Boat stuff I like

Dene

New member
Here's a partial list of boat stuff I like, in no particular order.

1. Nobeltec. I use an older version which I'd be happy to e-mail/zip to any C-Brat. Works very well with the free NOAA charts. Also works well with my USB Broadband/GPS card I have through Sprint....which brings me to number 2.

2. Sprint Broadband/GPS card. $60/mo. and worth every penny. Allows me to "work" while on the boat. Also works well with MS Streets, which is great for the RV travels.

3. The Optimus Infared Quartz heater. $29.99 through Northern Tool. 400 or 800 watt settings. The 400 watt is plenty sufficient for my boat, while underway or docked. While underway, I use it with a 1500 watt inverter and have plenty of alternator voltage left over to continue charging the house bank. One more thing....no fan. Peaceful, radiant heat, in contrast to the constant cycling of ceramic heaters.

4. 12 volt electric blanket ($13) through Camping World. We use it to warm the sheets prior to bedtime.

5. Garmin 172C chartplotter. I've owned Furuno and Standard Horizon. Much prefer Garmin due to it's user friendly menu and readable charts.

6. Xantrex 400 watt powerpack. Great for jumping a boat, tire inflation, and running a laptop.

7. Sharp Half Pint carousel microwave. Got one off of Craigslist for $25. Only 600 watts, so my inverter easily powers it. Also the size is just right. 13 inch cube. Much easier to fit it on precious countertop space vs. 18 in. wide microwave.

8. Timberland deck shoes. Picked up a pair for $25 a year ago at Boater's World. I wear them everyday. They are like wearing slippers.

9. Liquiseal travel mug bought at West Marine for $10. If you take the top off, it's microwaveable. Also, coffee stays hot forever in it....and it's Klutz proof. Hit the button, slurp, hit the button to close. It alone will add years to my marriage.

10. SlingBox. Takes your cable tv and DVR with you for viewing on the laptop. Good internet connection required. Most of the time, that's the case with the Sprint broadband service.

11. Klipsch Ipod speakers. I was at a Best Buy and asked an audio geek what the best system was. Bose, naturally. What is a close 2nd? Klipsch....and he's right! Suberb sound!! It's weighted, so it sits upright in any sea conditions. Comes with handy, slim remote. We use it for IPOD and auxiliary sound for the laptop. $150.

12. Ikea coffee maker. Put coffee in the bottom, fill with water, then heat. Makes excellent coffee. $15.

13. 3M clean and wax. One step wonder for oxidized hulls.

14. West Marine binoculars. Great for water.

15. Livingston 7.5 dinghy. I've owned an inflatable dinghy and two inflatable kayaks. Neither compare.

16. Weber grill. $50 black version works well in all settings.

17. Airhead bungy tow rope for the Sea Biscuit. My kids profusely thanked me for getting it. No more whiplash.

18. West Marine manual inflatable life jackets. My Coast Guard friend has the automatic. It went off in a rain storm.

19. Gorilla glue and tape.

20. Boater's World stock spray cleaner. Nukes every stain imaginable.

And the stuff you like....or don't????

-Greg
 
First off, I like C-Dorys and stuff that's C-Dory specific. My list would include

Barkeepers Friend

Liquid Rollers

Reading about various C-Dory Owner Group modifications to the C-Dory

Bottom Paint alternatives for the C-Dory in fresh and salt water environments

C-Brat adventures into waters not traveled by the average boater

This C-Dory specific web site best of all.

Don
 
Greg - excellent thread - great to share your 'list' and the prices. Each of us is unique, and we can pick and choose, so to speak, from your list (and suggestions from others) for outfitting a boat. Especially useful for new boaters. Thanks.
 
El and Bill":grj583k6 said:
Greg - excellent thread - great to share your 'list' and the prices. Each of us is unique, and we can pick and choose, so to speak, from your list (and suggestions from others) for outfitting a boat. Especially useful for new boaters. Thanks.

Thank you!

I forgot some items.

1. Jamie Oliver Survival Cookware offered only through HSN, roughly $115. It's excellent quality and stores into a compact shell. It fits perfectly in our trawler's oven. The boss loves it.

2. Downtube foldable bike. Lottsa bang for the buck.

3. Corona Light with a lime. You can't drink their water but boy do they make a fine beer!

-Greg
 
Sorry Greg- some folks just dont get it. if you are nice and polite and like, but dont currently have, c-dorys you are weclomed here to talk about boating related topic's. So keep up the list. Herers mine list, mostly fishing related.
1. my new custom fish box
2. Rocket pole holder on the radar mask. This allows me to carry far more gear then every before. I have 6 rod holders and would like to add some hooks for crap pots.
3. Electric down riggers- even it they are scottys.
4. Pro-release downrigger clips, best made for the way I fish- you know the right way.
5. abu garcia reels- best reels for the price.
Thats just off the top of my head.

Gregw- man hit the space bar once in the while....and count to 100. .
 
One simple little device I like is a cheap plastic 2 gallon pump up garden sprayer. I got the idea from one of Jim of Wild Blue's posts. I painted mine flat black and here in the Florida sun it makes a simple pressurized solar water heater for a shower in the cockpit or to simply wash the salt spray off after a swim.
 
I have a problem, no not that one, that I need advice on. When I fish I wash all my lures, boards and the boat with dish soap after use to get the smelly gels and other scents off of everything. But heres the problem. It washes the wax off the fiber glass. So what can I use to wash off the oil based scents and not the wax??
 
Those little inverters Roy & Lucky posted about are great; we keep a couple onboard and use them regularly. Also handy items for us:

Image stabilized binoculars - great for checking the position of the next nav aid

Clips/clamps - we use them to clip towels up in the camperback to help them dry faster.

Toaster oven - we had to decide between that and a microwave, due to space.

Stove cover (home made) - gives us some flat space on the countertop.

A cutting board - besides protecting the countertop, it lays over a portion of the sink, making for more counterspace, but still allowing sink use.

Shower curtain rings - little plastic rings, fit great over the interior handrails; good for hanging hats, clipping stuff to.

Comfortable camp chairs - they go everywhere with us, great in the cockpit or at the dock.

Satellite radio - we can't always get a tv signal, but when we're in the boat, we generally have a clear shot at the sky. News, weather, and entertainment (Radio Margaritaville :thup ).

Butane cooktop (single burner) - for times when you don't want to heat up the cabin with the Wallas.

Eco Fan - for times when you DO want to heat up the cabin with the Wallas. This circulates warm air with no power draw from the Wallas fan. And, it's quiet.

Wireless broadband - I like to stay connected. Without this forum, I quickly go into withdrawal. This actually combines this thread and another about boating websites.

Cruising with those you care about - absolutely priceless.

keep 'em coming.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

On edit: Joan says she really likes her single lever water faucet (thanks to Roger and Janet on Dreamer for that idea). It saves water and is more convenient.
 
Aside from everything about the C-Dory, a couple of trinkets that I think are worth their weight in boat gas are:
1. The Starship Solar charged LED auto light from WM that comes on when it gets dark and can be red or white, (~$15)
2. A lighter plug-in Electrical system monitor, (Battery level, and charging level) from the other WM [WalMart} for about $12.

One other accessory (beside duplicated VHF and GPS) is a good pair of Binoculars with a compass built in. Great for determining triangulated position if needed.

And anything my BestMate :love makes in Chocolate :D

And this site, Thanks again, Mike and Bill :thup :thup

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Harv,

Please give more details about the battery monitor from WM, brand, etc. Sounds very interesting. I have enjoyed this thread (except from a brief period when a useful, helpful idea raised by a Gasp! non-C-Dory owner, was hijacked in the interests of tribal purity.)
 
Dene,
I am surprised Pat hasn't chimed in but "Light" beer? I have been known to drink a few Coronas but life is too short to drink light beer.
 
CAVU":16fk6wn0 said:
Dene,
I am surprised Pat hasn't chimed in but "Light" beer? I have been known to drink a few Coronas but life is too short to drink light beer.

I would normally agree but I can't tell the difference between the two Coronas. There's about 30 calories difference which allows me to eat a few chips with it, without too much guilt.

-Greg
 
I am not sure if I am the one who first mentioned the Wall Mart battery volt meter or not. The one I have is called "Inn O va" it is a cigarette lighter plug in, with red, yellow and green LED's and a LCD volt meter which reads voltage 9 to 16 volts in XX.XX format. It seems to be quite accurate (compared to my Fluke digital volt meter). I have compared it to my Blue Seas and Links on the C Dories and it is easily readable. I also use it to moniter RV and car batteries. Cost in the automotive dept was about $12.95.

Bob Austin
 
I have one of those and they are quite handy.

3721.jpg


The page on the maker's website is here
 
Oh please, Corona Light? See, Ken? I did chime in. Corona roughly translates from the Spanish as "Mexican Budweiser." Corona is almost always "skunked" because of the nutty way it is marked in clear bottles - there is a reason that most beer bottles are brown. And LIGHT beer? I have a great cartoon somewhere entitled "The Invention of Light Beer, Milwaukee 1975." It is a guy peeing in a big vat...


Dene":2nr5ne06 said:
3. Corona Light with a lime. You can't drink their water but boy do they make a fine beer!

-Greg
 
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