The "Gotta Have It" List (with ongoing updates)

Updated: 10-3-15

Electronics - We've gotten most of our electronics up and running with new instruments at the Helm (click here) and Nav Station (click here).

• All caught up for now

Power -In 2012 we upgraded our inverter/charger and replaced all our batteries, at the same time increasing the house bank to 750 amps (click here).  We also added a 6kw genset (click here) and a 400 watt wind turbine generator (click here).

• We currently have two 85 watt solar panels mounted to the Bimini frame.  We have two more 140 watt panels waiting for installation with the wiring and controllers already installed.  We're planning to build a stand-alone frame for the solar panels that will take the weight better than the Bimini frame and allow for positioning four panels towards the sun.

Water - We can store 250 gallons of fresh water.  Being wasteful like we are, we go through that in about a week.  We need to have a way to produce clean, fresh water when we're away from the dock:

• Water maker - We were going to purchase a Spectra system but decided to build our own instead.  Then something amazing happened and now we're rebuilding a Sea Recovery 25gph system.  Check on our progress (click here).

• Water filtration system

Safety - Certain items are absolutely necessary for blue water sailing.  We now have a Viking four man life raft, an EPIRB, safety harnesses and full jack-lines.  We still need:

• Man overboard (MOB) alarm system (click here)

• Security system - lights, sound and more 

 Sails, Rigging and Steering -  All the running rigging was replaced in 2012 except spare halyards.  We replaced the mainsail with a new one from Mack Sails.  Acquired an Asymetrical Spinnaker in like-new condition with a dousing sock in 2015.  Picked up a Whisker pole that extends out to 24' in 2014.  Also got an antique Monitor wind vane and completely restored it in 2014 but still need to install.

Other Stuff -  Yeah, that's right, the list is long.  It's prioritized too - that stuff up above comes first.  Everything following is gedunk, nice to have but not necessary:

•  Full boat shade mounted over the boom and out to the hand rails, extending from the stern to the staysail

• Side shades for the cockpit 

• Splash curtains around cockpit

•  Cockpit lighting for underway and at anchor

•  Hot/cold water shower in cockpit

•  Storage cabinets in both cockpit lockers 

•  300' anchor line on reel in cockpit locker

• Covers for the tender and outboard engine

• Garhauer rigid boom vang

• R/C Drone for our GoPro camera

• SCUBA compressor

• Storage for SCUBA tanks

• 15 HP outboard engine for our tender

•  LED lighting in all storage areas