What gear does everybody take out with them?

And how/where do you stow it?

I'm guessing there's a wide variance depending on location, type of sailing, boat type, and weather/conditions.

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The ox is slow but the earth is patient

For course racing (chase boats and other Hobies nearby)-

A pair of plyers stowed in the tramp pouch, or some times a Leatherman.
A spare shackle and clevis pin or two.
Righting line tied under the tramp.
A couple gatorades in the hull or in a bike waterbottle holder (depends on boat).
A spray top just in case in the hull or in the tramp pocket (depends on boat).

sm

spare shackles and pins, ringy dings and some water. tools and pins in a tramp bag. water in a bag in the hull. Garmin fortrex gps on the boom. ( always set a new way point for your beach launch, fog sucks ) Vhf radio in dry bag in rear port. ( know what race committy channel is and local vessel assistance ) Always have more than one boat out and have someone informed of your plans.

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Rich Vilvens
F-18 5150
[email protected]
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/f-185150sailing/

That's probably the most important thing. There's been a couple of opportunities for me to go sailing this season where I decided against it because 1) the water's still frikin' cold and 2) nobody else is out on the water to bail me out if I get into trouble.

Even with a buddy, things can go wrong. I will never go out without a VHF radio and/or a cell phone anymore (pre-program emergency numbers) after my upside-down Hobie 17 tidal drift experiment / let's make friends with the San Francisco police and coast guard adventure two years ago.

I thought I was safe because I was out with several other boats, practicing for the North Americans that started the next day. They never saw me drifting out to sea under the Golden Gate bridge.

Matt- What is the whole story with that? I've gotten little bits and pieces, but not the whole thing.

Let's not hijack the thread, Karl. Go here for Matt's story.

Perfect!

Alcoholic beverages are the most important thing to carry along. I carry a cooler on the tramp for this purpose.

I find it interesting that the "gear" most mentioned is another boat.

I started this thread with a number of thoughts. I've been thinking of adding a small tramp to my 18 (ala the getaway but much more minimal) forward of the mast to hold things like the anchor, the throwable, flare gun, dye packs, light sticks, paddles, a cooler, etc. I also wondered how many carry a GPS. The extra pins, clevises and cotters are a good idea I will add them.

I consider myself pretty safety conscious but we have NEVER sailed with another boat. I take my family out on Sarasota Bay, Anna Maria Sound, and the Manatee River. We recently ventured into the Gulf. We are never more than 1/2 mile from land, maybe 200 yards from someplace you could stand. We are all good swimmers. Water temp here never dips below about 60, close to 90 in the summer. We always sail in daylight and good weather. There are always other boats around. We take a cell in a dry box in the hull and recently added a hand held VHF.

Am I NUTS?

The PFDs are rarely worn and are usually lying on the tramp. (guests must wear). There are usually 3-4 of us and sometimes the dog (the dog wears a pfd). I've got 3 wet suits of various styles and weights but rarely wear one. I find that cold weather Bicycle gear is about right for cool weather sailing in Florida.

I am much more worried about an accident during setup/stepping/takedown than on the water. I've read about "Sven" on the other forum and that dude was seriously in denial. Am I?

_________________
The ox is slow but the earth is patient

Sailing alone I can understand, sometimes there just aren't other people out there. At least there are other boats to provide assistance if needed. I at least hope you tell people of your plans. Where your sailing, how long, when you plan on being back. Now, as far as not wearing a pfd, that is nuts. They will do you no good on the tramp if the boom knocks you unconsious and the boat goes on without you, along with a host of other possible things that could happen on the water. 1/2 mile swim in the ocean is tough (not impossible), no matter how strong of a swimmer you are, and things happen. Wear your pfd.

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James
86' Redline Hobie 16
Sail # 76909

Ditto the PFD remark, but Im on a kayak so its required, but still, I wouldnt dream on going out without it, even if it is the law here. There are just too many situations that you have zero control over that it would let you make it out of.

I would understand maybe a big sailboat, but these really arent that big and as far as I can tell, are really "wet" vessels that put you up close and personal with the ocean.

All that stuff does you no good if you get separated from the boat, get hurt, or like previously said, knocked out, etc....On my boat the rule is that everyone wears their PFD at all times, no matter what the water temperature or distance from shore....

A friend of mine had one of her kids fall overboard from a powerboat, and despite good swimming ability, he was drawn under the water surface by the current. The water was turbid enough that they lost sight of the kid almost immediately, and fortunately were able to find him at the last possible moment...he was not wearing his PFD.....

When you go over with kids, dog, etc aboard, you will not be able to keep track of everyone immediately, and the PFDs will give you that extra margin of safety.

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Arie
H 16 107568

We're looking into joining the local sailing squadron so maybe we'll meet some other families. The area we sail in is absolutely lousy with boats though. There are veritable traffic jams waiting for the drawbridges.

I almost never sail solo (maybe twice) and when I do I'm within sight of my family on the beach and I do wear a pfd. When we're all on the boat I figure the boom won't hit us all in the head.

The gulf is really shallow here and I'm serious about 200 yds to where you could wade in. The only time I was out 1/2 mile was to get around a shoal (that ate one of my daggers) that I could have waded in on.

I have a 250# righting bag, shroud extenders, and have a bungee righting system. I carry 2 50 ft and 1 100 ft of 1/2" line for dock/anchor/tow line.

While we usually tell alot of people we're going out (and the whole neighborhood sees us getting the boat ready and stops by to chat) we don't usually log a "flight plan" which would probably be a good idea, complete with a call when we get back to the dock.

You're probably right about the PFDs but my kids mostly want to get a tan (and I make them wear sunscreen). I'm thinking most Hobie jockeys are more adrenaline junkies and I'm more just a daysailor.

_________________
The ox is slow but the earth is patient

To refuse systematically to wear a PDF on a hobie is a dangerous business. You can have a perfect day sailing and then suddenly a gust of wind makes you capsize. How can you be sure than no one will need assistance?

This brings me to the second most important item after the PFD, a knife. In a capsize, if turtle, eventually people do get trap under the trampoline by a rope, the sails, etc. A knife in hand might be the difference between life or death.

By the way, I thought that getting trap under the trampoline only could happen to other people, until it happened to me. My partner had no knife to bail me out, luckily I managed to cut my way free.

I think that the top of the list should be:

1 a PFD Used all the time.
2 knife, one for each adult.
3 the other items.

The other thing to have while sailing is common sence. I used to be one of the "bigger wind bigger waves = bigger fun" Now im on a new boat with alot more power and have spent more time upside down than right side up. Know your limits and stick to them. It saves you and your boat alot of wear and tear.
I never leave the beach without a life jacket on and all on my boat must wear their jacket. regardless of wind and waves. Not wearing a life jacket is like not wearing a seat belt in a car , or a helmet on a motorcycle. Remember that drunk idiot in the powerboat or jet ski has your life in his hands too.

_________________
Rich Vilvens
F-18 5150
[email protected]
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/f-185150sailing/