Upgrades?!?!?!

kloudie1 · May 1, 2009

Best stuff
1. Airconditioning and heating (self installed)
2. Autopilot; worth it's weight in Jambalaya!
3. Xantrex Smartcharger and remote battery water system
4. Garmin 545 Chartplotter.
5. Harkin headsail rollerfurler.
Except for an ex-girlfriend, I don't have any items that were on the boat that I thought were upgrades but turned out to be disappointing. :~)

sailingdog · May 1, 2009

Bad Obsession said:
1. What is the absolute best upgrade that you have made to your boat?

The bridgedeck I added to the cockpit of the boat.

2. What are some other upgrades that you have really gotten your use out of and you really like?

Lines led aft, double line reefing, the ability to pump out the holding tank without a pumpout boat, stereo, GPS chartplotter, GPS, LED navigation lights, LED cabin lights, the list goes on and on...

3. What is the least useful upgrade that you have made?

Can't think of any that aren't useful. Wouldn't have made the upgrades unless they're useful.

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I have to say that adding an autohelm to my boat is the best one that I have made. I spend most of my time single handed so having the "Extra Crewman" aboard is awesome.

I have always liked my grill, my Raritan PHII head, my 33lb Bruce-type anchor, the battery monitor (Xantrex Link 10), and the air card for having internet almost everywhere I cruise.

I added a 1 quart water accumulator into the system. I should have listened to other people because 1 quart is not big enough. It doesn't help as much as I thought that it would.

Rob19574 · May 1, 2009

I did many that were already covered here but I will add a few that I did not see yet:
- Remote VHF mic at the helm (Standard Horizon w/ GPS-DSC interface)
- Re-routed the vent on my holding tank to the stern and upgraded all hoses and tank
- Painted the mast, boom and spreaders of my boat white
- Re-routed my external halyards to run internal the mast
- Rewired my entire electrical system with a new panel for AC and DC
- Sourced and sealed about 95% of the deck leaks I had on my Catalina 30

catsailor · May 1, 2009

Built-in tanks - without question

Bad Obsession said:
1. What is the absolute best upgrade that you have made to your boat?

2. What are some other upgrades that you have really gotten your use out of and you really like?

3. What is the least useful upgrade that you have made?

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I have to say that adding an autohelm to my boat is the best one that I have made. I spend most of my time single handed so having the "Extra Crewman" aboard is awesome.

I have always liked my grill, my Raritan PHII head, my 33lb Bruce-type anchor, the battery monitor (Xantrex Link 10), and the air card for having internet almost everywhere I cruise.

I added a 1 quart water accumulator into the system. I should have listened to other people because 1 quart is not big enough. It doesn't help as much as I thought that it would.

Note: these are mods to my Stiletto 27 - my current boat is too new for me to judge was is better in what is not.

* Built-in 12 gallon frp gas tank to replace 5-gallon carry-can. On a small boat, the portable cans snag too many lines, are too small, and are always under foot. Fortunately I saw the future and used an e-10 compatible resin. Absolutely worth the trouble.
* Built-in water tank. A shower, in the summer, is bliss.
* An assortment of sail adjustment tweaks. Stock boats are so often short on adjustments. I guess they feel it clutters the deck. Also some adjustments in running rigging to ease single handing.

Oh, yeah, one easy and good mod to the PDQ:
* Added lower transom clips so that I can route the dock lines under the dingy when it is on davits. The PO took the dingy off at night, because the ropes have to pass through where the dingy hangs. On a cat these are easy to access as they are on the inside of the sugar scoop steps.

sailingdog · May 1, 2009

Hey, is that you PDQaltair???

catsailor said:
Note: these are mods to my Stiletto 27 - my current boat is too new for me to judge was is better in what is not.

* Built-in 12 gallon frp gas tank to replace 5-gallon carry-can. On a small boat, the portable cans snag too many lines, are too small, and are always under foot. Fortunately I saw the future and used an e-10 compatible resin. Absolutely worth the trouble.
* Built-in water tank. A shower, in the summer, is bliss.
* An assortment of sail adjustment tweaks. Stock boats are so often short on adjustments. I guess they feel it clutters the deck. Also some adjustments in running rigging to ease single handing.

Oh, yeah, one easy and good mod to the PDQ:
* Added lower transom clips so that I can route the dock lines under the dingy when it is on davits. The PO took the dingy off at night, because the ropes have to pass through where the dingy hangs. On a cat these are easy to access as they are on the inside of the sugar scoop steps.

LooseDiamond · May 1, 2009

After 800 miles of coastal sailing in the last 2 1/2 years, and only twice with the autopilot, I would have to say the autopilot! Almost seems like cheating. I could take the helm if that feeling overwhelms me. Other than that, getting rid of the rags I thought were sails until I realized patching was futile! I guess sails do not qualify as an "upgrade", though...

Hayden Watson · May 1, 2009

And why don't sails count as an upgrade. I have really enjoyed the new spinnaker my wife made me for my birthday.

Bill Roosa · May 1, 2009

upgrades

1. The very best upgrade I can think of is my girl friend who likes sailing and actually helps out like a 1st mate. Absolutely wonderful. She can helm the boat AND set the sails. Kinda weird when I go to the head and get back and the boat is going faster! Certainly took some getting used to after having to do it all myself.
2. Tying the RayMarine auto pilot and instruments together. now I can get helm steering info at the helm. Don't know why the PO did not connect them but it sure is nice having Otto steer by GPS or the wind angle.
3. Plugging the holes in the nav station bulkhead. The PO went through 3 sets of nav equipment and i had to go back and patch the holes to get a finished look. Absolutely useless.

Benny · May 1, 2009

A helm chair. It does wonders for your back on long trips.

Jim Kolstoe · May 1, 2009

Because h23s don't come with any built in charging system, the addition of a solar panel is the most useful upgrade - it saves discovering my battery is discharged when I want to use it and then having to lug it someplace I can charge it (no dock side power either). After that, a close contest between adding a 150% headsail and tracks to allow an adjustable lead, and a tiller extension. Next would be leading the halyards to the cockpit.The backstay adjuster is nice, but we could have lived without it, similarly the cunningham wasn't absolutly necessary, but its nice.
For day to day use on an inland lake, the vhf is probably the least useful, since I don't think its monitored locally unless races are going on. (Obviously, vhf is a necessary safety equipment in a coastal/saltwater setting, which is why we got it.)
An interesting question Bad O, thanks for posting it.
Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo

Stu Jackson · May 1, 2009

Easy

Autopilot - obvious upgrade
Link 2000 - a necessity with an electrical system
Freedom inverter charger - able to use PO microwave without being tied to dock
Traveler (Garhauer) - 3:1 to 5 or 6:1 purchase lets us sail

Many of the items here seem like either maintenance or safety items, although I guess the traveler could be considered maintenance. Even for me a secure electrical system is still maintenance. An anchor is a safety item, to me.

It'd be interesting to find out why you think your "upgrades" were just that as compared to maintenance items. For instance, the autopilot may not have been on the boat before, etc. Any why you may feel a maintenance item (fixing leaks) is an upgrade?

Roger Long · May 2, 2009

A few things here and there:

http://www.rogerlongboats.com/BoatIndex.htm

If I had to pick one, it would be the Cape Horn windvane. It's completely changed the way I sail and far more useful even in coastal daysailing than I anticipated. I arrive far fresher, and therefor safer, on long cruise legs.

The fuel polishing system would be a close second. I just changed the polishing filter after several hours of circulating fuel that was in the tanks for the end of last season and all winter (tank half way full) and it was crystal clear with just a couple small specks in the sediment bowl and the filter barely discolored. If you keep constantly removing the critters from the fuel, it takes a while for them to build up again, especially in cold storage conditions.

Jimm · May 2, 2009

Lots...

New helm and cabin improvements - see http://backcreek.110mb.com/
Soon to be adding a bow cleat just aft of the anchor locker.....

lehighsail · May 2, 2009

I just replaced the cockpit rug that came with the boat. These are very soft and comfortable on the feet, are easy to clean on or off the boat. They do not move nor do you slip on them. They are easily cut to size and if cut accurately are easily stretched over the wheel and table pod to install . http://matsetc.com/266wayopbac.html

shemandr · May 2, 2009

A rubber mallet for breaking up ice cubes. It never leaves the boat under threat of keelhauling.
For those without a freezer, the ice we buy melts on the way to the boat and becomes an iceberg in the freezer.
Otherwise my boat came with most of the above upgrades. So I can't say I upgraded them. But I like them all.
Warm winds and cold beer,

Hermit Scott · May 2, 2009

Bad Obsession-you need to read "the game".

Charisma · May 2, 2009

Bimini
Delta anchor
Bow roller, we anchor out at least one night a week.
Solar Panel
Furling headsail
Upgraded foam for the bed
Cockpit cusions
Galley and head fucets
Interrier lighting for reading at night
midship cleats
cabin carpet
and the list goes on!!!!