I went for a sail Friday night and 1 of 3 GPS plotters wasn't working. It just so happened that it was the plotter that both the AIS and Radar display on. I didn't like not having either, but especially the AIS. My only comfort was that nobody else was probably silly enough to be out.

What piece of equipment don't you like going without?

All@Sea said..
Telltales

yep

A cold fridge for the Beer.

Something to float on (ie a hull or a board), centreboard or keel, rudder or fin, spars, sail(s) and control lines. Everything else is optional although telltales are nice. Oh, and clothes as well, normally.

On the J/36 we really like the depth sounder, GPS or plotter (phone or ipad) at times because she's got more than 6ft of draft and we sail in some shallow areas. The rest of the instruments are largely irrelevant, although water temp is good if you're thinking of swimming.

I did Sydney-Noumeas and Sydney-Hobarts in the days before GPS, satnav, AIS or radar and we never had real problems - in fact probably fewer boats hit the bricks and no one hit ships. I confess I don't really understand AIS - if I can't see 20,000 tons of metal approaching then I deserve to get run over.

southace said..
I would miss my washing machine!

haahhahhhah. you spoil yourself .......

A stove/burner.
Hot drinks.
Hot food.
Aaaahhhh..............

IRB. Don't like those stories about containers floating around, hitting one then swimming

Sounder, hand held GPS, sun hat and fridge.

rumblefish said..

Donk107 said..
I bought some waterproof Sealskinz socks a couple of months ago and while the weather is still a bit cool down here i am loving wearing them on the boat

Regards Don

The gloves rock for cold weather helming too!

Yep

I have a pair of those as well

Regards Don

southace said..
I would miss my washing machine!

Me to, i'v Got ono of those automatic ones, you just drop your clothes on the floor and some how it picks them up, washes them and puts them back in the cupboard. Some times it's not very reliable.

Chris 249 said..
Something to float on (ie a hull or a board), centreboard or keel, rudder or fin, spars, sail(s) and control lines. Everything else is optional although telltales are nice. Oh, and clothes as well, normally.

On the J/36 we really like the depth sounder, GPS or plotter (phone or ipad) at times because she's got more than 6ft of draft and we sail in some shallow areas. The rest of the instruments are largely irrelevant, although water temp is good if you're thinking of swimming.

I did Sydney-Noumeas and Sydney-Hobarts in the days before GPS, satnav, AIS or radar and we never had real problems - in fact probably fewer boats hit the bricks and no one hit ships. I confess I don't really understand AIS - if I can't see 20,000 tons of metal approaching then I deserve to get run over.

all of the above but I do like a fridge for cold drinks

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,

And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;

And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,

And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide

Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;

And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,

And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,

To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;

And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,

And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

Probably sums it up for me, although sunnies, hat & coffee would probably be on the list.

Cheers

Bristol

Ok, I'll give up trying to post that!

There you go Bristol...

Sea Fever BY JOHN MASEFIELD

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

Lazzz said..

NowandZen said..
A cold fridge for the Beer.

I gotta agree with that :)

A floating paradise!

Datawiz said..
There you go Bristol...

Sea Fever BY JOHN MASEFIELD

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

Or as the former owner of a boat I raced on wrote (from memory but with some changes to make it intelligible to 2018);

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky;
and buy me a stripped out race machine, and GPS to steer her by;
she'll cost me a million quid, with 15,000 in the genny;
and if she doesn't win every race, she won't be worth a penny;

....and so it goes on, bemoaning the tough life of the offshore racer owner.