21 Comments
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Marty Loken's avatar

Anchors, and extra anchors, chain and rode, since losing one during a cruise (without spares) can put a quick end to the enjoyment—or the cruise itself. Also carry a decent toolkit, spare engine parts, more line than I’ll ever actually need, and plenty of extra butane cannisters for the one-burning cooktop. Oh, yeah, and plenty of full drinking/cooking water jugs…and more coffee than I could possibly brew during the planned cruise.

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Norman J. Stringfield's avatar

I never leave the dock without a boat! Well, that's not completely true as I have fallen in off the dock more than once!

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Dan Phy's avatar

ALWAYS a PFD for all aboard…NO exceptions!! (My son is a Captain in the Coastguard….he grants ZERO tolerance!)…..then all the usual gear for a week or so on the water.

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Bruce Robbins's avatar

Life jacket, paddle, ... almost everything else I've forgotten to take at least once!

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John Lanning's avatar

I always take my dog, Floki, and a thermos of coffee.

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Ed Sasser's avatar

Add a Biolite charging block—or two.

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David Bower's avatar

Sun hat with neck flaps, gloves, and a Leatherman tool, plus a cooler of water.

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Bruce Lyle's avatar

At this time of year in Saskatchewan, bug spray/long sleeves/ thermacell with spare pads/fuel.

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AJBTC's avatar

Children.

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steve litherland's avatar

Just in case of bad weather or equipment malfunction, I always have the boat ready to spend the night away from my permanent slip. Nothing fancy, just a little food, small toilet kit and sleeping gear to spend the night at a distant marina or anchored out. My Sanibel 17 can hold plenty for extended trips, but I keep it ready to spend the night even when day sailing. Steve L., Oak Ridge, TN.

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Jim White's avatar

I'm a Day sailor so my list is based on a rather short sail. All I really need is a full lunchbox and plenty of water, tea or coffee.

All my sailing equipment is lives on the boat unless in the shop for repair. I walk down to the dock and stop to put on my PFD which will not come off again till I return or stop on an island. At the same time on goes a wide brim hat , full facemask and my sailing/rowing gloves. It's hot here.

The cuddy cabin already has Fire ext , tools , spare parts, extra water, anchor w/chain & line attached ,

a rowing oar , telescoping boathook , spare lines and foul weather gear.

There's a "boatload" of other stuff that I could carry but that's exactly what I am trying to avoid.

JW

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Cecil Marmont's avatar

Iron ginny, aka small outboard motor. One time being stranded in the bay and having to paddle back to the dock, was all it took!

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Gwendal's avatar

I usually carry a Davis portable radar reflector that I can string up the flag pole on my mizzen mast as I live close to a busy shipping lane. On day sails I carry a nice soft fabric waterproof cooler that fits in nicely next to the centreboard well and has a good supply of snacks and drinks and spare sunscreen.

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Rob Majewski's avatar

Humm, maybe I do need a roto molded plastic boat like the Portland Pudgy. I’ve got all that “boat stuff” people are listing, which is enough to impress the Coast Guard boat inspector so much that he offered me a job AND I can add, sandpaper, Sikkens Cetol, varnish, Brghtside paint, primer, paint brushes, rollers, acetone, 216, 233, shop vac, orbital sander, wiring, wiring connectors, hardware, blah blah blah. Two things become apparent from this thought exercise (1) I’m not kidding when I say there’s no place to work on a boat in Hawaii and (2) maybe I need a no maintenance plastic boat and just carry a sniffable teak keychain for that “teak high”.

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Ben Fuller's avatar

Depends on what boat. PFD, knife, radio, water, signal stuff in PFD, go in kayak, canoe, sailboat, outboard. Then build out from there.

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Peter Thomas's avatar

pdf and leatherman tool on my belt

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