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Gadgets, Add-On's, Must-Have's, Wish List items

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Mainsheet Editor
Brian Gleissner

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USA
31 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/30/2012 : 21:32:22

Dear Members -

Now that the gift-giving season has just passed, I'm thinking about putting together an article for the Summer issue of Mainsheet that features useful add-on's that the readers have installed (anything that was not originally available on your sailboat when new). If anyone is interested in contributing, please reply to this post or e-mail me at mainsheet@catalina-capri-25s.org

Thanks,

Brian Gleissner

Association Mainsheet Editor (mainsheet at catalina-capri-25s.org)

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 01/02/2013 : 07:06:34

Interesting idea Brian, i have found that apart from replacing/uopgrading stock items, I havent had much need for new gadgetry. Most of what I have added, I have removed as my skills improved. One that a lot of us put in is fishfinders. I jumped on that bandwagon, then found it redundant, and the FF sits in the aft berth. If I'm in shallow water, I slow down, watch the depth sounder, and head back to deep water.

I think many of us have upgraded gauges, but really the only gauge I look at much anymore is the knotlog. It is still original, but I did have it upgraded by SR Mariner - if you can all a cleaning and recalibration an upgrade.

Similarly, our anchor light worked well, but I wanted to upgrade it to something with a photoeye that draws less power, so I got a unit from Bebi Electronics. Its very good, but again, more of an upgrade of an existing item than new gadgetry. Same with my cabin lights. Replaced them all with Xenon fixtures, and added a second power panel.

I think Catalina did a good job of setting up these boats when they were new, but most of the toys we put on them are more of an upgrade to something already there, than an entirely new gizmo. The latest new gizmo for me is a tablet PC which I took out twice, decided it was more of a hassle than an aid, and now leave it at home.

The only real 'new' tech that I take with me is my handheld GPS which is actually about 7 years old. I think GPS was just launched in 1994 so 10 years after the boat was built (According to Wiki.) I've also added a stereo system, but I don't know if that really counts either.

Edited by - Prospector on 01/02/2013 07:08:52

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5907 Posts

Response Posted - 01/02/2013 : 07:22:59

For people who sail short-handed, I think the number one "must have" is some kind of self steering aid. If you can set a tiller tamer or an electronic autopilot, it can free you to raise or lower sails, or use the head, or get a sandwich or cold drink. It makes sailing much more...civilized.

Edited by - on

cshaw
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
460 Posts

Response Posted - 01/02/2013 : 07:39:10

Hi Brian!

Happy New Year!

Probably the most used updates I have added to Confetti are a GPS (West Marine Chartplotter 276C+) that also has a depth sounder connected to it (I sail in shallow water a lot), a small portable solar panel that allows a slow trickle charge to keep the battery topped off (far less hassle than dragging out the shore power cable for the battery charger), and an anchor bracket that attaches to the bow pulpit (where I hang the anchor while its muddy to be able to rinse it off before putting it into the anchor locker).

Runner ups include Lazy Jacks for the main, a tiller master autopilot, and a tiller tamer tiller "cleat". All of these make it easier to sail solo.

I would be remiss to not mention my stern ladder, both for safety and also makes it easy to go swimming on a hot day, and my Bimini, which I only use when crusing, but is wonderful to get out of the not Florida sun. I do keep a simple sunshade on the boat however that is about 12 ft long and 8 ft wide with 3 aluminum poles in it that I can quickly rig for use at anchor or at the dock. It gives good shade and helps with rain and allows me to move around on the boat easier than with the bimini up.

Great idea for an article!!

Cheers!

Chuck

Edited by - on

Capri-25 Editor
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
35 Posts

Response Posted - 01/02/2013 : 13:19:29

You know it never dawned on me that I upgraded mine with an autopilot. I did, and actually Steve M, above was a great hand in knowledge of the subject when I did. I will likely never add a GPS plotter, but then I've said never before and been wrong.

I agree if you sail (especially race) shorthanded a tiller-pilot (not a tamer) is a god-send. The tamer buys you a couple of seconds (in squirrly winds), an auto-pilot can get you several minutes.

I suppose a tamer can get you much more time if your winds are steady, and trim is good.

Edited by - on

Mainsheet Editor
Brian Gleissner

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USA
31 Posts

Response Posted - 01/02/2013 : 19:08:43

To All -

This is great input. I guess the definition of an add-on is anything that wasn't available on your boat from Catalina when it was new. Of course, a 1984 C25 might not have as many available options as a 1995 C250 so i can understand that there may be some gray areas. I'll try to compile all the input to narrow things down to the top 10. Of those, I can draw more information from the contributors. Feel free to keep adding to the list or chime in on a particular add-on even if it has already been mentioned.

Thanks again,

Brian Gleissner

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
5907 Posts

Response Posted - 01/03/2013 : 06:19:36

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">[i]I suppose a tamer can get you much more time if your winds are steady, and trim is good.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I could never get a tamer to hold a closehauled course for more than short periods, but I found that, if you head off on a close reach somewhere between closehauled and a beam reach, you can leave the tiller unattended almost indefinitely.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 01/03/2013 : 07:00:04

OK - you guys got me - I have an autopilot, but don't use it, and a tiller tamer that I will be installing this spring - I guess both of those are add-ons.

Biminis and canvas also are good additions, didn't think of that either.

What about the deck organizers and lines led aft? They were installed by the PO so I forgot all about that.

Changing my position the more I read and type, Catalina supplied a well equipped boat, that was easily customizerd to individual needs may be a better way to put it.

Oh - pop-top lift kit should fall on my list as well. And the cheap little clips that hold the boathook in place. And the shore power and charger. Ok. I have changed my position...

Edited by - on

cshaw
Captain

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USA
460 Posts

Response Posted - 01/03/2013 : 08:08:21

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Milby
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">[i]I suppose a tamer can get you much more time if your winds are steady, and trim is good.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I could never get a tamer to hold a closehauled course for more than short periods, but I found that, if you head off on a close reach somewhere between closehauled and a beam reach, you can leave the tiller unattended almost indefinitely.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

At the risk of temporarily hijacking the thread, my experiences with my tiller tamer seem to be exactly the opposite for some reason. When Confetti is close hauled, she take very little to sail herself, so the autopilot accuracy just never seems to be needed (when close hauled). I used to sail from the Clear Lake area on Galveston Bay all the way to Galveston just using the tiller tamer with the till cleated. It was close hauled all the way, and except for when I would have to tack, most all of the time I never had to touch the tiller. However, when I ease the sheets to a reach, she does not hold a course very well, and the autopilot is needed.

I think bottom line is both add on's are worth listing, since it seems both cost and different experiences make choosing between them a personal choice?

Cheers!

Chuck

Edited by - on

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