Recently we have been cruising with a great buddy boat and crew. The owner is new to long range cruising and wanted to join us on the rally to Indonesia to learn the cruising ways. From time to time he has needed help and things i have on Furthur. This inspired me to document the articles i have accumulated that i believe are essential to long range power cruising. Some are big items that came with boat, many are just little things that make a big difference.
The lovely Donna modeling the 2 micron filters used in the fuel polishing system
On the equipment list that is “do not leave home without” list; the most important for cruising 3rd world countries is the ESI Fuel Polishing system, standard equipment on Selene’s. Fuel is a huge issue as my buddy found out. He had a major fuel problem that resulted in me towing him 140 miles and a gigantic repair bill. I run new fuel through the system at least three times with a 2 micron Racor filter before it ever leaves the tank. Another issue with fueling is just getting it aboard. In places, most we travel, there are no fuel docks and fuel is delivered via small boat and barrel or gerry can. A high volume electric fuel pump is needed for the transfer with plenty of hose. I can empty a 200 liter barrel in a matter of minutes, good when bouncing off a cement pier.
Second on the list of larger items is my Forespar Rolex stationary stabilizer system, we loving call “the Fish”. This takes most of the roll out of bumpy anchorages and was used often on this last voyage.
the Rolex system keeps us sleeping at night
Speaking of anchoring, i carry an over sized 55kg Bruce type anchor, really big! I also carry an unusually large amount of chain, 200 meters (600 ft). i have cruised with two boats that carry half that amount and it has genuinely restricted where they can anchor. Just the other day i dropped the hook in 145ft of water to access a fantastic dive area. i also carry an array of spare anchors and rode, all unused in the last six years but essential. Due to upsizing my windlass to accommodate the heavy gear, i actually carry a spare windlass. i will also have a spare motor for the larger one delivered soon, the windlass working is a mandatory part of cruising.
We often grab a mooring in many places we visit. In the past we used the traditional boat hook to grab the tail of the mooring, this was always a challenge and caused great angst with the crew, not to mention several lost boat hooks. I watched the livaboard dive boats with even taller bows than Furthur secure moorings and saw they used a three pronged hook and line with great ease. We now have such a hook and it is far easier to use.
our “happy hooker, mooring hook
Marinas are few and far between, we often go months without docking, when we do they are frequently rolly and crude. Sometimes we tie to a non floating wharf or larger steel ship. A good selection of large fenders and long dock lines is needed in such cases, big ones!
Water and air, cannot live without them! We have a great FCI water maker, 200 liters an hour, i had a smaller unit that has failed and will be replaced soon. i like having two water makers, one high volume and one smaller that can run on the inverter while underway. No water, no happy crew! We also have an inline charcoal filter for the dock hose for the times we are at a marina. We are dive fanatics, so my Bauer dive compressor gets a work out. My cruising mates without compressors often miss the best diving and are reliant on finding dive shops for tank fills. The compressor on Furthur is electric so requires a generator, many carry gas driven compressors, noisy and require a separate fuel supply and extreme care to access clean air in the intake. We carry eight tanks.
The dinghy is the king, without it the trip ends, period. i carry a small spare roll up inflatable with small outboard as well as my larger one. My good friend and cruising guru, John Neal, told me at the beginning of the trip, “lift it or lose it” and after another friend got their dinghy stolen in Tahiti, i have always put the dinghy up at night, no exceptions! I opted for the mast/boom davit arrangement instead of the powerful hydraulic crane Selene offered. I can completely replace the moving parts of my system with parts carried aboard.
the dinghy hook saves the coral
As we dive off the dinghy we have a small anchor, a local style which is a crude hook made of rebar. i used to carry a more traditional anchor with chain lead but found that did damage to the precious coral we were diving to see, the hook does little damage and is more secure.
To the smaller stuff; the recent towing incident reminded me why i carry a long, strong tow line, one that has been neatly coiled and unused until really needed, really needed. I also carry a large spool of small line for stern tying in small anchorages, this gets used more often, fortunately.
the shore tie long line and reel
A cruising boat requires an inordinate variety of petroleum pridust to keep going and a replacement supply for each is needed: dive compressor oil, water maker oil, steering ram fluid, engine and gen oil (they used the same grade), transmission oil, outboard 2 cycle oil, hydraulic oil, and even the essential massage oil supplies are stored on Furthur. Along with the petroleum products comes an array of filters; water maker, ESI system, engine, gen factory filters and Racors for each, hydraulic filter, water filters, the list goes on. i can now repack my dive compressor filters so that is a big savings. Between needed oils and filters my inventory reaches into the thousand dollar range not to mention the space to store it all but it is all needed when it is needed.
Along with this inventory comes an endless supply of spare parts too long to list. My motto is if it broke once it will again so any time i replace a part, i buy two, this goes for the large array of pumps i carry. On the essential list are plenty of impellors for all things that use them, i also discovered the wonders of silicone grease to install impellors and lengthen their life.
Add to the list an extensive supply of nuts/bolts, fuses, light bulbs, O rings, anything you can think of that might break. It is often the small things that stop a happy cruise. i now carry complete rebuild kits for all pumps and hydraulic rams. There is a great rule of engineering, if it moves and is not supposed to use duct tape or wire ties. If it supposed to move and does not use WD40. So carry plenty of each. i also like the silicon spray WD puts out. Along with that carry ratcheting cargo straps and bungee cords to secure things on the deck. We carry a vast selection of adhesives; from super glue to dinghy repair glue to epoxy to silicon and the all important 5200.
Clearing in and out of foreign countries can be daunting at first but soon seen as just part of the deal. I find it handy to have a printer/scanner onboard so i can make the dozens of copies of documents required by the various agencies. This will expedite clearing in and out and gives you the appearance of knowing what you are doing when you can produce anything they ask for. This can also save you the angst of handing your passport and boat docs to a stranger, often known for corruption, to get copies made at the last minute.
Just for Americans: If your boat is from the West, it is probably 110v 60 htz and will not run appliances made in the East, or anywhere else. Carry spare power tools, fans and appliances that run on 110v only along with spare extension cords.
Some just for fun: One of the things my cruising mates marvel at and desire is my balloon tying kit. i love to sit in a small village and make balloon animals, nothing will get you into the heart of a small village like balloon animals. We also carry a supply of small toys for kids.
The trick is to distinguish between the things you need, might really need and never need. There are items i will never use but keep, safety items like the life raft. there are never used items i have found multiple uses for; the tow line doubles as a storm mooring line and i have made our own moorings with it at dive sites. Then there are the piles of crap one collects and never uses or never will. The trick is to determine what to throw and what to use, i go through this process yearly.
So here is my list, use it as you will. i am sure there are things i forgot and things i am missing and will add another time. Cruising happily depends on three things: prepare the boat as thoroughly as you can, take spares for the predictable and unpredictable, know your systems and have a plan to temporarily fix or do without. Follow these things and the world is yours!
