Association Forum - Boat Units

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Boat Units

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Doug
Captain

Member Avatar

USA
457 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/07/2002 : 20:33:25

As part of the negotiations for a kitchen remodel I ended up with 5-7 boats units (Boat unit=$100) that can be spent with little or no regard to the normal command structure. So tell me, how would you spend it? Engine or cushions are too much. My sails are in fine shape. VHF, wind indicator & speed instruments are all good. No GPS or stereo on board though, and my canvass is getting it a bit tired....

Doug - #1913 Noeta

Edited by - on

Bristle
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
834 Posts

Response Posted - 05/07/2002 : 21:28:47

Doug: If you actually GO anywhere on that boat, G P S ! ! ! No end to the reasons! (I even take mine on airplanes to see what towns I'm looking at, speed, altitude, and how long it'll take to get to the destination, whether we're going off course, etc.) On the boat, it'll tell you where to go, how far that is, when you'll get there, how far off course you are, where the next nav-aid is, whether you're too close to an abstruction (if you've put it in), how fast you're going, and probably a few other things I've forgotten. For half your units, you can get one that shows you a chart of the shoreline in addition to the nav-aids, with your position, direction, course, speed, and all the rest. Go to http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap76/index.html to see the class act of the handheld category. One of these days....... (I have a lowly but wonderful Garmin 48.)

Dave Bristle, 1985 C-25 SR-FK #5032 "Passage" in CT

Oh ya--it also tells you exactly where you ARE, in case you might want to communicate that to the Coast Guard or somebody... as we once did.

Edited by - bristle on 05/07/2002 21:39:22

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/07/2002 : 22:00:49

$399.00 for an autopilot and a few hundred for the GPS.

Don Lucier, Northstar
C25 SR/FK

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 05/07/2002 : 22:38:40

First and Foremost, since this money does not need to follow the normal cash flow/supply chain procedures, spend it on something fun that you will enjoy. Anything you really need for the boat can be easily requisitioned through normal channels. (e.g. a safety related item. Or a new set of flares b/c the old ones have expired. Or ..)

So what exactly would be fun? In my mind, a nice tri-radial spinaker, but, you say you don't need sails. A very nice GPS like Bristle said, is almost paramount these days. J-school in Rhode Island or other locations www.jworldschool.com have some great classes in that range. Chart plotters are another idea...but I don't really know their price range.

Let us know what you blow the wad on!!

Duane Wolff
"The Flying Wasp"
C-25, #401 std,sk
Chief Measurer C-25/250 national Org.
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2dc20b3127cce9cd2f45b211a0000004010" border=0>

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 05/07/2002 : 22:48:54

Like Don Lucier said, G.P.S., autopilot. If you haven't tried them, you don't know what you're missing. Maybe a nice stereo? Hey, it's your boat, you should know what you most want that you don't have on it already. Some people may place a very high priority on smooth convenient sail controls (new color coded lines with everything lead to the cockpit via all-Harken hardware). Others may want the most galley they can cram in. Matching curtains and upolstery? New standing rigging? A head compartment that reminds your significant other (a.k.a. "the normal command structure") more of the one at home? Electrical system upgrades? (That'll kill some boat bucks quick!) Do you have a balanced rudder yet? Got all the safety equipment you could ever need? (I thought not.) Auto-inflate P.F.D.s w/harnesses & jacklines? Fresh alert/locate piro's? Hand-held V.H.F.? Who ever heard of needing help spending money on a boat?<img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

acierno
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
62 Posts

Response Posted - 05/08/2002 : 07:44:12

if you single hand, without question st1000 or st2000 autopilots. by far the best addition to my boat and no gps required (although that should also be included in your purchase as a second priority) i single hand about 90% of the time, and the autopilot really allows me to focus on the sails in bigger winds. its also nice to be able to remain under sail and moving while going forward to rig the whisker pole or free a snagged line. finally, if you sail with kids you will, several times, be required to go down below for drinks flush the porta potty, etc.

ron
'mia alessandra'
250wk, hull 463

Edited by - on

Ray Seitz
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
416 Posts

Response Posted - 05/08/2002 : 07:59:24

Doug:

My vote would be a handheld GPS first, great toy the newer ones have maps and charts you can download into them. The course suggestion by Duane is a pretty good suggestion too, I just recently took an ASA course it was a blast and I found out how little I know. Howabout using it for provisioning an extended cruise in lavish luxury.

Ray Seitz C 250WB #628

Edited by - on

cathluk
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
513 Posts

Response Posted - 05/08/2002 : 08:34:44

If I had the funds it would gone in a minute on an autopilot (a Simrad/Navico WP30 w/ remote to be specific). However, since you said you don't have a GPS I would recommend that purchase if you do anything except day sail around a in small body of water. We sailed with the GPS 48 (now well under $200) for 3 years and that was very useful. I got a Garmin GPS 162 handheld chart plotter for Christmas and it is the most amazing thing! The 162 would probably blow your entire budget by the time you got the chart card to go with it (and could be overkill depending on where you sail) so maybe the GPS 76 is they way to go.
Then you'd still have enough left over for a Stereo CD player.

Cathy
"Blown Away"
'97 C250WK #253

Edited by - on

n/a
deleted

Members Avatar

163 Posts

Response Posted - 05/08/2002 : 08:37:09

I second GPS, but also advocate a nice, propane-fueled, stainless steel BBQ to hang on the stern rail. It makes meals on board much easier; you can even bake in it with the cover down. Nothing better that fresh fish on the grill!

Edited by - on

Rick Heaverly 86 C25 5382
Navigator

Members Avatar

Belize
206 Posts

Response Posted - 05/08/2002 : 10:40:47

I vote for GPS and Auto Pilot.

Rick Heaverly

Edited by - on

ssteakley
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
467 Posts

Response Posted - 05/08/2002 : 11:36:42

Another Vote for GPS
Steve Steakley

Edited by - on

jm
Captain

Members Avatar

Canada
290 Posts

Response Posted - 05/08/2002 : 12:15:05

I'd vote for the backyard Hot Tub - for your aching muscles after all that racing, hiking, and grinding. And I'd buy a Catalina 25 model to float in the tub..

Edited by - on

RichardG
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 05/08/2002 : 12:38:10

In surveys such as this, the autopilot usually wins as the single greatest piece of electronics upgrade. I agree.

But if you don't have a GPS, I would recommend one for all the reasons given above. Basic models start at $120 -- any more just adds bells and whistles which some people prefer, but are not necessary if you have charts.

RichardG 81 C25 SR/FK "Sanity"

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 05/08/2002 : 13:17:42

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I'd vote for the backyard Hot Tub - for your aching muscles after all that racing, hiking, and grinding. And I'd buy a Catalina 25 model to float in the tub..

<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>
Change my vote to this as well, not to mention once you get a few glasses of wine into the admiral along with the heat of the hot tub, you will easily be able to requisition anything else you would ever want

Duane Wolff
"The Flying Wasp"
C-25, #401 std,sk
Chief Measurer C-25/250 national Org.
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2dc20b3127cce9cd2f45b211a0000004010" border=0>

Edited by - on

cathluk
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
513 Posts

Response Posted - 05/08/2002 : 13:27:44

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I second GPS, but also advocate a nice, propane-fueled, stainless steel BBQ to hang on the stern rail. It makes meals on board much easier; you can even bake in it with the cover down. Nothing better that fresh fish on the grill!

<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Charles -

How do you store your grill when you're not using it? Seems like it could get messy. Also, how long does one of those little bottles last?

Cathy
"Blown Away"
'97 C250WK #253

Edited by - on

tapinkham
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
36 Posts

Response Posted - 05/08/2002 : 14:23:26

Cathy,

I bought the small version of the Force 10 BBQ.
Not alot of cooking surface but it does store
easily. Works great when cooking for two.
I haven't had it long enough to know how long
the bottle will last.

-Tim

Edited by - on

Steve
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
87 Posts

Response Posted - 05/08/2002 : 14:58:25

Autopilot & GPS, no question. I have a Garmin GPS that I mounted permanently in my boat, and I use a handheld Trex for hiking and stuff that you can buy for about $100 that works amazingly well. Canvas is a good idea, I redid mine a couple of years ago in a dark navy blue sunbrella fabric. Made a big difference in the appearance of the boat. Also, you might consider cockpit controls for your outboard. I have to dock in fairly open water and it helps to be able to control the gearshift & throttle from the cockpit. About 2 boat units if you install them yourself.

Edited by - on

n/a
deleted

Members Avatar

163 Posts

Response Posted - 05/08/2002 : 16:28:11

I leave my BBQ on the rail, and keep it in a bag in the cabin over the winter. A small, Coleman propane bottle will last for several weekends, depending on how long you pre-heat the unit or are using it to bake potatoes. They're small enough to keep a spare in the fuel locker with the gas tank.

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2002 : 11:00:20

I'm gonna wait until you can play DVDs on the chartplotter.

Edited by - on

Brooke Willson
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2002 : 12:11:09

1. Tillerpilot. No question. Not just for convenience and comfort's sake. . . which are huge considerations . . . but for safety. Being able to go below and do navigation; going to the head without worrying about an accidental jibe breaking the rigging if the tillertamer (what a joke!) slips; going forward to deal with rigging or ground tackle while the boat stays on course; etc.

2. Unless you sail in a small lake or river where you always know where you are, a modest GPS. Don't waste money on all the gimmicks you'll never need. To know where you are and how to get where you want to go is hugely important. This is also not just about convenience, but safety. If, God forbid, you're in the middle of nowhere and in trouble, to be able to give a precise location to the Coast Guard or whomever could save your life.

I sail on the Chesapeake Bay, and almost every time I go out I listen to distress calls from boaters who can't tell either TowBoat or the CG where they are. I haven't heard a real disaster yet, but I shudder at the thought of someone being on fire or sinking and being unable to give an accurate fix for would-be rescuers.

Brooke

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2002 : 17:53:55

If you do decide on an autopilot and GPS, be sure that the two can interface(NMEA data) with each other. Most GPS units have this feature, but make sure the autopilot does too.

Don Lucier, Northstar
C25 SR/FK

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.