In last week's blog post, I listed some of the gear that I consider essential for the cruising sailor. In this post, I'll finish off my list of essentials. Although many of these items are cheaper and smaller, they are no less important.
As a reminder, the following is a partial list of the products, gear and equipment that work for me. I'm generally on the water at least 20-25 days a month -- ample opportunity to use and wear out equipment and separate the great from the average. This list is geared towards the cruiser, generally sailing coastal or near-coastal passages during daylight hours and in tropical conditions.
Please note, I am not a paid spokesperson for any of these products and do not get a commission! But maybe one day I'll pick up a sponsorship here and there. 🤞
Practical
Dryer Sheets
What I use:
Why I use them:
When I go on a multi-day or multi-week trip, it's impossible to pack enough clean clothing to last the duration. Enter the humble laundry sheet!
You may have noticed that laundry sheets have become all the rage and are starting to become more and more common (thanks to mother-in-law for introducing them to me). In addition to being WAY better for the planet by reducing single-use plastics, laundry sheets are great because they are compact and travel well without the risk of liquid detergent spilling.
Many marinas have at least a modest laundry facility, so packing your own laundry sheets is a great way to save some money. If you have room in your duffel, you can even throw in a roll of quarters ahead of time.
Heavy-Duty Plastic Clips
What I use:
Why I use them:
I find that cruising leads to snorkeling and swimming -- which leads to wet bathing suits! I love to have a handful of heavy-duty clips on board to hang clothing and towels from the lifelines.
Some charter boats might come pre-stocked with basic clothespins, but these clips seem to hold up better. Just be careful not to lose your suits and towels overboard on a windy day!
More Tech
Head Lamp
What I use: I actually don't have a specific brand to recommend for this one, but I suggest finding a model with rechargeable batteries (instead of disposable).
Why I use it: Even if you're not planning to do night sailing, a trusty headlamp is a great tool to have on board, especially if you plan to do any docking in the dark or near-dark. Plus, I'd much rather drop my headlamp overboard than the iPhone I was using as a flashlight!
Music
What I use: Aux to Bluetooth Adaptor
Why I use it: Full transparency -- this may be a completely antiquated technology, as most charter boats will have a Fusion marine stereo with an integrated bluetooth receiver.
If your stereo doesn't have bluetooth (or if the receiver is not working), this handy adaptor uses the stereo's hard-wired aux port, so this way you can play your favorite music without having your device tethered to the stereo. Just remember to charge it each night, as the internal battery will run down!
DC-to-USB Adaptor, External Batteries
What I use: Again, I don't have a specific brand per se.
Why I use them: I lumped these two items in the same category, as they both fulfill the important job of keeping your phone and tablets charted while underway. This is especially critical if you're using a tablet to navigate, as it's internal battery may not last the day.
iPad Waterproof Case and iPad mount
What I use: Again, I don't have a specific brand to recommend here.
Why I use it: Most sailors are now using a tablet to navigate (and by now you may know that I'm a huge proponent of the Navionics app!). I learned (the hard way) that the rain always falls right as you need your nav the most. Thanks to my buddy Mike (and my wife who kept telling me to get one so I didn't fry my iPad), I am now the proud owner of a waterproof iPad case. I also have a mount for it so it can stay safely attached to the cockpit table handle or bimini frame.
That's the end of my list for now! But it's always changing and evolving.
Do you have any pieces of gear that you consider to be essential? Leave a comment!
Comments