Thursday, August 16, 2012

Stuff We Wish We Had Brought Cruising

We love our books, but a Kindle would be great too!

Happily, this list isn't all that long, but there are a few items that we wish we had squeezed into our boat with a shoehorn before we left Kemah.

A generator. As I mentioned in a previous post, we have a bit of a power issue down here in Panama. We can't get the batteries charged up through the solar panels because there isn't any sun, and though we have a broken wind generator that some lovely cruisers gave us a couple of weeks ago there also isn't much in the way of wind in Bocas. So we are forced to run our engine, which is bad news. It puts precious hours on the engine unnecessarily, is a waste of fuel and is unfortunately loud, not the set of circumstances I was expecting when we left Kemah all happy and almost totally energy efficient. We had presumed that we wouldn't need a small, gasoline generator given our solar panels, so why spend the extra $400. Now, I see that the extra $400 is worth it given the wear and tear on the engine, the price of diesel and the health of our batteries. Being able to run a small genny for just a few hours when our batteries get low would make a major difference.

A Kindle. Perhaps this is too analog, but I've always been a book person, preferring the feel and smell of a newspaper or a book stolen from my dad's library to the electronic copies all the kids are into these days. That is, until we moved onto a boat. I had assumed that I could replenish my book supply through the exchanges in various marinas, but unfortunately, unless you have a penchant for bad fiction, the pickings are slim. Both Vlad and I have learned the hard lesson that once you've read one Tom Clancy book, you really aren't interested in reading another. So I've taken to reading decent books on my computer or iPad, but they both use a lot of power. Not to mention that the iPad is our sole navigation source now that the Raymarine chartplotter gave out in a rainstorm somewhere in the Gulf Stream outside Isla Mujeres (we are getting charts for our handheld as a backup). The Kindle, bless its little heart, solves all my reading woes. It holds a charge for forever, isn't an integral part of our navigation system and only costs $80.

A new outboard motor. OK, so maybe just some outboard motor parts. Shockingly, we left the United States without any spare parts for our ancient 6-horsepower Johnson motor, which turned into a major kerfuffle when the impeller died a tragic death in Roatan. Our intrepid friend Matt brought us plenty of extras when he came for a visit, but now the pull cord apparatus has decided to leave us forever. I'm sure Vlad could fix it, but what both of us would really like now is a 10-horsepower outboard that doesn't break every five minutes and that I can start. A reliable outboard that can cover a decent amount of water on a plane is an ideal that we have come to very much admire, and for me personally having the ability to start the motor would be nice. Vlad worked for a fellow cruiser who in return gave us a small, 2.9 horsepower Mercury motor that we dubbed the Mighty Mouse. I can start that sucker on the first pull and go wherever I please. Ah, sweet freedom.

A gun. This is one of those subjects that you don't want to bring up on any of the sailing forums, cause people get all - dare I say it - up in arms. But it is a wild, wild world out there, and it's good to have some way to protect yourself. We have bear mace, flares and a speargun, but nothing says go away like the sound of chambering a shotgun. True, traveling with guns can be a major hassle, especially through Mexico (where it is illegal and if they catch you they will take your boat), and, of course, having a gun doesn't mean that you are safe. But it is pretty good protection and an excellent deterrent.

Quick drying shorts. Life on a boat is wet. It rains. There are waves. The dinghy ride is especially treacherous. Currently, we only have shorts that are made out of cotton, the typical Target or Old Navy variety, and they just refuse to dry. A couple of pairs of shorts made from some sort of magical synthetic substance that dries quickly would solve this problem. Getting away from water is impossible, but drying off doesn't have to be.

14 comments:

  1. Great list! Tate LOVE his kindle and I have read a book on there too. I think I'll definitely get one.

    As far as the gun goes, have you actually been in situations where you one would have been helpful or is it just the feeling of security?

    I totally feel ya on the quick dry shorts! I was just telling Tate yesterday that maybe if we don't go the watermaker route, we can take that money and instead get quick drying clothes.

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    1. I didn't think it would be, but the Kindle is something I really wish we had. We have a lot of digital books, and a Kindle is the best way to read them. Otherwise, you're stuck with the book exchanges, which as I noted are less than thrilling.

      On the gun business, we have not personally had an issue, but we personally know people who have been robbed at gunpoint and one cruiser we know lost his entire boat. I wasn't interested in taking a gun before, because of the hassle stuff I mentioned, but after meeting people who have been assaulted on their vessels it seemed like an item I'd rather have than not.

      The robbery stuff I could handle (though we would probably have to limp back home!), but in the anchorage that we are in currently in Bocas a boat was broken into and the woman was raped a couple of weeks before we arrived. Would a gun have helped in their situation? It's hard to say, but when threatened with that level of physical violence I would prefer to have some way to effectively defend myself besides our flaregun.

      And, dude, that would be a LOT of quick dry clothing!

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  2. As future cruisers (2013) I'm glad to read this list! Makes me feel like we're on target! We have a Nook, which I already love, plan on getting a Honda generator, and have only been buying quick drying clothes the past year. We recently bought a new dinghy and outboard, so although we wished we could have afforded a hard-bottom dinghy we think we'll be okay for a while.

    As far as a gun ... we'll rely on wasp spray, flares, etc.

    Before I feel too good about things, I guess I should ask what you're glad that you DID bring!

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    1. Sounds like you guys are well prepared! I know the gun thing is a contentious issue, especially for anyone traveling to Mexico, but I would suggest getting some bear mace. It's pretty potent stuff and will knock any would be assailant out (you too most likely!).

      I am working on a post that lists all the stuff we have been happy to bring, coming soon to a blog near you!

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  3. If you do get a Kindle, you might want to pay a few more bucks for the 3g version -- free, basic internet access wherever there's cell phone reception, which has been nearly everywhere in the Caribbean.

    http://www.picaroonblog.com/2012/04/13/how-to-get-free-secret-internet-on-the-cheapo-kindle/

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    1. Alas, I already ordered one. I had read about what you guys did, and I just completely forgot about the 3G part. Too bad.

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  4. Nice list! I understand about the cloud cover issue and solar panels. They wouldn't do us much good up here. I'm sad to hear that there are situations that make having a gun a good idea. That's just a damn shame. I wonder if it's the area you are in? Or if crimes of the kind you reported are becoming more frequent in the cruising community. I've never felt particuarly vulnerable on my boat, but then I'm not where you are geographically. we're taking note of the generator issue and the kindle issue!

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    1. I would really consider the generator and definitely the Kindle. It's really not a pretty world out there in the marina book exchange department!

      On the gun topic, it might be the area we are in. There's some piracy especially off the coast of Honduras and Nicaragua, and of course the drug trade stuff. I'm not sure if the break-ins are increasing or the same or fewer. That statistic would be difficult to ferret out. Also, we don't feel vulnerable on the boat nor are we in any way scared, but a gun would just be an additional piece of safety equipment like jacklines or tethers, except with rubber buckshot instead. Plus, the Coast Guard suggested we get one, which we took to be a sign!

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    2. According to the piracy site, All of South America and Central America there has been some pretty bruital attacks on sailors on anchor. Robbery, assualt, rape, even stealing the whole boat as she said. The rest of the Caribbean isn't all that much better either. Must have been 50 - 100 dinghy thefts this year and I hear a plant closed down in the USVIs that has caused crime to go up.

      Not only do you need a gun, but also a way to lock the hatches and companionway as they seem to be very quiet getting on the boat. Some have been woken up with a gun in the face. Others have had the lock cut and dinghy dropped from the davits without notice.

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  5. Hear you on the outboard. Ours has never been happy and it's only a matter of time before it dies. We are looking at a 3.5hp - light, cheap, efficient and indestructible.

    I can't agree with you on the shotgun idea though. The only instance I have heard of someone countering a boat invasion with a shotgun was Sir Peter Blake, and he was shot dead. We also met a couple who were imprisoned for 3 months (pending trial) in Trinidad for possession of an antique pistol. Eh, I am sure you know all the arguments either way, though.

    I don't know what your set-up is, but instead of a gas generator, you could install a high output alternator - ours is rated 140A and normally puts in about 50-100 amps at 1000rpm when the batteries are at 80%.

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    1. A reliable outboard rocks. You can tell you've been living on a boat for a while by how excited you get when the outboard starts on the first pull.

      A please don't worry about not agreeing with me on the shotgun issue. No one else does either! But boats in this area have been boarded by armed men, and if they get to have automatic weapons, I would like to have at least something to deter them besides a cast iron skillet.

      Plus, if we had a shotgun, we could skeet shoot with coconuts.

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  6. Hey Bettie!

    I thought I'd chime in with a couple of fun no-gun solutions for your consideration: how we deal with guns aboard: http://www.somanybeaches.com/faqs-2/guns/

    Spoiler alert: Texans are scary! ;)

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    1. Texans are scary. Why else would we want the shotgun?!

      Just kidding. Really, really, really just kidding. :)

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  7. Sheila in Austin. Is there an address where we can mail a care package?

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