iangrant
New member
May or may not be of interest but here you have a kit list and my views and some of the pains
Equipment
Adverc DCM Voltage/Amp monitor.Seems to work OK but sticky rotary switch has to be tweaked to get correct reading in amps position.
Air Marine wind generator
Fantastic power production 10/15 amps in a F6 but VERY noisy. Spare blades are over 100 pounds a set, good backup service. Less effective downwind
Aquagen towed generator,
Same support as above excellent – re-building the beast with new bearings – spare blades expensive -
Sterling 1800 watt inverter
Does the job good output but interferes with the SSB. Enough puff to drive Mrs G hairdrier - Ha.
Genoa x 2
New one from Arun sails plus existing refurbishment of originals
Main x 2As above
Cruising Chute
Sock is worth it’s weight in gold, top pulley split and jammed the down cover it up again bit – ouch ..
Storm Gib
On inner forestay works, needs lots of wind! Running backstays work a treat, recommended by rigger to use windward running backstay in big downwind bits..
Fortress FX 37 storm anchor with 100 M chain and 22mm Nylon warp
Not tried yet BIG beast could chop fingers off. Lots of spare chain and rope.
MLR FX412 DGPS
I prefer Garmin user interface but seems to run PC nav OK. Via Serial/USB converter and Hub
Garmin 12
Good solid hand held – beware they don’t do a data/power cable for this unit! Eats 4 batteries at a time.
Garmin 156
140 quid later this one does support data/power cable- installed to stop VHF DSC from bleeping quite so much!
USB GPS tripnav Rayming v TN-200
Good little dongle works as well as the DGPS fixed MLR and needs no external power, runs off USB on laptop USB Hub works well.
Simrad RD68 DSC VHF
Small and display buttons hard to see – NO chance of doing a DSC “alert description” – all too small – will not transmit when batteries are below 11.6 volts
ICOM M710 SSB MF/HF
A fine beast – yet to be used in anger – does pull 25 amps though on xmit - Old industry standard yacht SSB Defaults to HF3 on 2182 emergency not J3E
C.A.R.D. Collision Avoidance Radar Detector.
Great little unit So simple to use – if there is a ship nearby – it beeps in time to it's radar sweeps.
Thrane & Thrane Inmarsat Mini M satellite telephone/e-mail Good ‘phone system but a fortune to buy and install.– No line rental with France telecom, Skyfile email is cut down outlook express – works well – 1.80 dollars a minute – could fry crews brains when standing close to the dish.
ICS NAV6 Navtex Excellent works fine once you filter out the ice reports!! Can interface all sorts (see Amaya had a spy post)
Pains Wessex GPS 406 Mhz EPIRB.
Free upgrade completed by manufacturer hope I never need to see if it works
Aries windvane self-steering,
New model, Oh a fine thing – yet to be tested in anger – wrapped meself up in knots with this little charmer setting it up
Raytheon ST 1000+ back-up Autopilot Clips to the beast above for downwind sailing when the vane don’t work!
Sony MP3 CD/Radio with cockpit speakers Input for ipod good and loud standard car one that works fine.
Eberspacher DL5 diesel cabin heating Don’t ask – had all sorts of grief with a new one until I spoke to Eberthingy UK who instructed “dealer” to fit another new one!
Spectra 380C 60lph 12 volt watermaker
Pipes and pipes and pumps and switches and filters and pickle solutions and oooo er not tested yet..help
Zodiac 6 man Ocean liferaft (2001) Serviced 04/2004
Fine commercial grade liferaft with ladders and platforms etc.. – I've sat in it, seen it blown up – thankfully it's not like the other “ocean” ones I’ve seen. No names…
Tri-Buckle Mob Hoist
Seems like it could work well – Tome tells me it is uncomfortable being rolled up the side of the boat – would need to cut the guard rails to roll the casualty in!
Mob Sling and throwbag
Looks like it does the job.
Heaving line As above
5 fire extinguishers
All seem to have indicators in the green bit - fireman crew says they are all OK – interesting to hear that fire brigade advise against fire blankets now in domestic situations.
1 engine room auto fire extinguisher
Got a wax bit on the end.
RORC + flare pack (2001) + (2004)
Bl**dy expensive…check dates before you buy – insist on latest stock please..
Comprehensive off-shore first aid kit plus "medipac" Plus Blood pressure Monitor etc....
Medipac have their own website that describes what they do – The kit includes some serious drugs and a letter for customs enclosed. Includes a phone no for 24/7 doctor contact.
1 million candle power lamp
Swindlery 30 quid – Robert dyas 4 quid!!
PC Off inverter, printer (2005) Laptop back up. Skyfile EmailCheap 25 quid HP printer for charts/letters to rubber stamp..!! JVComm is simple and works from the SSB to the sound card RTTY, Northwood and German weatherfaxes. Stable system for weather chart reception.
Navmaster software including ARCs worlds charts Updated to 2005
Good solid commercial grade nav software if Bl**dy expensive– easy to use and keeps a good log. Displays rastor admiralty charts, great "voyages" on familiar charts.
For pilotage/inshore Cmap Vector charts on CM93 work better in harbour areas, zooming in to pontoon level..
Paper Charts
BIG ones paper, proper grown up ships ones!!
2 Stroke 950 watt generator
Vacuum packing this 50 quid lump in case of catastrophic power failure. 12 volt or 240 output
Gas shutoff
Needed in the West Indies (I think) certainly in USA – 12 V solenoid shuts off gas by a switch on the chart table.
Gas Bottles Aluminum
Needed for propane ‘cause they don’t refill calor Butane ones.
Nav mast lights
Battery ones – spare in case electric Gods make all volts go..
Alternator Dual alternators
Superstart of Southbourne – Brilliant, typical bl**dy new port one interferes with SSB sod it!
RORC Danbuoy with light
Expensive stick with a light – should do the job
Hot water tank colirifierreklkre
B*stard job to replace – stainless tank fine – fittings rot out!!
Big Furuno Radar
Does the job..Big old Cathode ray tube not pretty
B&G Instruments
Old but seem to work OK all connected to a central “B&G computer” - they reckon it will i'fac eto GPS. Over 40 Kts the wind readout goes bonkers – (well so do I) Depth reads 1.0 metres when in disturbed waters (ferry wake)
Fuel Filters
Separs need topping up after cleaning out and bleeding. John Cutler was the only one who could supply the right ones!
Hope of interest, I'm sure I've left loads off..
Ian
Equipment
Adverc DCM Voltage/Amp monitor.Seems to work OK but sticky rotary switch has to be tweaked to get correct reading in amps position.
Air Marine wind generator
Fantastic power production 10/15 amps in a F6 but VERY noisy. Spare blades are over 100 pounds a set, good backup service. Less effective downwind
Aquagen towed generator,
Same support as above excellent – re-building the beast with new bearings – spare blades expensive -
Sterling 1800 watt inverter
Does the job good output but interferes with the SSB. Enough puff to drive Mrs G hairdrier - Ha.
Genoa x 2
New one from Arun sails plus existing refurbishment of originals
Main x 2As above
Cruising Chute
Sock is worth it’s weight in gold, top pulley split and jammed the down cover it up again bit – ouch ..
Storm Gib
On inner forestay works, needs lots of wind! Running backstays work a treat, recommended by rigger to use windward running backstay in big downwind bits..
Fortress FX 37 storm anchor with 100 M chain and 22mm Nylon warp
Not tried yet BIG beast could chop fingers off. Lots of spare chain and rope.
MLR FX412 DGPS
I prefer Garmin user interface but seems to run PC nav OK. Via Serial/USB converter and Hub
Garmin 12
Good solid hand held – beware they don’t do a data/power cable for this unit! Eats 4 batteries at a time.
Garmin 156
140 quid later this one does support data/power cable- installed to stop VHF DSC from bleeping quite so much!
USB GPS tripnav Rayming v TN-200
Good little dongle works as well as the DGPS fixed MLR and needs no external power, runs off USB on laptop USB Hub works well.
Simrad RD68 DSC VHF
Small and display buttons hard to see – NO chance of doing a DSC “alert description” – all too small – will not transmit when batteries are below 11.6 volts
ICOM M710 SSB MF/HF
A fine beast – yet to be used in anger – does pull 25 amps though on xmit - Old industry standard yacht SSB Defaults to HF3 on 2182 emergency not J3E
C.A.R.D. Collision Avoidance Radar Detector.
Great little unit So simple to use – if there is a ship nearby – it beeps in time to it's radar sweeps.
Thrane & Thrane Inmarsat Mini M satellite telephone/e-mail Good ‘phone system but a fortune to buy and install.– No line rental with France telecom, Skyfile email is cut down outlook express – works well – 1.80 dollars a minute – could fry crews brains when standing close to the dish.
ICS NAV6 Navtex Excellent works fine once you filter out the ice reports!! Can interface all sorts (see Amaya had a spy post)
Pains Wessex GPS 406 Mhz EPIRB.
Free upgrade completed by manufacturer hope I never need to see if it works
Aries windvane self-steering,
New model, Oh a fine thing – yet to be tested in anger – wrapped meself up in knots with this little charmer setting it up
Raytheon ST 1000+ back-up Autopilot Clips to the beast above for downwind sailing when the vane don’t work!
Sony MP3 CD/Radio with cockpit speakers Input for ipod good and loud standard car one that works fine.
Eberspacher DL5 diesel cabin heating Don’t ask – had all sorts of grief with a new one until I spoke to Eberthingy UK who instructed “dealer” to fit another new one!
Spectra 380C 60lph 12 volt watermaker
Pipes and pipes and pumps and switches and filters and pickle solutions and oooo er not tested yet..help
Zodiac 6 man Ocean liferaft (2001) Serviced 04/2004
Fine commercial grade liferaft with ladders and platforms etc.. – I've sat in it, seen it blown up – thankfully it's not like the other “ocean” ones I’ve seen. No names…
Tri-Buckle Mob Hoist
Seems like it could work well – Tome tells me it is uncomfortable being rolled up the side of the boat – would need to cut the guard rails to roll the casualty in!
Mob Sling and throwbag
Looks like it does the job.
Heaving line As above
5 fire extinguishers
All seem to have indicators in the green bit - fireman crew says they are all OK – interesting to hear that fire brigade advise against fire blankets now in domestic situations.
1 engine room auto fire extinguisher
Got a wax bit on the end.
RORC + flare pack (2001) + (2004)
Bl**dy expensive…check dates before you buy – insist on latest stock please..
Comprehensive off-shore first aid kit plus "medipac" Plus Blood pressure Monitor etc....
Medipac have their own website that describes what they do – The kit includes some serious drugs and a letter for customs enclosed. Includes a phone no for 24/7 doctor contact.
1 million candle power lamp
Swindlery 30 quid – Robert dyas 4 quid!!
PC Off inverter, printer (2005) Laptop back up. Skyfile EmailCheap 25 quid HP printer for charts/letters to rubber stamp..!! JVComm is simple and works from the SSB to the sound card RTTY, Northwood and German weatherfaxes. Stable system for weather chart reception.
Navmaster software including ARCs worlds charts Updated to 2005
Good solid commercial grade nav software if Bl**dy expensive– easy to use and keeps a good log. Displays rastor admiralty charts, great "voyages" on familiar charts.
For pilotage/inshore Cmap Vector charts on CM93 work better in harbour areas, zooming in to pontoon level..
Paper Charts
BIG ones paper, proper grown up ships ones!!
2 Stroke 950 watt generator
Vacuum packing this 50 quid lump in case of catastrophic power failure. 12 volt or 240 output
Gas shutoff
Needed in the West Indies (I think) certainly in USA – 12 V solenoid shuts off gas by a switch on the chart table.
Gas Bottles Aluminum
Needed for propane ‘cause they don’t refill calor Butane ones.
Nav mast lights
Battery ones – spare in case electric Gods make all volts go..
Alternator Dual alternators
Superstart of Southbourne – Brilliant, typical bl**dy new port one interferes with SSB sod it!
RORC Danbuoy with light
Expensive stick with a light – should do the job
Hot water tank colirifierreklkre
B*stard job to replace – stainless tank fine – fittings rot out!!
Big Furuno Radar
Does the job..Big old Cathode ray tube not pretty
B&G Instruments
Old but seem to work OK all connected to a central “B&G computer” - they reckon it will i'fac eto GPS. Over 40 Kts the wind readout goes bonkers – (well so do I) Depth reads 1.0 metres when in disturbed waters (ferry wake)
Fuel Filters
Separs need topping up after cleaning out and bleeding. John Cutler was the only one who could supply the right ones!
Hope of interest, I'm sure I've left loads off..
Ian
