Boat crib sheet/quick reference tablet

M

matnoo

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Joined
6 Jun 2006
Messages
171
Location
Solihull, W.mids
www.faceparty.com
I have an area that is easily visable from most areas of my boat, especially the cockpit. As I (and several of my friends) will be learning how to sail on my boat I would like to put a crib sheet with:

1.All information that might need knowing quickly
2.Bits and bobs that need to be learnt that can be revised during less frantic times of the journey!

The area is about chest size, Ill seal it in acrylic so its solid and waterproof and attach it to the wall. Will be used as a table too!

On it I have so far:
Nautical flags and meanings
Cardinal system&buoys
diagram of a sail
a boat with parts labled
All compass points N, N by E, NNE, NE by N, etc
diagram showing closehauled, close reach etc compared to wind
My boats draught, length, beam, height
How to send a distress call


Still have ample room, can you think of anything else worth putting on there. Dont want to clutter it up, but its still looking a bit sparse at the moment...

Mat
 
Obviously different peoples' memories work in different ways but the things I always have to look up, despite having sailed more years than like to admit to are:
Lights (fishing boats, pilot boats, towing etc.).
VHF working channels for the harbours I'm visiting, and more than one vhf ship-to-ship channel. (Not that you ever have to call up another vessel very often).
Times and frequencies of weather forecasts.
 
Why not keep an area of the board plain white and have a wipe clean marker handy for making notes specific to the trip?

Just a thought !
 
It is a thought, although another option is to make those notes in the log: on pre-printed ones the left hand page is blank, and I use it for passage planning notes like tide times, weather forecast, whose round it is this week, etc. You don't wipe them out when you next go sailing then. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]

On it I have so far:
Nautical flags and meanings
Cardinal system&buoys
diagram of a sail
a boat with parts labled
All compass points N, N by E, NNE, NE by N, etc
diagram showing closehauled, close reach etc compared to wind
My boats draught, length, beam, height
How to send a distress call


[/ QUOTE ]

At the risk of being shot down, why on earth do you need to have the flag signals to hand? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

How about sound signals and their meanings? (Incl. 'fog' signals)
and a COLREGS reminder (diagram showing who is stand-on / give way in a variety of situations, motoring or sailing).
Day shapes (in particular fishing boats and 'A' flag for divers)

I second the suggestion for VHF channels, after calling up the Port of Liverpool tell them my tender had broken loose in Conwy harbour (channel 12 instead of 14) /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Andy
 
I've laminated up a safety crib sheet with a note of where flares & harness are, notes on MOB procedure, VHF distress calls, use of flares & general sea safety; otherwise I use the Skippers ? ? handbook
 
Mat,
You might want a representation of the boat showing where the wind is and where the boom is on port tack and starboard tack - beginners always fine this confusing.
A good tip for the inexperienced helmsman (or even just a tired one) is: Point the tiller at the sail you want to fill. If you have a wheel you have to modifiy this to: Point the bottom of the wheel at the sail you want to fill.
To help with telling west from east cardinal marks: The topmark on a west cardinal is like a waist - west.
When you get more experience with your boat you will be able to post sail combinations for different wind conditions and references for jib car locations, halyard tension, backstay tension.
That's all that springs to mind at the moment.
 
A laminated sheet with instructions about what to do if YOU fall in.

Including exact drill for mayday 1) turn radio on...2) tune 16...

include exact words, something like "The skipper has fallen overboard and the crew are too inexperienced be sure of retreiving him/her"....

Don't forget to tell them to let go the PTT. They will be scared witless...
 
Not sure about the value of code flags these days, and the VHF insructions should be a separate laminated sheet close to the set

Sparse is good - gives you plenty of room to use whiteboard markers for specifics, eg today we're going to do man overboard here's a list of actions. Also, list todays VHF channels, weather forecasts, tides etc
 
[ QUOTE ]
A good tip for the inexperienced helmsman (or even just a tired one) is: Point the tiller at the sail you want to fill. If you have a wheel you have to modifiy this to: Point the bottom of the wheel at the sail you want to fill.


[/ QUOTE ]

Now you've got me confused.... If I push the tiller towards a sail, I'm heading more into wind, ditto the bottom of the wheel.

I must be misunderstanding what you mean, because I do whatever you need to do instinctively.

Cheers

Richard
 
Damn, missed out an entire sentence! It only applies when running downwind, of course, which is when beginners find it difficult to keep the sails full.
 
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