[Rhodes22-list] shopping list

[Alan Robertson]

Wow ! you offshore sailors can sure drop a bundle on equipment.
We big lake sailors do very well with a hand held 5 watt radio which plugs into cabin outlets and which will reach the Boating U.S. Towing Service, the water police and rescue , rangers, the island camping and supply store and any marina. Also with a compensated compass in case a fog rolls in to be sure we're not going in the wrong direction. No problems with above minimal equipment in 25 years!!
Bigal - Delmar NY
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: AndrewCo<mailto:acomas at cordys.com> 
  To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org> 
  Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2009 9:36 AM
  Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] shopping list



  Hi Cowie,

  I purchased my recycle Rhodes last year, and I’ll share my thoughts.

  The first question is how is the boat being delivered?  If Elton is going to
  do the delivery, then I would say wait on the gas tank, anchor, etc.  When
  Elton delivered my boat we went to the local candy story (read West Marine)
  to get those things.  The real advantage was his boat builder discount, and
  I bought what we really needed based on how and where I sail.  For example,
  the families summer home is by the beach in a protected bay.  I needed a
  second anchor that can be launched from the stern for overnight anchoring;
  otherwise the boat would be aground as the tide went out.  Another example
  was Elton made me get 2 of the 2.5 gallon gas containers instead of the 5
  gallon because they are much easier to carry and I’m extremely grateful to
  him for that. 

  Other things on your list I would get now and have Stan install them.  

  1.)  VHF Radio:  I also got the Icom 422 with the remote command mic.   I
  really recommend the radio and remote mic. I’ve sailed to Block Island
  before and want to do it with my Rhodes in 2009.  Stan, in his wisdom,
  upgraded my Rhodes to have an antenna on the mast, because, while Block
  Island is not far into the Atlantic Ocean, it is the Atlantic Ocean. 
  Second, I did a fractional lease on a Beneteau 373 for 3 years in NY Harbor. 
  It’s a great place to sail, but lots of ferry and commercial traffic.  They
  are all great captains, but you don’t have time to leave the helm to get to
  a radio when you need it.  Having a remote mic or a hand-held VHF at the
  helm is safety issue.  I always have both the 422 (25 Watts output) and a
  hand-held (5 Watts) when I sail.  Stan installed mine and did a great job. 
  The remote mic plugs in and clips right under the seat by the lazarette.   
  If you only need 5 watts of VHF (1 mile or so), then a cheaper option is the
  Uniden Mystic (~$300, has simple charts in it) or the Standard Horizon H850S
  (no charts, but Digital Selective Calling-DSC).  There are cheaper VHF
  radios, but I know these have DSC built in (see point #2)

  2) GPS: I would also have Stan install the GPS.  I have the Garmin 478
  because I use it in the car and boat.  If you can, have Stan wire the GPS to
  the Icom, I strongly recommend it.  Then register the MMSI number with US
  Boating.  I sail more than 3 miles from land at times with my daughter,
  nephews and brother.  If I ever have to call Mayday – I want to be able to
  press the ‘Red’ Distress button on the Icom and have it send my GPS
  coordinates out.  I’m in NY harbor so all the commercial traffic has DSC.

  The 545 GPS gets XM weather as does mine.  It is great to see on weather
  radar if a thunderstorm is going to hit you or miss you.  I have had several
  sailing days extended when others were heading in because of marine
  warnings.  I just pay for the months I’m sailing for the service.

  On the transducer, unless you are fisherman, I would skip it.  Between the
  charts and center-board, you’re all set with a depth sounder.   I would get
  the GXM 31 instead of the transducer.  And besides weather, you also get XM
  radio (see point #3)

  3) Radio: I also had Stan install a AM/FM/CD/MP3 player in the cabin with
  water proof speakers by the helm.  I sail with my daughter and a nephew so
  keeping them entertained was a priority.  But now I use it every time I go
  solo sailing.  I also plug the XM radio from my GPS into the player to hear
  music with a lot less commercials.

  4)Life jacket – I love my inflatable PFDs.  I have one for my wife, daughter
  and myself.  I always wear it when solo or with kids on board.  When I have
  kids under 12 onboard, everyone wears one.  I find the non-sailor ones are
  much more comfortable to wear.  The non-sailor ones don’t have the built in
  harness.  If you are always sailing in-sight of land, then you will probably
  never use a tether, and thus you’ll not need a built in harness.  I would
  also get myself a manual one now.  We all have automatic ones, but I would
  buy myself a manual one now (but still get the automatic for my wife and
  daughter).  The automatic ones go off when you don’t want them to.  The real
  trick with inflatable PDFs is to find the ones with the cheapest cartridges. 
  Kids pull the tab, they get wet, they have to be tested every 2 years, I
  take out the cartridge if I fly somewhere with my PFD.   Save money, get a
  manual and be more comfortable without the harness.  

  5) And you have the last item you have already purchased: using this list. 
  Before making any major purchase, I run it by this list.  They have saved me
  hundreds of dollars.

  Good luck – you’ll have a great time.

  Andrew

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