Cruising gadgets, knowledge, and ideas for the cruising sailor
If I’m going on a delivery, chartering, or racing long distance offshore and I’m responsible for the cooking, here’s one of the tricks I use. Buying spices can be expensive, and if you are on the boat for just one week, it can be wasteful too. So what I do is use a “pill dispenser” to bring some spices along
» Read moreIf you are thinking about going cruising in the Bahamas or Caribbean you may want to have a Single Sideband radio aboard. This would allow you to listen to radio nets and broadcasts for weather. I would also allow you to talk to other boats further away than VHF range of about 25 miles. If you pair the radio up
» Read moreThis is a good way to organize and not lose things in the refrigerator box. Lingerie Bags – for the guys that don’t know, these are small mesh bags that ladies put their frilly under things in when they go in the washer machine. They are about a two gallon size, have a nylon zipper, and are very sturdy. I
» Read moreParticularly while racing, I like to keep a good multi tool handy. The one I’ve found to be the most useful is the Leatherman Skeletool CX. It’s got a nifty clip built into the handle, so it can clip on to your belt loop. This tool is lighter than most others, (the CX model has carbon fiber and Titanium coating
» Read moreThis is simply a watch with a build in flash light. There are a lot of dark places on a sailboat even during daylight. You would find this handy deep in lockers, under floor boards, under the mattresses, back around the stuffing box and water strainers, and deep in the bottom of the fridge. At night, it can light the
» Read moreHand Held Depth Finder. This is just what it sounds like. It’s about the size of a flash light. It will instantly tell you how deep the water is, and the water temperature. we launch the dinghy and go scouting with this device. I use it primarily for two things. To check the depth for either anchoring, or passing through
» Read moreIf you have wet cell batteries, you will need to add water from time to time. Especially after equalizing the batteries. You do equalize your batteries don’t you? Nonetheless, so you don’t spill water everywhere, try using an empty dish detergent plastic bottle, or a drinking bottle. I’m talking about something with that little pull up push down nozzle or
» Read moreWe keep a “mini” scuba tank aboard. I say keep aboard, because I’ve actually never had to use it while cruising. I keep it for emergencies. It’s small, light weight, and easy to store aboard. I do use it while in home port. Recently, without hauling the boat, I pulled my prop, painted it, and put it back on the
» Read moreDinghy Mate Saddle Tank This is a dinghy motor fuel tank that attaches to the transom of your dinghy. It has two brackets that hold it in place. It is up off the floor and out of the way. It gives you more room in the dinghy, a real luxury. The one shown here is the three gallon model on
» Read moreDrop Cloth at companionway – I’ve always liked to have one of these on my boats. They keep the rain out, help keep the AC in, and protect the finish on the drop boards while the boat is in storage mode. At night, if there are lights on inside the boat, this can help block the light for the helmsman.
» Read more