Inexpensive, but useful/helpful items on your boat
JoeStang
Member Posts: 1,122 ✭✭✭✭
So, after one year of boating I am starting to learn and see what items I thought I needed and what I used a lot. I have quite the cache of items in my Amazon cart right now, with most of them being under $100 a piece.
Here's a couple I found I liked a lot, and were pretty inexpensive:
Dorcy Invertible Lantern ~ $15
This little guy was really inexpensive, but we used it a ton. Yes we have LED cockpit lighting, but its only really good for lighting the floor. This can be used on the tabletop or hanging upside down with the light projecting down & out. We hung it from the bimini frame all the time in the evening (not when under-way though), and it gives off a nice warm yellow light (its a Xenon bulb), not a harsh LED blue. Its not the light to use for lighting a room for reading, but for dim light for a relaxed evening its perfect. It'd be nice to use on the hook too, as you dont have to worry about running the boat batteries.
Craftsman 2.5 Gallon Wet/Dry Vac ~ $25
Again, its pretty inexpensive but worked great for us. Its MUCH stronger than any cordless vacuum I've tried, but its still easy to store and just the right size for the boat. It makes quick work of dog hair, crumbs, and even water in the bilge. Its 110V, so unless you have an inverter you're stuck using it at the dock, but most times I cleaned the boat it was at the dock anyways.
Quicksilver/Mercruiser Oil Drain Pump ~ $25
Due to some unforeseen issues I had to change my oil a couple times last summer. Each time was 100% mess-free and very easy due to this item. As long as the oil was nice & warm it would pump out the oil in under a minute and never failed to get as much oil out as possible. There are other systems that put a smaller diameter tube down the dipstick tube, but I've read horror stories with the tube getting caught or falling off inside the crank :O I know the this leaves a tiny bit (it seems like maybe less than a 1/4 quart) of used oil in the crank, but the only other alternative is the plug/tube on the bottom of the oil pan, which looks like quite the PITA to get to. With this & the remote mounted oil filter I can literally have the oil change done in under 10 minutes, and thats with a generous beer & music break in there.
Here's a couple I found I liked a lot, and were pretty inexpensive:
Dorcy Invertible Lantern ~ $15
This little guy was really inexpensive, but we used it a ton. Yes we have LED cockpit lighting, but its only really good for lighting the floor. This can be used on the tabletop or hanging upside down with the light projecting down & out. We hung it from the bimini frame all the time in the evening (not when under-way though), and it gives off a nice warm yellow light (its a Xenon bulb), not a harsh LED blue. Its not the light to use for lighting a room for reading, but for dim light for a relaxed evening its perfect. It'd be nice to use on the hook too, as you dont have to worry about running the boat batteries.
Craftsman 2.5 Gallon Wet/Dry Vac ~ $25
Again, its pretty inexpensive but worked great for us. Its MUCH stronger than any cordless vacuum I've tried, but its still easy to store and just the right size for the boat. It makes quick work of dog hair, crumbs, and even water in the bilge. Its 110V, so unless you have an inverter you're stuck using it at the dock, but most times I cleaned the boat it was at the dock anyways.
Quicksilver/Mercruiser Oil Drain Pump ~ $25
Due to some unforeseen issues I had to change my oil a couple times last summer. Each time was 100% mess-free and very easy due to this item. As long as the oil was nice & warm it would pump out the oil in under a minute and never failed to get as much oil out as possible. There are other systems that put a smaller diameter tube down the dipstick tube, but I've read horror stories with the tube getting caught or falling off inside the crank :O I know the this leaves a tiny bit (it seems like maybe less than a 1/4 quart) of used oil in the crank, but the only other alternative is the plug/tube on the bottom of the oil pan, which looks like quite the PITA to get to. With this & the remote mounted oil filter I can literally have the oil change done in under 10 minutes, and thats with a generous beer & music break in there.
2013 276 Cuddy ~ 350 MAG / B3
Comments
PC BYC, Holland, MI
Maybe because we were on the boat a lot? We would get out almost every weekend and at least once or twice during the week.
I am mad at myself for forgetting to put a couple dryer sheets around the boat before storing it for winter. Its indoor heated and I dont have access to it now. Hopefully its not musty when I open it up in the spring. Its only got the mooring cover on, so its not air tight.
Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express
First aid kit.. decent one is maybe $30.. also add some ibuprofen, aspirin, and bourbon.. don't wanna run out of bourbon.
Rechargeable spot light.. maybe $40, small enough to go in the glove box. Good for navigating unfamiliar shoals at night or in fog, or in fog at night.. helps with docking/loading, too.. its a nice signaling device to, Ifn it becomes neccissary..
Cheapo binos. The pocket sized ones with variable power. Stowed in the glovebox, too.. never know when you'll need your distance peepers, or for what. I leave these on the boat, so they aren't great quality..
An extra(s) hub, hub nut, and pin (i also have breaker bar and socket for said nut) .. yeah, my drive doesn't have a pin, but other boats do... Wanna ingratiate yourself to someone? Bail him out when he's got his family on board and is stranded.. free beer, at the least..
Always an extra line or two.. always a fender or two(i call them bumpers, but that **** somebody here off one time for some reason) ...
Anyway, this was a good idea for a thread.. I'm going to be shopping again, it looks like.. :-)
Tow strap - $20 Overtons. Hope I never have to use it, but is much safer than some old dock line or chain that was laying around. I only wonder if 30' is optimal, or if it should be longer?
I like my $80 Tassimo coffee maker - one push and you have fine coffee!
Also we have some of those spray bottles with fans on them. Basically fill them up with water and squirt water through the fan at the top of the bottle. I mounted some bottle holders at the helm to slide them into, so when we are cruising and its hot, I can have the fans running and give it a few squirts every once in a while. They are a great idea until my 5 year old gets a hold of them and decides to use them as a portable shower.
Boat Name: King Kong
"Boat + Water = Fun"
We use a 10 cup coffee press just because one cup at a time is too slow to start the morning I.V. after a night on the TikiHut. Simple and plenty of joe to get your get-up-and-go going. Easy to prep the water w/o stoking the genset on the nice quiet gas stove too.
Bimini clips. May not be as appropo to you cruiser drivers, but I find them useful on my 212 for hanging towels and keeping other things from blowing away. If you do a google search you DIY types can find all the info needed to make unlimited numbers of these from a couple bucks worth of PVC pipe...
http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?i=75813
Another nice item is a decent dry bag to help keep those important things dry. I usually put my wallet in mine, keep charging cords in it and whatever other small items need safe keeping from accidental wetting. Below is a link to the concept. There are lots of options and price points out there, even down to a Glad freezer bag...
http://www.thewaterproofstore.com/drypouchblk.html
Dave
2002 Captiva 212, 5.0 220 hp, Alpha 1, 1.62 gears
Moon Township, PA - boating in the Ohio River
I wonder if its better to have the hook, or not? I have one in my car also, but it just has loops at the end. Reason being if the hook breaks free under tension you've got a missile flying towards one of the cars. The hook would be more easier hooking up to the tow eye of the boat being towed, but I guess a loop wouldnt be impossible as long as it wasnt too thick?
we used both dynamic kernmantle and static kernmantle ropes in our applications while doing HRST type stuff, and though the rating for the dynamic was nearing 8k# and the static 12k#, we used them only three times each and tossed them- and only once if the sheathing showed any signs of picks or wear.... Nylon straps are better for multiple uses, but the point is once you stretch it one good time, you've reduced the rating a huge margin.. if it is contaminated with oil or some such by being stored with other rarely used stuff, it's life and rating is even lower.....
it doesn't take a lot of line strength for one boat to tow another if done properly, and it's a good thing folks over apply tools to do it with, but these things should be considered before loading a line, and if you are- properly flagging the line in effort not to break stuff you really don't want to break.
In nearly any situation a normally stout tow line of a safe length rigged appropriately, assuming a cautious captain, will produce the best results. There is a maritime liability related to the vessel that actually throws the tow line to the other vessel but I cant remember which assumes the liability in that interaction.
Chapmans piloting and seamanship is the default resource for safe towing and many other small but useful items that the mariner might need. Great reading on a blustery day too.
My .02c Mike
I had a guy with engine trouble ask me to tow him back to his marina 10 MILES AWAY in normal weekend chop (1-1.5' waves from all directions). I told him I'd make a phone call to the tow company, but he didnt have coverage and couldnt afford the minimum $500 charge.......