For under £20 - REALLY USEFUL liveaboard kit - thread

[Anonymous]

Here's a thread where we can share simple projects, ideas or kit with the emphasis on low cost high benefit.

My first contribution is a single electric cooker 'ring' bought in Italy for around €10. The element is 450W and I have added a 500W lamp dimmer to control it (the ring does switch on and off on its own nonadjustable thermostat but that is too coarse). I've painted the side of the controller with Tippex so that I can mark our favorite settings.

We had never managed to do braises, make soups, etc. until we had this as it was impossible to control the gas low enough or the flame would blow out if using a diffuser plate. Being electric it is free to run in many marinas. Very controllable and is powerful enough to re-heat enough stew for four quite quickly or leave something slow cooking all afternoon. Acts as an extra ring for gravy, etc.

I have run it from our invertor when the batteries are full and the solar panels are providing full output. When set very cool i.e. for simmering braises the power from the batteries is quite modest and acceptable if you have good solar or wind power, or while you are running the engine.

 

[TigaWave]

Personal attack alarm.

Less than £5.00, using a length of fishing line can be used attached to open hatches, or as a trip wire activated alarm across aft or fore deck, or attached to your outboard or other valuables on deck, lazarette, cockpit lockers. Pocket size, batteries have now lasted for over 4 years.
I use a very strong double sided tape to mount them, which allows them to be re positioned.

On a boat the siren will wake the dead, and any intruder will not stay long, means you can sleep well with hatches left open in hot climates or relax when bow or stern to in quiet or roughish harbours.

 

[vyv_cox]

Here's one of mine, first seen on a boat in New Zealand. We had no hesitation in copying it and find it very useful.

The rungs of the ladder could be any suitable lengths of timber but we use two of the four carpet-wrapped pieces of 2 x 3 inch that we put between the hull and lifting strops to protect our toe-rails from being crushed. The fenders are small, Plastimo ones with a central hole for the rope. The blue polyprop ropes are used with the timber in its primary duty and are normally removed.

This ladder holds the rungs away from the hull, puts fenders against it for low damage potential and keeps the dinghy away as a bonus.

 

[JRiley]

If you can't rig something like Lemain, and want to make soups, stews etc, try using a pressure cooker and food flask. Make your soup or whatever in the morning - pressure cook for around ten minutes, then pop it in a food flask (available for under £20), and leave it for the day. We've found the results to be as good as something that's been cooked for several hours in a low oven. Saves fuel too.

 

[vyv_cox]

---- and any intruder will not stay long---

Does it work with rats? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

In the Ionian rats are a constant threat, especially when berthed stern-to or worse, alongside. We have twice had an unwelcome intruder and have spoken to many liveaboards who have had real problems with their reluctance to leave. A recent purchase for us, as they don't seem to be very common in Greece, has been a man-sized 'Little Nipper' to deal with any future visitations.

 

[Anonymous]

A friend staying here in Almerimar is a 'proper' chef and he's been experimenting with flasks. Apparently the results are good. I don't think that the pressure cooker is essential, if you haven't already got one you can manage without as the temperature falls to the level appropriate to ambient pressure quite quickly.

 

[scarlett]

In France they sell low wattage 'Racettes', bare rings with a grill tray on top costing £10 up depending on size. They fit neatly into the fiddles when in a marina, saving the gas and can be used as a space heater on a cold night.

On the subject of Greek rats one must assume them to be everywhere. We were at anchor in the very middle of Lakka bay and were boarded on two nights by at least one rat gaining access to the swim platform with wave action. It left its calling card but ate nothing.

I have seen them in almost every harbour. They are there in numbers in Preveza but didn't trouble me . They live in the sewage pipes that discharge into the harbour. The fat from the restaurants condenses out and they love it.

 

[Gerry]

Looking around our boat its amazing the bits that have come in useful...
the turkey baster that removes liquids from under the engine, no mess!
Long handled tongs that can reach into the bilges to retrieve dropped tools.
Both bought from www.lakelandlimited.co.uk.
we also bought an old fashioned 'washing dolly' from the same company. basically a stainless steel plunger on a stick that agitates the clothes in the bucket, wouldn't be without it!

I love that company Lakeland, as I get older their catalogue is much more fun than pornography!

www.gerryantics.blogspot.com

 

[vyv_cox]

---- On the subject of Greek rats one must assume them to be everywhere. We were at anchor in the very middle of Lakka bay and were boarded on two nights by at least one rat gaining access to the swim platform with wave action. It left its calling card but ate nothing. ---

I have been told by at least three independent liveaboards that they have witnessed rats swimming out to boats and climbing anchor chain aboard. A washing-up bowl slit to half way across its diameter can be opened over the chain to prevent these boardings.

Another source of infestation is via shore lines. One neat (and free) way that I have been told will prevent such boardings is to take a 1.5 or 2 litre water bottle, cut two warp-sized holes diametrically opposite each other about half way up the bottle. Cut a slit between them on one side so that the bottle can be slid over the rope. Put a small amount of water in the bottle. It then hangs upright on the warp.

When a rat approaches the bottle it cannot reach around its sides, so tries to climb over. As it does so the bottle rotates and the rat falls off. Apparently this is a very successful method, better than the disc or cone that is perhaps more common.

 

[Gerry]

Any suggestions for keeping snakes off the boat? We have had boas swim out to us at anchor and climb up the anchor chain. very disconcerting to find them curled around the spare anchor!!!

www.gerryantics.blogspot.com

 

[albineer]

Re: turkey baster

I use a Colley siphon pump for similar jobs. I have another one for transferring diesel fuel from a storage can to the tank. It's much easier than using a funnel.

 

[rogerthebodger]

I keep a plastic snake in the back of my car on view from outside.

Better than any car alarm.

Keep one on deck and it will keep seaguls and intruders away.

 

[Amari]

A month or so ago I wrote to Practical Boat Owner suggesting a monthly 'Favourite piece of boat kit', enclosing a couple of mine - brief text and photo. They seem to think it a good idea and will pay £25 for any published.

 

[DaveNTL]

[ QUOTE ]
I keep a plastic snake in the back of my car on view from outside.

Better than any car alarm.

[/ QUOTE ]

My friends Dad in Cape Town was annoyed at baboons crapping on his car bonnet when he went down the cliff to go fishing and used the same rubber snake trick.

He came back one day to find his car a complete wreck. The baboons had spotted the snake, got annoyed, tore his wipers and vinyl roof covering off then retreated to the cliff side to continue throwing rocks at it.

He put up with baboon crap after that.

 

[rogerthebodger]

We don't have the same kind of baboons in johannesburg as they have in Cape Town, and I am saying no more.

 

[johnpickers]

I recently bought a cheap (£5) coffee cup called Flej which I have found useful. It has a simple (no batteries) stirring system built in so you don't need a teaspoon which is bril because my wife never stirs properly. To use it, all you do is suck (I know it sounds weird) on the hole you drink through a couple of times. The thing is actually quite clever. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Just googled it. The company's website is www.flejoriginals.com

 

[JamesFrance]

I am not sure if I should confess to this one and it is in no way a recommendation, but a long time ago mine was a piece of plastic hose and 2 Jubilee clips.

Of course you all know the problems of trying to get gas cylinders refilled?

I used to hoist a local cylinder up on a halliard and refill my Calor cylinders which were always a bit larger than the usual 11kg. That way I never had a problem changing countries.

The full cylinder was inverted, the tube connected and the taps opened. It seemed quite safe to me then but now I am not so sure, being a lot older and more cautious.

 

[peter60]

a boat without a pressure cooker is like a man without a boat

 

[peter60]

Re: turkey baster

We bought a simple tube for fuel transfer and have used it in a gale to refill our tanks from gerry cans on our Colvic Watson 32 you can buy them from most chandelers it consists of aaplastic tube .in one end is a S/Steel fitting with a lastic bead in all you do is put that end in the can the other in the tank and give it a couple of shakes and 1 min later you have 10 litres in the tank rate 10mm 10 litres an hr 25mm 25 litres an hr

 

[Grehan]

shake the tube

I've seen those demo'd at shows - they really work then? Amazing!
One that looked like a snake could be nifty . . . /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif