Minimalist Or Not

[Assassin]

Most of us take most of the kit we have fitted to our boats for granted, but is it necessarily a good thing? more kit means more power which equals more fuel for generators, so do we really need the kit or not.
Boat manufacturers are also fitting more kit as standard, are they playing to the market or simply going over the top? and is all this additional kit just something else to go wrong.

On the other hand there are the minimalist boaters, little kit, less power consumption, and less to go wrong; maybe its a financial thing as many people cannot afford a lot of the kit now fitted and get on fine without it.

Heres one thrown into the drink for discussion.

 

[burgundyben]

Yes, minimalist on board ours.

No heating.
No hot water.
No fresh water, just a jerry can.
No radar.
No chart plotter.
No fridge.


Other than a radio, GPS, log and echo sounder and cabin lights there is nothing.

Never have to fix anything!

 

[rafiki_]

How can you enjoy boating without a fridge? Madness!!!

 

[cem]

How can you enjoy boating without a fridge? Madness!!!

+1^^^^^^

 

[burgundyben]

We use a cool box with bags of ice.

If we're on board for longer than a day we take a 12v cool box.

 

[cem]

We use a cool box with bags of ice.

If we're on board for longer than a day we take a 12v cool box.

forgiven, you have it covered

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

I have to agree that I'm all for minimalism when it comes to nav kit. IMHO, nav equipment seems to be going the same way as mobile phones, loaded with useless applications that only geeks can work out how to use and which serve no useful purpose. I started boating when you could find any place with a Decca receiver. Now it seems, nobody can safely leave the marina without dozens of computer screens piped up to broadband internet in order to tell you where the nearest Indian takeaway is

 

[CX54WEK]

We keep things fairly minimalist aboard. Yes we have heating, hot and cold runing water, chart plotter, and a fridge (cant manage without the fridge), but other than that all of our systems are very simple. No need for a genny or huge battery bank, nor a huge boat.

We have just had a very enjoyable week aboard, heading from Lincoln to Wells next the Sea and never wanted for anything we didnt have aboard. Our next holiday aboard is a two week trip from Lincoln to Southwold, then the Norfolk Broads and back to Lincoln again in two weeks.