What instruments do you have onboard?

Instruments

HH GPS, HB compass, bulkhead compass and one on a bracket to get in the way, NASA depth
and a tillerpilot (not an instrument I suppose). Radios of course but no log. Webcraft's approval of plotter might tip the balance to getting one - certainly make it easier singlehanded.
 
Lead line - (always use this when anchoring or if depth is really critical (in conjunction with the next one)
Electronic depth sounder - useful as a general guide, especially now I've got a fin keel
Wasp trailing log - great this but always worry about losing the one and only spinner
Paddle wheel log - occasionally gives the right reading but difficult to know when to trust it.
Bulhead steering compass x2 and a 360 degree steering compass on hatch cover - I think a previous owner was a compassophile!
VHF (Non DSC) - used for checking the handheld VHF works
Handheld VHF - used for checking the ship VHF works
Handheld GPS - showing its age a bit, takes about 1/4 hour to find satellites!
Handheld compass
Engine rev counter
Tiller pilot (if my repairs have been successful this year?) - a very useful alternative to tiller lashings
Mobile phone - provides weather forecasts, tide tables etc
Handheld anenometer
...oh and does the burgee at the masthead count as an "instrument"
 
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I've got pretty much everything mentioned already plus my most useful bit of kit is the EPIRB. If I run out of fuel or it gets too windy to use the sails, I only need to fire up the EPIRB for an almost instant response from the lifeboat who can be relied on to give me a gallon of juice or tow me in to the nearest port - a very handy device, simpler to use than my VHF and it's served me well on the number of occasions since I bought it secondhand on eBay.

Cheers, Brian.
 
flobbergob said:
I've got pretty much everything mentioned already plus my most useful bit of kit is the EPIRB. If I run out of fuel or it gets too windy to use the sails, I only need to fire up the EPIRB for an almost instant response from the lifeboat who can be relied on to give me a gallon of juice or tow me in to the nearest port - a very handy device, simpler to use than my VHF and it's served me well on the number of occasions since I bought it secondhand on eBay.

Cheers, Brian.
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Isn't that a bit naughty? Setting off an EPIRB is the equivalent of a MAYDAY, isn't it? Unless you or your boat are in imminent danger, shouldn't you be using the VHF to send a Pan Pan?
 
bigwow said:
Am I the only one with an RDF, deep down in one of the lockers which hasn't seen the light of day for years?
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No, not the only one.... Actually my boat has two RDFs one fixed with antenna on a cable and one pure "handheld" - I guess you can't be too careful and should always carry a spare backup of those critical navigation instruments!
 
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flobbergob said:
I've got pretty much everything mentioned already plus my most useful bit of kit is the EPIRB. If I run out of fuel or it gets too windy to use the sails, I only need to fire up the EPIRB for an almost instant response from the lifeboat who can be relied on to give me a gallon of juice or tow me in to the nearest port - a very handy device, simpler to use than my VHF and it's served me well on the number of occasions since I bought it secondhand on eBay.

Cheers, Brian.
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That´s not the way to proceed my friend.
An EPIRB is something to use when lifes and boat are in extreme danger. To move a lifeboat just for a can of diesel or to tow you just because there´s no wind is extremely unpolite.
Lifeboats and lifemen are not there to do the kind of things you say.
 
In the cockpit: Compass, regularly swung (and not in anger!).
Hand held compass
Hand held GPS
Hand held VHF
Fishfinder/depth gauge
Whistle (To alert crew below in case of emergency)
Monitor wind vane

Below decks: Mounted GPS
Barometer/hygrometer/thermometer (2 of)
VHF Icom
SSB Icom 700 pro
Victron battery monitor


And that"s it! Had a lot more once but after a couple of lightning strikes have realised that what we cannot repair we should not carry. So far, I miss very little.

We have a tillerpilot that attaches to the monitor for those windless motors. A spare fishfinder, handheld GPS and handheld VHF....

Should I feel left out!


www.gerryantics.blogspot.com
 
For ordering beer/rum only

Only ever use it if you're low on Beer or Rum :D


flobbergob said:
I've got pretty much everything mentioned already plus my most useful bit of kit is the EPIRB. If I run out of fuel or it gets too windy to use the sails, I only need to fire up the EPIRB for an almost instant response from the lifeboat who can be relied on to give me a gallon of juice or tow me in to the nearest port - a very handy device, simpler to use than my VHF and it's served me well on the number of occasions since I bought it secondhand on eBay.

Cheers, Brian.
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fireball said:
There are loads of gadgets designed to help ease our wallets ... from the basic Log/Depth, Wind & GPS repeaters to the likes of Rudder Sensors and Close Wind indicators..

we have
At the Wheel: Autohelm, TriData, Chartplotter/Radar
Forward in the cockpit: Wind, TriData repeater & Chartplotter/AIS
At the Chart Table: GPS Info (on the VHF)

So - what do you have on your boat? And what am I missing out on?
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7614burglar.jpg


p.s. stop giving them an excuse to make lists!!
 
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Interesting - the number who consider the VHF an instrument - I suppose it could be classed as one - ours (and remote fist mike) does act as a GPS repeater but I never really use it as such so not thought about it! - and an mobile!! blimey we're over run with instruments then ...

I didn't mention the Eprib either (came with the boat) ... or the signalling mirror ... but perhaps I should mention the seaweed we had last year ... it was a very good instrument - if it was wet it meant we were afloat, if it was dry we had either been sailing on one tack for too long or had hit the bottom.... ;)
 
JomsViking said:
Only ever use it if you're low on Beer or Rum :D
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I didn't like to mention using the thing for alcohol stores replenishment in case it gave the idea I sail in an alcoholic stupor which is of course illegal nowadays mores the pity, but yes, you're quite right, in my case if the bottle of Baileys falls below the halfway level or the ice cubes start melting, it's a definite blast on the EPIRB, almost like having your own butler on hand. But then I am a Shoreline member so need to get some value out of my subscription.

Cheers, Brian.
 
flobbergob said:
I didn't like to mention using the thing for alcohol stores replenishment in case it gave the idea I sail in an alcoholic stupor which is of course illegal nowadays mores the pity, but yes, you're quite right, in my case if the bottle of Baileys falls below the halfway level or the ice cubes start melting, it's a definite blast on the EPIRB, almost like having your own butler on hand. But then I am a Shoreline member so need to get some value out of my subscription.

Cheers, Brian.
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i think you might blow a couple of poster`s gaskets if you carry on like this
 
That's ok - he carries spare gaskets onboard - it's the cheese'n'biscuits he runs out of on a regular basis ... we're thinking of doing a provisioning dump on specific channel buoys just so he doesn't have to sail too far ... them Eprib batteries ain't cheap you know!
 
fireball said:
So - what do you have on your boat?
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Old boat: Compass, windex, Seafarer whirlie echo sounder, Walker log, VHF, Garmin GPS 72 if needed.

New boat: Compass, windex, VHF, wind thingie, log/depth thingie, Garmin GPS128, Navtex, CARD radar detector.

I'm not really bothered about any of the extra stuff on the new boat, and certainly wouldn't replace any of it if it died. One of last week's jobs was fitting the deckplates for the Walker log!

Ian
 
We have the following

Full set of Wireless Tak Tik intruments - Wind x 2 we show True and apparent on each, and skipper can take one to his bunk so that he can see what the wind is doing.

Autohelm - Autopilot with rudder angle - not connected to GPS.

Compass - new plastimo that hopefully is better than discarded Silva, that said we were going round in circles.

Engine: Rev counter, Oil pressure gauge, Temp Gauge, and exhaust overheat alarm.

Down below at chart table - TakTik multi display, Garmin GPS. Navtex. VHF.....

And a Violin, pair of bag pipes ...... so you have been warned
 
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