lw395
Well-Known Member
Greatest aid to safety and seaworthiness is a crew.
Sailing with the basics
- Thread starter ross84
- Start date
Uricanejack
Well-Known Member
My first boat was a 24ft C&C, I found for peanuts on the Internet.
It was being sold on line by a sailing charity. So a bit of a banger.
It had usable sails, rig, and a small 9hp Honda of very early 80s vintage, no interiors.
I sailed it home with my 8 and 10 year olds. After a trip to Walmart for some camping gear. And west marine to by
A set of tide tables.
The charts for the trip.
A local sailing guide.
A small boat emergency kit, included basic minimum requirements.
A flare gun.
I brought,
My binoculars
A Hand bearing compass
My hand held radio.
My harness, old Henri loyd jacket.
I had a Breton plotter dividers and pencil with an eraser on the end.
PFD old fashioned foam kind for each of us from my runabout.
A sheet of plywood and a skill saw to creat bunks.
We had possibly my best sailing trip ever.
Enjoy whichever little boat you like, I would pick the Sadler. With the outboard.
It was being sold on line by a sailing charity. So a bit of a banger.
It had usable sails, rig, and a small 9hp Honda of very early 80s vintage, no interiors.
I sailed it home with my 8 and 10 year olds. After a trip to Walmart for some camping gear. And west marine to by
A set of tide tables.
The charts for the trip.
A local sailing guide.
A small boat emergency kit, included basic minimum requirements.
A flare gun.
I brought,
My binoculars
A Hand bearing compass
My hand held radio.
My harness, old Henri loyd jacket.
I had a Breton plotter dividers and pencil with an eraser on the end.
PFD old fashioned foam kind for each of us from my runabout.
A sheet of plywood and a skill saw to creat bunks.
We had possibly my best sailing trip ever.
Enjoy whichever little boat you like, I would pick the Sadler. With the outboard.
John the kiwi
Well-Known Member
Yachting New Zealand safety regulations of sailing 2017-2020
The link is to a very good set of guidelines for appropriate equipment for yachts in different categories and situations. Find the category that is appropriate to your situation and use it as a check list.
With all due respect, the opinions above are the informal opinions of a bunch of blokes at the bar. All good opinions and i am not disagreeing with any of them, but the link attached is the result of a lot of professional study and time tempered by real life experiences then debated formally amongst the yachting community.
If you use it as a checklist, you may choose to omit some things and modify others, but at least you will have thought about them.
Good luck.
The link is to a very good set of guidelines for appropriate equipment for yachts in different categories and situations. Find the category that is appropriate to your situation and use it as a check list.
With all due respect, the opinions above are the informal opinions of a bunch of blokes at the bar. All good opinions and i am not disagreeing with any of them, but the link attached is the result of a lot of professional study and time tempered by real life experiences then debated formally amongst the yachting community.
If you use it as a checklist, you may choose to omit some things and modify others, but at least you will have thought about them.
Good luck.
Muddy32
Well-Known Member
If you can actually read all this without being completely put off, you don't ned any advice from here.
Some of us 60+ years ago, started with a cheap, small boat and had adventures and got scared. Best experience ever to learn from.
You will not be starting crossing the Irish sea for a few years, more like staying in an estuary, and not for long periods, think- afternoon if fair, learning about sailing and the boat, then maybe a day and then a big milestone when when you stay onboard, overnight.
As for foulweather gear - what the fishermen wear, waterproof and cheap.
You never know you may hate it.
Some of us 60+ years ago, started with a cheap, small boat and had adventures and got scared. Best experience ever to learn from.
You will not be starting crossing the Irish sea for a few years, more like staying in an estuary, and not for long periods, think- afternoon if fair, learning about sailing and the boat, then maybe a day and then a big milestone when when you stay onboard, overnight.
As for foulweather gear - what the fishermen wear, waterproof and cheap.
You never know you may hate it.
Stemar
Well-Known Member
I'm a big fan of a reliable inboard diesel but wouldn't turn my nose up at the right boat with an outboard.
Inboard
Pros: Drives the boat better, especially when it gets bumpy, Decent electrical output from the alternator, more economical, more reliable, theft-proof
Cons: More expensive to fix if you have a serious problem, heavy, but the weight's in more or less the right place.
Outboard
Pros: Cheaper to buy and repair, lighter, but the weight's right on the stern.
Cons: more expensive to run, doesn't drive the boat so well in rough water, greater risk of theft, many smaller engines don't provide any leccy and those that do don't give a lot.
In an ideal world, you wouldn't use the same OB for your dinghy, which wants a short leg, as your yacht which probably wants a long leg, but plenty of shoestring sailors do. My 3.5 short leg OB pushes my 24' Snappy along fine in smoothish water, but struggles when things get bumpy because the prop lifts out of the water, so not having an inboard would reduce my ability to chug home if the weather deteriorated.
Far from essential, but one of my better investments was a pair of 20W solar panels. They keep my batteries fully charged, even at anchor in the summer and, with a decent battery, will keep your autopilot going a lot longer. They were all I had space for, but more is always better.
Inboard
Pros: Drives the boat better, especially when it gets bumpy, Decent electrical output from the alternator, more economical, more reliable, theft-proof
Cons: More expensive to fix if you have a serious problem, heavy, but the weight's in more or less the right place.
Outboard
Pros: Cheaper to buy and repair, lighter, but the weight's right on the stern.
Cons: more expensive to run, doesn't drive the boat so well in rough water, greater risk of theft, many smaller engines don't provide any leccy and those that do don't give a lot.
In an ideal world, you wouldn't use the same OB for your dinghy, which wants a short leg, as your yacht which probably wants a long leg, but plenty of shoestring sailors do. My 3.5 short leg OB pushes my 24' Snappy along fine in smoothish water, but struggles when things get bumpy because the prop lifts out of the water, so not having an inboard would reduce my ability to chug home if the weather deteriorated.
Far from essential, but one of my better investments was a pair of 20W solar panels. They keep my batteries fully charged, even at anchor in the summer and, with a decent battery, will keep your autopilot going a lot longer. They were all I had space for, but more is always better.
Baggywrinkle
Well-Known Member
From what I remember of my childhood, we cruised a 22ft Kingfisher on the West Coast of Scotland. We had ....
Lifejackets, waterproofs, an echo sounder, a complete set of detailed charts for the cruising area plus the accompanying navigation instruments to go with them, a compass, a hand-bearing compass, a VHF, a LW radio for the shipping forecast, an avon dinghy, a seagull outboard which doubled as a reserve engine, a set of distress flares, a first aid kit, a fog horn, an anchor with about 30m of chain. We never had jackstays, but there was a harness and a lifeline for the helmsman.
That was enough for years of cruising from the Clyde to Tobermory and everywhere in between.
I'd just find a nice, well sorted boat and go from there.
Lifejackets, waterproofs, an echo sounder, a complete set of detailed charts for the cruising area plus the accompanying navigation instruments to go with them, a compass, a hand-bearing compass, a VHF, a LW radio for the shipping forecast, an avon dinghy, a seagull outboard which doubled as a reserve engine, a set of distress flares, a first aid kit, a fog horn, an anchor with about 30m of chain. We never had jackstays, but there was a harness and a lifeline for the helmsman.
That was enough for years of cruising from the Clyde to Tobermory and everywhere in between.
I'd just find a nice, well sorted boat and go from there.
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
For 3.5k that looks like a solid well equipped boat.
SimonFa
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't want to rely on a mobile phone, especially if single handing. There's still plenty of places without coverage and if you're in the water not easy to handle, even if you have a very good water proof case.
I have a DSC/VHF tethered to my, always worn, LJ. It provides for emergency if I'm in the water and conscious, but also situational awareness about anything happening in the area through monitoring Ch16 and local harbour master channels.
PS I have a PLB as well, but that's also for when I'm out hiking alone in remote areas.
ross84
Well-Known Member
Hmm thanks all. I guess I'll just start viewing yachts and see how it goes. Good to know I can get by with the basics and in a way prefer learning like this so you don't fall apart when the fancy gear stops working.
Quandary
Well-Known Member
Since you appear to be in Ireland ? where there are lots of Ruffian 23s I would recommend one of those, while these are mainly raced today in the classes that exist in Dun Laoghaire and Carrickfergus, in their youth many of them were used for overnight racing or longer distance cruising, they are durable, sail well and can cope with a heavy sea, while I owned an Achilles at the time I envied the Ruffians for their speed and space. Most of them by now have inboard engines, except the keenest racers.
At the time, 70s, for a race across to Scotland we would have paper charts, a compass, depth sounder, a log and an rdf which doubled as a hand bearing compass, a mobile phone or tablet now massively outperforms the latter two. Later we acquired a vhf and binoculars.
At the time, 70s, for a race across to Scotland we would have paper charts, a compass, depth sounder, a log and an rdf which doubled as a hand bearing compass, a mobile phone or tablet now massively outperforms the latter two. Later we acquired a vhf and binoculars.
jwilson
Well-Known Member
Did similar distances/passages in the 60s/70s with compass, handbearing compass, charts, pilot book and a leadline. That was it...... Didn't wear a lifejacket, boats with no guardwires. Did occasionally have a rope from mast tied round my waist if seriously rough. I was fit enough in those days to pull myself aboard again if I had to.
These days I have two independent plotters, VHF and AIS etc. etc. A lot of kit is nice but not essential if you are careful. Silly now though not to have a chart app on a phone or tablet as well as a paper chart, and a basic VHF.
These days I have two independent plotters, VHF and AIS etc. etc. A lot of kit is nice but not essential if you are careful. Silly now though not to have a chart app on a phone or tablet as well as a paper chart, and a basic VHF.
johnalison
Well-Known Member
Luxury. When we started in '71 we had to make do with a 22' boat with not-very waterproofs and a lot of wool, safety lines in the form of a cord with a couple of non-locking carbines, and no VHF. With a mega-upgrade to 25.5 ft we even managed to find the Continent a few times, including one crossing to Ijmuiden. As a gesture, we splashed out on a Blipper to replace the octagonal.
I think that our equipment was fully adequate for sailing in home waters. It would be hard to recommend going offshore without GPS and VHF, though I don't think I would be critical of anyone doing it providing they had experience and the rest of the boat was sound. To start out, at least for a year or two, without GPS would help to hone essential skills and would be a good basis to build on.
RJJ
Well-Known Member
I think we should assume OP is aware of the need to learn on the job and stretch himself bit by bit. Not setting off for Dublin next weekend regardless of weather.
I do recommend trying to go sailing with a few people on different boats if at all possible. For folkboats , for example, there is a strong association and if you write politely to the secretary, as a potential owner, you can expect some response. Two years ago we bought our boat (a Dufour) following no less than five intros and two outings, via this exact route.
Once you are up and running, remember it's a marathon not a sprint. You'll be fine in a force 6...if you've sailed in a force 5. If you've only sailed in a force 3, you shouldn't go out in a force 6. Do an all day passage in open water, then get a few evening night hours before trying actual overnight, that sort of thing.
Singlehanded Irish Sea...I have no local knowledge, but is it considered safe in a little boat given shipping/fishing activity? Sounds like quite hard graft and lots of looking out, not much rest. But that's singlehanding in general.
Good luck
I do recommend trying to go sailing with a few people on different boats if at all possible. For folkboats , for example, there is a strong association and if you write politely to the secretary, as a potential owner, you can expect some response. Two years ago we bought our boat (a Dufour) following no less than five intros and two outings, via this exact route.
Once you are up and running, remember it's a marathon not a sprint. You'll be fine in a force 6...if you've sailed in a force 5. If you've only sailed in a force 3, you shouldn't go out in a force 6. Do an all day passage in open water, then get a few evening night hours before trying actual overnight, that sort of thing.
Singlehanded Irish Sea...I have no local knowledge, but is it considered safe in a little boat given shipping/fishing activity? Sounds like quite hard graft and lots of looking out, not much rest. But that's singlehanding in general.
Good luck
