Some sailors are minimalists by nature. A clean and almost bare boat is their pride and joy. Some, like Lin and Larry Pardey, don't even have an engine aboard. Yet others seem to revel in adding this new widget or that new gadget. The proliferation of new, smaller, and cheaper electronics has added to this phenomenon. Almost all boats these days have a conventional compass. Others have fluxgate or some variation on an electronic compass. Depth sounders and knotmeters, GPS, and who leaves home port without a cell phone? What is your favorite gadget on your boat? Share your thoughts with us here and then take the Quick Quiz on the home page. (Quiz by Warren Milberg)
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Gadget
I consider a depth sounder, VHF, and a compass essential equipment for cruising so everything not required by law is a gadget I guess. My vote for my favorite gadget would be my under $300 chart plotter. For me it has, like Loran before it, made traveling in limited visibility a lot more pleasant. Knowing exacty where you are is comforting. I have navigated in the fog with only a depth sounder and compass and it is a bit nerve wracking.
I consider a depth sounder, VHF, and a compass essential equipment for cruising so everything not required by law is a gadget I guess. My vote for my favorite gadget would be my under $300 chart plotter. For me it has, like Loran before it, made traveling in limited visibility a lot more pleasant. Knowing exacty where you are is comforting. I have navigated in the fog with only a depth sounder and compass and it is a bit nerve wracking.
A couple of days ago I went out for an overnighter
alone. All I cared about was that the wind wouldn't be at storm strength. It was perfect. Good wind, great sunset. The next morning I was socked in. Solid fog. No worries. I cranked up the anchor with the new windlass after I had my coffee. I had a choice of two pots, one electric by Starbucks, the other a percolator on the propane stove. If I looked closer I might have found instant coffee for the new microwave powered by the new ProSine inverter, but no need. I then powered up the engine for home. I went below after raising the anchor from the helm where I also engaged the autopilot. When below, I turned on the radar, then the GPS and the PC. Then I started the charting program and aimed for home, all from the comforts of the main cabin while the forced air diesel furnace kept me warm. I dodged several targets on radar. They all proved to be birds. When I was within fifty feet of my marina I could see it. The entrance was right in front of me. I drove to my berth and cut power as I went to neutral. Lines were at the ready. I shifted to reverse and the cable did NOTHING. I spun the helm to port and hit my neighbor who was too big for his berth and was blocking my escape route. All the gadgets on earth can't prevent the pre-ordained. Luckily no boats were damaged except for his outboard. (See 'Yanmar safety alert') What's my favorite from the above list of stuff? Why, the flat screen TV and DVD 5-1 surround system of course!
alone. All I cared about was that the wind wouldn't be at storm strength. It was perfect. Good wind, great sunset. The next morning I was socked in. Solid fog. No worries. I cranked up the anchor with the new windlass after I had my coffee. I had a choice of two pots, one electric by Starbucks, the other a percolator on the propane stove. If I looked closer I might have found instant coffee for the new microwave powered by the new ProSine inverter, but no need. I then powered up the engine for home. I went below after raising the anchor from the helm where I also engaged the autopilot. When below, I turned on the radar, then the GPS and the PC. Then I started the charting program and aimed for home, all from the comforts of the main cabin while the forced air diesel furnace kept me warm. I dodged several targets on radar. They all proved to be birds. When I was within fifty feet of my marina I could see it. The entrance was right in front of me. I drove to my berth and cut power as I went to neutral. Lines were at the ready. I shifted to reverse and the cable did NOTHING. I spun the helm to port and hit my neighbor who was too big for his berth and was blocking my escape route. All the gadgets on earth can't prevent the pre-ordained. Luckily no boats were damaged except for his outboard. (See 'Yanmar safety alert') What's my favorite from the above list of stuff? Why, the flat screen TV and DVD 5-1 surround system of course!
Low tech
For the sailing I do (daysailing, occasional weekend, all within sight of familiar land), gadgets are not as useful. Oh sure, my handheld GPS is a fun toy, but its old and its main use is as a knotmeter since the through-hull on the real knotmeter failed 5 years ago. I have bought three additions to my boat that have made my sailing more enjoyable: roller furling, a new outboard, and the tiller tamer. Of those three, I guess only the tiller tamer really counts as a "gadget". The best $23 I have spent; I can now go below to use the head without heaving to, eat my lunch with both hands or attend to my guests/crew.
For the sailing I do (daysailing, occasional weekend, all within sight of familiar land), gadgets are not as useful. Oh sure, my handheld GPS is a fun toy, but its old and its main use is as a knotmeter since the through-hull on the real knotmeter failed 5 years ago. I have bought three additions to my boat that have made my sailing more enjoyable: roller furling, a new outboard, and the tiller tamer. Of those three, I guess only the tiller tamer really counts as a "gadget". The best $23 I have spent; I can now go below to use the head without heaving to, eat my lunch with both hands or attend to my guests/crew.
Navman
I fell in love with the Navman series of marine instruments a few years ago when my son bought me a Tracker 5500i Chart plotter. It is awesome! I then purchased a 7200 VHF radio to replace my 20 year-old VHF and love the way I get "repeat" waypoints right on my radio's screen! I hope never to use the DSC Mayday feature, but it's nice knowing that my exact position is broadcast. Sailing instruments are on tap for this season, and an autopilot isn't far in the future! Bill on STARGAZER
I fell in love with the Navman series of marine instruments a few years ago when my son bought me a Tracker 5500i Chart plotter. It is awesome! I then purchased a 7200 VHF radio to replace my 20 year-old VHF and love the way I get "repeat" waypoints right on my radio's screen! I hope never to use the DSC Mayday feature, but it's nice knowing that my exact position is broadcast. Sailing instruments are on tap for this season, and an autopilot isn't far in the future! Bill on STARGAZER
Gadgets
I sort of take my depth finder and knotmeter, all standard equipment, for granted. But my hand held Garmin 76 has become my favorite gadget. It performs so many different functions that it's hard to imagine any similar device being as capable.
I sort of take my depth finder and knotmeter, all standard equipment, for granted. But my hand held Garmin 76 has become my favorite gadget. It performs so many different functions that it's hard to imagine any similar device being as capable.
AutoPilot
Like most on the survey, I love my auto pilot. I sail single handed frequently and although I still take the wheel often, tacking, getting stuff from the cabin or generally tending a line or what not is much better with my auto 1st mate. I can live without gps or chart plotter (i have them) but with paper and dividers I can still do the work. Nothing replaces my auto pilot when I'm out alone.
Like most on the survey, I love my auto pilot. I sail single handed frequently and although I still take the wheel often, tacking, getting stuff from the cabin or generally tending a line or what not is much better with my auto 1st mate. I can live without gps or chart plotter (i have them) but with paper and dividers I can still do the work. Nothing replaces my auto pilot when I'm out alone.
Garhauer
People always ask questions whenever I have the Garhauer Lifting Davit setup on the boat. I always tell them it's probably my favorite gadget. It's a work of art in stainless steel. Cost less than competing products. Deploys or stows in about a minute. Rated for 200 lbs. I don't know now how I used to wrestle with the dinghy and outboard before I got this!
People always ask questions whenever I have the Garhauer Lifting Davit setup on the boat. I always tell them it's probably my favorite gadget. It's a work of art in stainless steel. Cost less than competing products. Deploys or stows in about a minute. Rated for 200 lbs. I don't know now how I used to wrestle with the dinghy and outboard before I got this!
Everything on a boat is a gadget
at some point in time. I like wireless internet, Sta-Loc fittings, GPS, well - everything electronic is a gadget anyway, rope clutches, self tailing winches, ... Some new gadgets from 48 North: Lopolights (http://www.enertecmarinesystems.com/led-navlights.html), (splicing nut (splicingnut.com), and glueless inflatable repair patch (http://www.bartonmarine.com/html/np.htm). See websites. How you define a boat gadget is more a definition of you and your perspective than the thing itself.
at some point in time. I like wireless internet, Sta-Loc fittings, GPS, well - everything electronic is a gadget anyway, rope clutches, self tailing winches, ... Some new gadgets from 48 North: Lopolights (http://www.enertecmarinesystems.com/led-navlights.html), (splicing nut (splicingnut.com), and glueless inflatable repair patch (http://www.bartonmarine.com/html/np.htm). See websites. How you define a boat gadget is more a definition of you and your perspective than the thing itself.
Chartplotter
Lake Murray is 32 sqaure miles, and has many hazzards. Recently the lake was drawn down for construction on the dam to 15 feet below normal. The chartplotter shows the 20 feet contours, and I kept from hitting ground for the entire 2 years. I also have an auto pilot, but I fell asleep with it on, and hit the dam. (People made a lot of fun of me on this one) I guess none work except the chartplotter, if asleep, since it has an alarm on it to alert me of hazards, I just cannot program the mile long dam into the alarm system, so I toss the anchor when I get sleepy now.
Lake Murray is 32 sqaure miles, and has many hazzards. Recently the lake was drawn down for construction on the dam to 15 feet below normal. The chartplotter shows the 20 feet contours, and I kept from hitting ground for the entire 2 years. I also have an auto pilot, but I fell asleep with it on, and hit the dam. (People made a lot of fun of me on this one) I guess none work except the chartplotter, if asleep, since it has an alarm on it to alert me of hazards, I just cannot program the mile long dam into the alarm system, so I toss the anchor when I get sleepy now.
Warmth!
Of all the electronics, and gadgets that we have on board none has done as much for our sailing seasons duration than the Espar forced air diesel heating system. A happy crew makes for a happy vessel!
Of all the electronics, and gadgets that we have on board none has done as much for our sailing seasons duration than the Espar forced air diesel heating system. A happy crew makes for a happy vessel!
AutoPilot
Having an auto pilot is like having another person on board. I single hand lot. The auto pilot enables me to sail in almost kinds of weather. All I need now is an something to help me dock in rough conditions.
Having an auto pilot is like having another person on board. I single hand lot. The auto pilot enables me to sail in almost kinds of weather. All I need now is an something to help me dock in rough conditions.
Conflicted
When I had to choose, I selected the auto pilot, but, don't really consider it a gadget in the same sense as the GPS. I love them both, but if I had to have one or the other, because I single hand most of the time, the auto pilot makes sailing much more available to me. I use the GPS every time I am out but could use charts, dead reckoning, compass, loran to get there and back but without my auto pilot I could not leave the helm for much time at all so that is my vote.
When I had to choose, I selected the auto pilot, but, don't really consider it a gadget in the same sense as the GPS. I love them both, but if I had to have one or the other, because I single hand most of the time, the auto pilot makes sailing much more available to me. I use the GPS every time I am out but could use charts, dead reckoning, compass, loran to get there and back but without my auto pilot I could not leave the helm for much time at all so that is my vote.
Gadget?
Lynn and Larry didn't have an engine, but they did have a piano. My favorite "gadget" is my guitar!
Lynn and Larry didn't have an engine, but they did have a piano. My favorite "gadget" is my guitar!
Gadgets for the future
I don't own any of these yet, but it seems to me that a boat equipped with good forward-sounding sonar (this technology is now available and showing up in all the 2005 catalogs), radar, and a 360 degree panning underwater camera could almost dispense with charts altogether. It would be a much more natural way to navigate by seeing and diagramming the actual seafloor and surface configurations than trying to relate everything to an abstracted chart. I also have a favorite class of gadgets that make it possible to have comforts on board a boat that wasn't originally equipped with them: Coleman's portable propane hot water heater, the Mr. Heater type propane heaters, the hand crank washing machine, portable camp stoves, small generators and inverters, solar powered light fixtures, etc. Part of the fun of owning a sailboat is to see how much you can maximize minimal power storage capacity.
I don't own any of these yet, but it seems to me that a boat equipped with good forward-sounding sonar (this technology is now available and showing up in all the 2005 catalogs), radar, and a 360 degree panning underwater camera could almost dispense with charts altogether. It would be a much more natural way to navigate by seeing and diagramming the actual seafloor and surface configurations than trying to relate everything to an abstracted chart. I also have a favorite class of gadgets that make it possible to have comforts on board a boat that wasn't originally equipped with them: Coleman's portable propane hot water heater, the Mr. Heater type propane heaters, the hand crank washing machine, portable camp stoves, small generators and inverters, solar powered light fixtures, etc. Part of the fun of owning a sailboat is to see how much you can maximize minimal power storage capacity.
MY IPOD
Nothing better than my IPOD with the Buffett/Marley/Morrison mix set to shuffle. Sure the Autohelm is nice and I love my Magellan GPS. But I can steer and use charts. I can't sing.
Nothing better than my IPOD with the Buffett/Marley/Morrison mix set to shuffle. Sure the Autohelm is nice and I love my Magellan GPS. But I can steer and use charts. I can't sing.
Without a doubt, the addition of XM radio to my boat. Great selection of music types, and the best part; no ads and those idiots who like to hear themselves talk. Worth every penny.
Essential gadget
$5 line clutch attached to the mast enables me to temporarily lock the main so I can get back to the well and pull the slack and eventually the entire main. This has long since facilitated my ability to single-hand the boat and has become the most essential gadget I've ever acquired.
$5 line clutch attached to the mast enables me to temporarily lock the main so I can get back to the well and pull the slack and eventually the entire main. This has long since facilitated my ability to single-hand the boat and has become the most essential gadget I've ever acquired.
Gadget
My favorite gadget is the small line I attached to the lazeret (spelling?). I clip to the life line and now my head feels much much better. CM
My favorite gadget is the small line I attached to the lazeret (spelling?). I clip to the life line and now my head feels much much better. CM
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