sling. This always assumes that the boat can get to the MOB quickly. Often, especially in heavy weather, short handed, this is wishful thinking. At night it is naive at best, negligent at worst. Don't get me wrong, the Lifesling is real important, after you find the MOB and after you close on him/her. A MOM gives the MOB a chance to stay alive and attract serious attention. The reason it is rated #2 is the fact that a VHF can (especially on Erie) cover all sorts of emergencies, where the MOM handles only one.
2127.4	MOM alternative?	DELNI::VACON		`Tue May 17 1994 09:44`	8
	I'm not sure this is cheaper than a MOM, but I think it is and might be just a as effective. Use a line to connect a man overboard pole to your "throwable" device such as a horseshoe. Add a water activated strobe for night sailing, if you decide you need to. Make sure you attach the whole mess to your rail/backstay or whatever so you can deploy quickly, but it does not deploy before your ready. When you get it deployed, I think it would look just like a MOM except inflation not necessary.