Initial Equipment

[Reddirt]

I'm getting a new Potter 19 from the factory next Monday and it's our first sailboat - can't wait!!!!

I'm putting together a list of initial equipment to buy:

2 - 100' anchor lines 3/8"
Danforth Deepset II Anchor
Ground screw - like for dog chains (to screw in sand on beach)
Boat hook
4 Fenders
4 Life jackets
Seat cushions - throw lifesavers
First aid kit
Marine battery
Fire Extinguisher
Horn
Flares
Telltails
Log book
Waterproof briefcase (for logbook, GPS, maps, etc.)

OK - what am I missing?

Thanks,
Reddirt

 

[dserrell]

1

 

[JIM B]

Congradulations

Congradulations on the new boat.

David has good suggestions but you also want to make sure you have a lug wrench that fits the trailer lugs. You may also want an anchor light - either Davis or an oil lamp. Are you going to be cooking on board? Stove?

Have fun!

 

[Stu Jackson]

Wwp19

Very neat boat. We have a gaggle of them that sail on the Estuary and sometimes out on the Bay regularly during weekdays.

As I recall, there is a Potter group that you should consider joining, in addition to this forum.

I would also ditch the Danforth, it's only good for holding one direction. There was a discussion about anchors here just last week: http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=661139#post661139

Well worth reading the whole four pages. One good point: minimum anchor size: if it's too light it'll never bury. Consider a Manson Supreme or Rocna. Good "insurance" for your brand new "investment" in the future and fun. I know, I know, boats are not an investment in anything but fun!

 

[solosailier]

Where's the CDI roller furler?

It makes single handed sailing soooooo easyyyyyyy.

Remember the keel/steel daggerboard goes down before any sails get hanked on or raised. Avoid upside down sailing.

 

[dserrell]

Ahoy Solosailor,

For you're first post you certainly brough a smile to my face! "Avoid upside down sailing". I actually tried that once on a 16.5' Chrysler catamaran called a "Musketeer Cat". The only problem was the water wasn't deep enough, the masthead got stuck on the bottom! Had to de-mast and tow the Musketeer Cat to the shore, where it took six strong backs to flip it back over! When cats do a 180 they are down for the count!

Roller furlings are great, but cost clam shells! Have a great day!

David

 

[kenn]

We also have a 19' boat. You're gonna have alot of fun with her. They're surprisingly comfortable for doing a weekend or 3 day trip.

To your basic list, I would add:
- bailer (eg bucket) or a manual pump
- a good compass
- a waterproof VHF handheld or a fixed VHF
- anchor light

(... pretty much what the others have already told you)


... then you can start to add the camping stuff, personal touches and mods, etc

We have a danforth anchor meant for a 24' boat, with 8' of heavy galvanized chain and 150' of nylon line. It's worked well for us so far, but our anchorages have mostly been sand/gravel/clay bottoms of inland lakes.

 

[watercolors II]

Roller furler

If you're going to trailer this boat - do not consider a roller furler. Everyone who has a moored boat loves them, but ask them how many extra people they needed and how much extra time it took rigging and de-rigging that thing. I've helped many many times over the years and they are a pain!

 

[dserrell]

Re: Roller furler

Ahoy Watercolors!

What's a pain is going forward to take down the jib or genoa if, all of a sudden, conditions change. We have a roller furling on our 19 footer and love it. We can just about pull on the genoa as fast as it would take to hank on a genoa. The time difference may be when we tie the front bottom of the genoa to the base of the roller furling. We can leave the genoa on, and still lower the mast for trailering, but we usually remove the sail for trailering. Guess it's like everything else on a sailboat, you've got to develop a system or method for doing lots of things.

Our 89' Compac 19/3 is the first sailboat we've had with a roller furling. We hope our next sailboat will have a roller furling. Maybe we've been spoiled by what the roller furling actually does! Even if our sailboat was docked or moored, we'd probably remove the sails, if the sailboat would be idle for more than a couple of days. "No pain no gain!" Fair weather!

David

 

[Joe]

I highly recommend a basic handheld GPS like the Garmin 72 or 76.
Also you should get a boat hook, a battery charger, folding cup holders, folding boarding ladder, Lifesling II (man overboard system), some kind of bilge pump, spare tire for the trailer, spare fuel can, and a hundred other things.

 

[Stu Jackson]

A book you should read

is Chapman's Piloting & Seamanship which contains everything you need to know about what you NEED and then can start thinking about wanting on your new boat. I know it's your first sailboat, don't know if it's your first boat.

It'll explain what you need, plus all the rest of the stuff about boting you need to know. Worth $25 for your own safety.

Others might chime in about "best books" for new boaters to buy, but this has been a mainstay of our library for many years. It is NOT a "how to sail" book, it's boating safety and R&R.

 

[walt]

Ill add something regarding the GPS. Since you live fairly close to Lake Powell and have a boat which in my opinion should be great there, make sure the GPS you get has or is capable of downloading good maps of the Lake Powell area. I didnt check the two listed earlier in the thread (I have a Lowrance Explorer and additional detailed maps) but its real nice to have the visual display of where your going as it can be like a maze. The map software I bought even shows the location of arches, creeks etc. which is nice for hiking in the area. If you want to explore a bit at Lake Powell, you will also need some way to carry a fair amount of gas - much more than is normally used on a sailboat trip. My last trip there (in an old Mac 26S sailboat), we traveled something like 180 miles and used 16 gallons of gas. The route I took had no place to fill up (Bullfrog - then way up the San Juan river).

A little off topic but do you plan to sail at Sand Hollow res near Huricane? I have a few times, had a great time there.

 

[Reddirt]

Thanks

Thanks for all the great ideas.

We owned a speedboat for many years. But, this is our first sailboat.

We live right by Sand Hollow and have already bought a yearly pass.
On Monday, we took our first sail there. Wow - it was a lot of fun!!

We also want to make a few trips a year to Lake Powell.

Reddirt

 

[walt]

Lots of power boats at Sand Hollow.. but weve stopped in there for a couple days sailing for three years now and its always been pleasant sailing. My pictures dont show the great scenery in the area such as Pine Valley mountain or the red rocks of the island but the pictures are from one year we took a Hobie 14 there.