What do you keep on your boat that you never hope to need?

[Steve Laume]

This is a question I saved since this summer.

As far as props go, I would just follow what your transmission manual calls for and live with a possibility of losing a fraction of a knot one way or the other. Steering systems; love the one you're with.

Since those questions are beginning to but put forth again I figured it was time to ask, just what do you keep aboard that you never hope to use. The list in my head is huge. All the safety gear and every spare part on the boat. I would be interested to know just what people are carrying around with them. Spare transmissions, enormous amounts of toilet paper, spare sails?

I know I have a lot of stuff on Raven, Steve.

[jen1722terry]

Flares! Way too many!

Here in Nova Scotia the requirement is to carry 12 flares! Gees, I feel like a small town getting ready for 4th of July!

Other stuff will get interesting next spring, for we have learned the hard way that spares can be hard to get in the nether reaches of Canada, where we plan to go. So, we have, or are looking for:

Spare transmission (honestly, we're getting the old one rebuilt for we no longer trust the new ZF's);
Both water pumps, with gaskets and extra impellers
Fuel pump;
Injectors;
Alternator;
Glow plug solenoid:
Glow plug:
Throttle/shift/shut-off cables;
Steering pedestal chain, cables and sheaves,
fresh water pump rebuild kits;
Spare prop for the dinghy outboard;
Spare main halyard;
Spare boat hook;
Lots of filters;

Any other suggestions welcome

Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd . . . lots of good, cheap wine, for liquor is available but dear up here.

Terry

[Jim Walsh]

This is a question I saved since this summer.

As far as props go, I would just follow what your transmission manual calls for and live with a possibility of losing a fraction of a knot one way or the other. Steering systems; love the one you're with.

Since those questions are beginning to but put forth again I figured it was time to ask, just what do you keep aboard that you never hope to use. The list in my head is huge. All the safety gear and every spare part on the boat. I would be interested to know just what people are carrying around with them. Spare transmissions, enormous amounts of toilet paper, spare sails?

I know I have a lot of stuff on Raven, Steve.

EPIRB and liferaft

[Steve Laume]

Head and bilge pump, rebuild kits. Need to go near the top of the list.

I also keep a spare VHF radio and an emergency antenna in addition to a hand held VHF radio. The VHF is installed with blade type connectors and the spare has the same set up, so it would just be a matter of unplugging one and plugging in the spare.

Communication is important. So is a working head, Steve.

[John Danicic]

I have a machete looking meat cleaver that somehow, my dad got from his father-in-law who got it from some butcher who might have gotten it from some Spanish Inquisitioners.

It is wickedly sharp and I have it on board to scare off the rare Lake Superior pirate or marauder or to chop away the brush if my marina man winter-stores Mariah too close to bushes.

I hope to never need it for after all, "nobody ever expects the Spanish Inquisition".

[Jim Walsh]

I hope to never need it for after all, "nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition".

[rorik]

Rigging cutters
Wooden plugs
Cloth and tape
2000gph bilge pump

[Paul D.]

One of those foot and half long strobes (so bright it makes an old-school 'pop' when it flashes, but I test it a few times a season and it works.) with a line to the Horseshoe buoy. It hangs upside down like a bat on the stern rail waiting for its day. If that ever gets used someone went adrift. In Lake Superior, that's no bueno senior. For crew overboard drills, I untie the thing and use only the buoy.

[Jeff and Sarah]

A spare handle for the emergency manual bilge pump. I figure if I ever find myself needing that, a lot has gone wrong! I can't bring myself to take it off the boat though, because the second I do...

[Tom Keevil]

Emergency tiller
Toilet wax ring for holes in hull
Spare propeller
Backup anchor
Finger of God

The last item is used to remove a heavy logging cable snagged in your anchor.

[Steve Laume]

I almost listed a sextant in my original post.

Ditch bag, extra water, storm sails, first aid kit.

It seems like we have a tremendous amount of stuff we hope not to use, Steve.

[Carl Thunberg]

I really, really, hope I don't ever have to break out that Nescafe crap I keep on-board. (probably not what you had in mind)

[John Nebilak]

Although I would wear it, I hope I never have to need the jack line tether.

[Dino]

Insurance.

[Steve Laume]

Insurance. Good one.

A multitude of fire extinguishers. I don't have a fire blanket but it would be included here and maybe I should have one, Steve.