Equipment- can't do without!!!

[peterljones]

I am getting ready to order a 22 Cruiser and will be using it out of Port Townsend WA, both cruising and fishing. Lots of 'blue water' use - off shore.
The three questions I have, and would appreciate C-Dory owner input on, are:
1. Equipped with twin 50 - four strokes, are you able you troll slow enough or do you need a kicker. (Or one 90 and a kicker?)?
2. What accessories would you say are essential to comfortable and safe offshore use. What would have been your preferences?
3. With a reasonable budget, what is the dream package of electronics?
Thanks - Pete.

[JamesTXSD]

Welcome aboard, Pete. I don't have a 22, so I can't speak to the "slow enough to troll" issue, but if you search the archives here you will find a GREAT DEAL of discussion about the single vs twins issue. I'm sure you'll hear from plenty of 22 owners both ways.

Two options that we have found to be a big plus for comfort are the Wallas stove/heater and a good camperback. While the camperback may be a hindrance for some fishermen, it helps keep our cockpit dry... in bigger waves/spray it keeps the water on the outside of the boat (a big safety factor from my perspective).

I'm sure you'll get a wide variety of opinions for the dream suite of electronics; here's ours - a Raymarine E-80 with radar, depth finder, and autopilot; a VHF tied into that for DSC. We also have a smaller back-up chartplotter that can run on batteries, and a couple handheld VHF radios. Add in the Platinum series chips for any areas you'll be cruising. Something we added after a year of cruising was a fuel flow meter - should have done that right off the bat.

Good luck with your decisions, and tell us what you decided on.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

[westward]

Hi Pete! congrats on your new boat. Being a checkbook electronics tech, I would suggest having any equipment that you aren't comfortable installing yourself done by the dealer or rigger right from the start, within your budget constraints of course. It's a hassle for me to bring the boat back in so it tends not to get done. I DK how much previous boating you've done so I may be covering ground you've already tread: Good quality lines, fenders and ground tackle; full safety gear of high quality including comfortable life jackets, flares, waterproof handheld VHF; Permatrims, water separating fuel filtration (consult "Thataway" on this site for details), automatic voltage sensitive battery controls with 2 starting/1 house batteries, spare props (perhaps lower pitch than the first pair) with prop wrench and spare pins; and your electronics package. I went with separates to control costs, but if you can afford it you may want to go with a network system (wish I had): One larger monitor with peripherals for radar, sonar, gps, engine performance, entertainment input. You should have a VHF with DSC capability which can interface with your network or your GPS separate unit. Finally, invest in an epoxy barrier coat/bottom paint job right from the start if she'll be in the water for more than a few days at a time. That's my advice, but I just committed the better part of $50K with what I described. Good luck and keep us posted. Mike.

[jkidd]

My CD22 has a Suzuki DF115 on it and a 9.9 Kicker. The 115 will troll as low as 2.0 MPH. I would expect that 1 of the 50s should be able to troll down below that. My kicker will get me down to .7 MPH works good for slow trolling stripers at Lake Powell.

[thataway]

Peter,
To me "offshore" means at least 25 to 50 miles from the coast, so I am not sure what you mean by "offshore" in reference to Pt. Townsend. If you really want to go offshore, I would suggest you launch out of Neah Bay or La Push--but on the other hand, as much as I love the C D 22, I don't consider it an all weather "offshore" boat in the North Pacific.

Back to gear: There are a whole new generation of electronics by both Ray Marine, Furuno and Garmin which have just been released. Many want a single large moniter--My opinion is if you go with one moniter you may want 12". I personally prefer several smaller moniters. I like two GPS, a separate fishfinder. I like at least one VHF radio, and a separate hand held submersiable waterproof hand held. If you are going offshore, you want radar, and and EPRIB.

Brands--I own no Raymarine (an old prejudice)--but they are very popular. I also own Furuno Lowarnce, Standard Horizon, & Garmin I personally prefer Furuno, but Lowrance gives a great "bang for the buck". If you are going to multiple different areas, consider a hard drive GPS chart plotter. Lowrance uses Navionics or Nautipath charts. Furuno uses Navionics or C maps. RayMarine uses Navionics charts. Garmin, only uses Garmin charts. Garmin is the easiest chart plotter to use.

"Dream package" of electronics would be the new Furuno Navnet 3, with two 12" screens, 4 KW 24 mile closed radar dome, the 1000 watt fishfinder module, weather fax module, AIS and the GPS system, with two antennas. Interface this with the Furuno autopilot. Of course this will not be on the market until the spring....but it is state of the art. Also in consideration would be the Garmin latest series, coupled with the TR1 (now rebadged Garmin) autopilot. The Raymarine "G" series--all of these are new, and look fantastic--worth waiting for!

I certainly agree with the extra batteries.

You can read all of the threads on single vs twins. Our Tom Cat has twins and the CD 25 has a single plus kicker--either twins or single and kicker works. Be sure you have a separate fuel supply for the kicker.

We keep a waterproof "ditch bag" with 6 extra flares, 6 extra day/night hand held flares, hand held vhf, hand held GPS, ARC Firefly strobe, extra 406 EPRIB, at least a dozen AA batteries (which power the electricals), multip purpose tool (Gerber or Leatherman) cigarette lighter, duct tape, electrical tape, 1/8" line, solar blanket, plastic tarp/poncho, back up first aid kit, small Vise Grip, spark plug wrench, copies of the credit card, boat's papers, driver's license, Passport.

We don't carry a life raft, but do carry an inflatable--when really "offshore" we have a CO2 bottle which will inflate the dinghy rapidly in an emergency.

Add a radar reflector, sea anchor of some form, with line and chafing gear (probably a para-anchor if you are really going offshore)--we also carry a ham SSB radio (but the average boat would not carry that).

I certainly agree with the Wallas stove and camper back.

[jdahlfin]

Pretty much all has been mentioned, one thing I am glad I added as an aftermarket is the on board battery charger, for a good one it cost under $200 to buy and install myself.

[dogon dory]

Sorry, Folks - Post Deleted By Author

[BaseCampAnne]

I am enjoying reading your posts every evening. I still need a clarification on electrical power. I am having the dealer install more power, shore power, but am not sure what exactly to ask for.
I am getting a navigation system that includes the depth finder, radio system, windlass and a ceramic heater to combat mold. I want to be able to sometimes use my computer, charge my cellphone and therefore have a few outlets available. Next year I hope to add radar if not bankrupt by then:-)

I am not sure exactly what I am asking for, nor do I know what others purchase (if not handy as most of you are.) Also, how does an adaptor fit into the picture?

Can anyone give me a KISS reply to these questions that might even have an approximate cost? These costs really add up, don't they?!
thx, BaseCampAnne

[dogon dory]

Sorry, Folks - Post Deleted By Author

[El and Bill]

EQUIPMENT -- CAN'T DO WITHOUT!!

THE LIST IS SHORT AND SIMPLE:

Cruising on a small boat, the following as essential for safety and navigation:

1. A good VHF radio

2. A good chartplotter/GPS system

3. A reliable depth sounder

4. A good PFD for your safety

5. A good paid-up credit card

All the rest represents what folks have wanted and found useful -- BUT it is NOT needed

[Not For Hire]

6. Compass and charts, I ain't going to whether these or a chartplotter are required or optional, for me all three are essential.
7. An anchor with rode.
8. Visual distress signals.
9. Sound signaling device.
10. Float plan.
11. Boat hook, oar, or paddle, etc.
12. Coffee.
13. A good book.
14. A good dog.

Regards, Mark

[drjohn71a]

As a heavy gadget consumer, my take on it is:

The installed shorepower will have just a few 110V outlets. You'll have get a multi-outlet setup or strip to plug all the portable equipment chargers in. Many have the boxy little transformer right on the plug, so most 6 outlet strips won't allow you to plug in more than 2 or 3 transformers. They make some with more space, including an "octopus" type which allows you to plug in 6 transformers since each plug-in is on the end of a cord.

Heavy amp/Watt appliances such as microwaves and heaters will take up most of one circuit's available amps. You will just have to only use one at a time if you are limited to 15 or 20 amp circuits. In our area, 30 amp shore power is available in sets of two, so one could plug in 4, 15 amp circuits if using two shore power lines, or 2, 15 amp circuits if using just one shorepower line.

In a small boat, such as a CD22, you could just have one outlet set on the Starboard side on one circuit, and one or two outlet sets on the dinette side. I use the outlet strips to be able to reach the microwave, TV, and chargers, but am cautious to only use the rate amp draw at any one time.

To try to simplify this: You will most likely want one,15 amp, two outlet, plug-in installed on each side of the boat for 30 amp shorepower. You can use extension cords or strip outlets to customize to your specifications. You won't know exactly where you want the strips installed until after you use the boat for awhile, so have one plug-in on the sink area and another on the aft dinette area.

I hope this helps,

John

[El and Bill]

Good additions, Mark!

[drjohn71a]

Re: minimal equipment

If you are really limited in equipment budget, I would first buy a very good portable, waterproof VHF radio - even before an installed one. Also, a good, portable gps unit that can take one of the common chart chips, Lowrance iFinder Color, Garmin, or whatever. Of course, good anchor setup, and basic safety things.

A ditch bag with the best life preservers, reflective tape, flares, air horns, strobe lights, compass and.... I know they are expensive, but they can really save your bacon - lighted, compass containing, good quality binoculars.
In conjunction with a map, you can navigate well with one of these. The better ones have better low light performance and that is the most likely time you'll need them, so plan on $400-600 on this - but they are worth it.

Your eyes can deceive you at sea - distances appear much shorter, you cannot see waves breaking away from you very well by normal eyesight. The good binoculars allow you to measure distance by the height of known objects (taken from the charts) so you can tell exactly where you are. Of course, two intersecting sightings with compass binoculars can do the same.

Coming into Galveston bay in the wee hours of the morning with no moon, installed gps out, we almost ran into the long, unlit rock jetty until we took a distance measurement of the hotels with our binoculars. The hotels were lit, otherwise we could not have seen them... Most tall objects have a light on top.

To better clarify this, yes, there is a light at the end of the jetty, but there is a parking area for huge ships there also, and so many red and white lights between the inshore and offshore parking areas' ships that it can be confusing.

Also, while it may surprise some, there are hundreds of unmarked, unlit, abandoned oil and gas rig foundations, logs, oyster beds, rocks, etc., that only looking for with binoculars will help you avoid. If you wait until you're on top of them it is too late. I think we have a tendancy to believe that all the hazards are marked or lit up, but that is definitely NOT the case.

John

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Pete,

I scanned the list of gear that folks are recommending, and it looks like you have a pretty comprehensive list of equipment.

Here's one that I did not see. I would get an Ecofan to sit on the Wallas and push warm air around the cabin. They work great, don't cost all that much, keep the cabin quiet (no fan noise) and don't draw the house battery down.

Steve