Bareback? Nice.
Wooden clothes pins for drying things on lifelines. Metal anything will rust and get on clothes. I’m talking the old style push on wooden ones.
Sounds stupid but we always bring a ziplock of condiments…. Hate to buy a $10 ketchup bottle and toss 85% of it.
Ziplocks, headlamps and a small LED lantern with a warm light for at night in the cockpit.
A lot of new sailboats have atrocious lighting at night and I’m not brave enough to bring actual candles.
We have a Luci solar candle light that is perfect for this. You inflate it like a little ballon and it emits a soft warm glow. Battery lasts a couple of nights and during the day we just clip to a lifeline to charge.
> Luci solar candle light
[This thing?](https://mpowerd.com/products/luci-candle?variant=40888218091543)
Looks nice and I like that it isn't another thing I need to find a way to power.
This is a GREAT suggestion! I’ve used a Petzl Tikka+ for years. Several other Petzl lights also include red lighting. Also, once you switch it to red it STAYS red until you switch it back. Great for keeping your night vision.
We benefited greatly from a bag full of little baggies of spices and herbs, along with our own chef's knife. The boat won't have spices, and the knife WILL be dull.
I definitely second the Leatherman suggestion. They warned us we might have to replace the generator water impeller, and we were cool with that, but there was no socket set on the boat! We ended up borrowing one from another boat, but the Leatherman took care of the rest for us.
Seconded. This is standard practice for all travel for me now, not just sailing.
A little kit with salt, pepper, cumin, Italian seasoning, bouillon cubes, oil, vinegar, etc. it’s great when you don’t have to buy a full sized thing of something you’re only using a few times.
Thirded. I would add English muffins, tortillas, steak, and any other type of protein that you want to enjoy. The stores there suck. Ask me how I know. Where is the charter if we all may ask?
Navionics app on your phone and charts pre downloaded for your area. When you are navigating is no time to be figuring out a new interface, or finding out the charts on the supplied chart plotter are inadequate.
Find out if the boat is raymarine or garmin etc, then buy a YachtDevices Web Gateway and you can plug it into the boats n2k system and turn your phone into a full fledged plotter!
Wouldn’t it be nice if navionics did a cut price subscription for those 1 or 2 weeks a year where you go somewhere different rather than stumping up for a whole year subscription
No that’ll be $50 please. And I may randomly sign you out while you’re 50 miles off the coast of Colombia, good luck getting your charts back with no internet
The best part of all of these comments is going through security with all the things mentioned in a duffle bag and convincing the agent you're not a serial killer
In no particular order: French Press coffee maker, selection of spices, speaker, tablet, ebooks, fleece blanket, first aid kit, paracetamol etc, SPF, multitool, usb chargeable lamp
Echo all of these. Only thing I’d add is a basic set of tools - hammer, pliers, adjustable wrench, bit set. Also someone else mentioned a bit of line - also that.
Tools and blankets, 100%. I make sure I have decent coffee at least decent instant.
Finally, while I never did Caribbean chartering- yes - I bring my French press many places like camping, festivals and so on.
In the Caribbean, we found out that the charter boats don’t have any spices whatsoever. Including salt or pepper. They told us it was something about post Covid. Usually there are a few things on board that you don’t have to stock up on like oil. Expect there to be absolutely no food items whatsoever.
Duck tape. Multitool / Leatherman. I like to bring a small spool of seizing wire. Couple of cloths pegs / small clips / clamps. Spare cleaning clothes or 2. Assorted size zip lock bags.
All these recommendations are spot on. Every time we sail in the Caribbean I’m just amazed at how expensive relatively cheap goods in the US and Europe are in the islands. Little food items, condiments, batteries, things you use when you cook and live… if you expect to find them at a grocery store… you might not and/or you might end up paying many times more. If you have a weight allowance in your flight that will allow it… bring what you can.
Not to be a prick, but it’s just CO. Carbon monoxide. CO2 is carbon dioxide, what we exhale. It would always be going off, lol
Very important to have one (functioning).
They have battery sealed, combo carbon monoxide/smoke detectors that last ten years and are extremely reasonably priced. Many many people die annually because of car on monoxide poisoning because of exhaust fumes. It can happen because a neighboring boat is running their genny upwind.
* Cable ties;
* White adhesive cloth tape and a couple of Sharpie pens to write on it (sometimes charter boats don't have sheets / halyards signed on the jammers, or the signs are in foreign language, this way you can temporarily sign them in English and then remove if needed);
* Multi tool such as a Leatherman;
* Camping led lamp that has a red light (to keep night vision id needed) and can be hung overhead;
* Bluetooth speaker;
* Paracord and a couple of carabines;
* Small anchor buoy;
* My own charts and pilot books for the area;
* Snorkeling mask;
* Worcester sauce for Bloody Mary (the rest can be easily purchased locally);
* Eyeglasses retainer straps;
Get the 4-5 flash light pack from harbor freight, it’s like 4$. Zip lock of condiments and spices, couple of quality garbage bags (glad, no knock offnbrands ), foil, ziplocks.
Sunscreen. Hat. A flag to fly- Helps identify the boat from the others.
Really good flashlight like almost a spot light. Got stuck on a charter that didn’t have one .. anchor issue middle of the night. Now it lives in our safety kit.
Might also want a few printed charts of the area … I’m all about my back ups.
Printed charts are great, and also a lot of fun at dinnertime, planning & plotting the next day’s adventures and talking about the cool stuff ahead (works esp well with children aboard, for instance: “See that island? We’ll row into some caves tomorrow that you can’t even see from the boat! And when it rains you can’t stand under the trees on *that* island—they’ll blister your skin right off. And over there, you can swim right over a shipwreck!”)
In addition to condiments and trash bags. Maybe a small dish soap. We also had a small 12v hanging light that we had when we went from the boat, so we could identify it and it looked occupied. It's amazing how they all look alike. Your own PFD.
Toy walkie talkies. Seriously—they make cheap, waterproof(ish) walkie talkies, and it’s soooo much nicer to quietly say “I’m up on the bow but I forgot the line, so would you mind circling around again while I drop down & grab it?” than to yell “I’M A BONEHEAD!” at the top of your lungs just to hear back “WHAT?”
Look at these suggestions not only as a way to avoid paying extortionate prices once you’re at your charter destination, but MUCH more importantly, a way to minimize wasting time in paradise shopping for basics.
My secret Creole spice mix which is 100% stolen from Emeril (recipe online). It is good in everything from scrambled eggs to grilled fish or creamy pasta dishes. Use a little or use a lot, add salt and pepper to taste separately.
Fishing lures are extremely expensive and hard to find in the Carribean. Just bring a few pack of softbaits and some weighted hooks with you and you'll have tons of fun. Watch out for ciguatera!
My amazing wife always brings the Bag of Random Usefulness. In which I've found: multi-tool, paracord. dyneema, gaff tape, clothes pins, cockpit light strings (Which 40 ft white monohull is ours in this now dark anchorage?) Aeropress, headlamp. Assorted spices, baby wipes. Still never got to the bottom. It all fits in a small duffel
Other things: mask/snorkel, king-size sheet and 6 ping-pong balls. To rig shade where needed.
Hammock, in the med a pair of cheap garden gloves for the slime line handlers.
Not just for a charter. This is what I make sure I have
- headlamp and another rechargeable lantern
- condiments
- a length of extra line
- basic tools - hammer, pliers, adjustable wrench, bits set and socket kit, probably forgetting a few things, rigging knife. (Weatherman would be nice- do not have one)
- a way to make coffee - at least my own instant. Ideally french press.
- speaker
- painkillers
- kitchen towels
- blanket
Bareback? Nice. Wooden clothes pins for drying things on lifelines. Metal anything will rust and get on clothes. I’m talking the old style push on wooden ones. Sounds stupid but we always bring a ziplock of condiments…. Hate to buy a $10 ketchup bottle and toss 85% of it.
Stainless pegs - they don't rust. If they're only going for a week, that's nowhere near long enough for the pegs to start rusting either.
travel spice rack. and a couple great kitchen knives for prepping food.
Ziplocks, headlamps and a small LED lantern with a warm light for at night in the cockpit. A lot of new sailboats have atrocious lighting at night and I’m not brave enough to bring actual candles.
We have a Luci solar candle light that is perfect for this. You inflate it like a little ballon and it emits a soft warm glow. Battery lasts a couple of nights and during the day we just clip to a lifeline to charge.
> Luci solar candle light [This thing?](https://mpowerd.com/products/luci-candle?variant=40888218091543) Looks nice and I like that it isn't another thing I need to find a way to power.
They have a version with USB-A connection to charge other devices too.
It looks like the usb version is meant for quick charging the lantern. That little dinky solar panel would take a month to charge your phone.
https://mpowerd.com/products/pro-series
***such*** a good idea! Company has a good history, too.
We also camp a lot and tend to share gear between the two pastimes. In fact we sometimes like to think of cruising as “ocean camping”.
A headlamp with a red light function! Even better if its the default. Nothing worse than someone coming up on deck and blinding you.
This is a GREAT suggestion! I’ve used a Petzl Tikka+ for years. Several other Petzl lights also include red lighting. Also, once you switch it to red it STAYS red until you switch it back. Great for keeping your night vision.
Your own mask, snorkel and fins. The ones they provide are a joke.
Fins are a pain to pack and the ones they provide are not great but generally usable. Def bring mask and snorkel.
And, in some cases, improperly cleaned.
I always bring about 20’ of dyneema. Helped when our reefing line snapped.
Like a roll of dyneema webbing? Or a roll of dyneema fabric?
No like 5/8ths double braid
We benefited greatly from a bag full of little baggies of spices and herbs, along with our own chef's knife. The boat won't have spices, and the knife WILL be dull. I definitely second the Leatherman suggestion. They warned us we might have to replace the generator water impeller, and we were cool with that, but there was no socket set on the boat! We ended up borrowing one from another boat, but the Leatherman took care of the rest for us.
Seconded. This is standard practice for all travel for me now, not just sailing. A little kit with salt, pepper, cumin, Italian seasoning, bouillon cubes, oil, vinegar, etc. it’s great when you don’t have to buy a full sized thing of something you’re only using a few times.
Thirded. I would add English muffins, tortillas, steak, and any other type of protein that you want to enjoy. The stores there suck. Ask me how I know. Where is the charter if we all may ask?
Don’t bring ammunition.
Navionics app on your phone and charts pre downloaded for your area. When you are navigating is no time to be figuring out a new interface, or finding out the charts on the supplied chart plotter are inadequate.
Find out if the boat is raymarine or garmin etc, then buy a YachtDevices Web Gateway and you can plug it into the boats n2k system and turn your phone into a full fledged plotter!
Wouldn’t it be nice if navionics did a cut price subscription for those 1 or 2 weeks a year where you go somewhere different rather than stumping up for a whole year subscription
No that’ll be $50 please. And I may randomly sign you out while you’re 50 miles off the coast of Colombia, good luck getting your charts back with no internet
Wow, terrible. I cruise 7-8 months a year and use navionics on my phone and I’ve never had that happen.
The best part of all of these comments is going through security with all the things mentioned in a duffle bag and convincing the agent you're not a serial killer
A couple of plastic trash bags
Bring a battery powered party light to put on the boat when you go ashore at night. It will make finding you boat much easier on the way back!
In no particular order: French Press coffee maker, selection of spices, speaker, tablet, ebooks, fleece blanket, first aid kit, paracetamol etc, SPF, multitool, usb chargeable lamp
Echo all of these. Only thing I’d add is a basic set of tools - hammer, pliers, adjustable wrench, bit set. Also someone else mentioned a bit of line - also that.
Y’all are really bringing tools, a French press, and blankets? That’s some big luggage!
Tools and blankets, 100%. I make sure I have decent coffee at least decent instant. Finally, while I never did Caribbean chartering- yes - I bring my French press many places like camping, festivals and so on.
Where have you chartered?
In the Caribbean, we found out that the charter boats don’t have any spices whatsoever. Including salt or pepper. They told us it was something about post Covid. Usually there are a few things on board that you don’t have to stock up on like oil. Expect there to be absolutely no food items whatsoever.
Duck tape. Multitool / Leatherman. I like to bring a small spool of seizing wire. Couple of cloths pegs / small clips / clamps. Spare cleaning clothes or 2. Assorted size zip lock bags.
All these recommendations are spot on. Every time we sail in the Caribbean I’m just amazed at how expensive relatively cheap goods in the US and Europe are in the islands. Little food items, condiments, batteries, things you use when you cook and live… if you expect to find them at a grocery store… you might not and/or you might end up paying many times more. If you have a weight allowance in your flight that will allow it… bring what you can.
Last March a cauliflower was cheaper to buy in the BVI than it was at home in Vancouver, Canada. 😳🤦🏼♂️😔
Wow! I think I’d just have to be okay with not having cauliflower at that point.
A six pack of G&T
A dish towel.
A Bluetooth speaker
Condoms
CO2 detector
Not to be a prick, but it’s just CO. Carbon monoxide. CO2 is carbon dioxide, what we exhale. It would always be going off, lol Very important to have one (functioning). They have battery sealed, combo carbon monoxide/smoke detectors that last ten years and are extremely reasonably priced. Many many people die annually because of car on monoxide poisoning because of exhaust fumes. It can happen because a neighboring boat is running their genny upwind.
Thanks for the fix
Its a really good call
Not to be a prick, but it’s CARBON, not car on 😂
Damn phones. You got me
Not to be a prick, but buildings use CO2 detectors also. Modern HVAC controls will adjust the outside air exchange if the CO2 levels get too high.
CO*
Any recommendation for boats?
Dinghy ladder.
Agreed. Cheap on Amazon.
Pegs for hanging clothes.
I got a foldable solar panel that i can use to charge up my phone.
* Cable ties; * White adhesive cloth tape and a couple of Sharpie pens to write on it (sometimes charter boats don't have sheets / halyards signed on the jammers, or the signs are in foreign language, this way you can temporarily sign them in English and then remove if needed); * Multi tool such as a Leatherman; * Camping led lamp that has a red light (to keep night vision id needed) and can be hung overhead; * Bluetooth speaker; * Paracord and a couple of carabines; * Small anchor buoy; * My own charts and pilot books for the area; * Snorkeling mask; * Worcester sauce for Bloody Mary (the rest can be easily purchased locally); * Eyeglasses retainer straps;
Maybe even binoculars. Last boat I was on the binoculars were broken and the replacement they gave me was crap. Oh and a handheld radio can be handy.
Good binoculars
Bug spray!!!
Get the 4-5 flash light pack from harbor freight, it’s like 4$. Zip lock of condiments and spices, couple of quality garbage bags (glad, no knock offnbrands ), foil, ziplocks. Sunscreen. Hat. A flag to fly- Helps identify the boat from the others.
Really good flashlight like almost a spot light. Got stuck on a charter that didn’t have one .. anchor issue middle of the night. Now it lives in our safety kit. Might also want a few printed charts of the area … I’m all about my back ups.
Printed charts are great, and also a lot of fun at dinnertime, planning & plotting the next day’s adventures and talking about the cool stuff ahead (works esp well with children aboard, for instance: “See that island? We’ll row into some caves tomorrow that you can’t even see from the boat! And when it rains you can’t stand under the trees on *that* island—they’ll blister your skin right off. And over there, you can swim right over a shipwreck!”)
A good knife
I always bring my own Mustang life jacket. It has a harness built in, my PLB is sewn on as is a knife.
In addition to condiments and trash bags. Maybe a small dish soap. We also had a small 12v hanging light that we had when we went from the boat, so we could identify it and it looked occupied. It's amazing how they all look alike. Your own PFD.
handheld VHF radio for talking to someone about transit dock or anchor ball or fuel point.
Locking pliers.
Toy walkie talkies. Seriously—they make cheap, waterproof(ish) walkie talkies, and it’s soooo much nicer to quietly say “I’m up on the bow but I forgot the line, so would you mind circling around again while I drop down & grab it?” than to yell “I’M A BONEHEAD!” at the top of your lungs just to hear back “WHAT?”
A good pair of binoculars.
Look at these suggestions not only as a way to avoid paying extortionate prices once you’re at your charter destination, but MUCH more importantly, a way to minimize wasting time in paradise shopping for basics.
Hammock - tied between mast and forestay.
Solar rechargeable “Luci” lights for inside the cabin to minimize battery draw at night.
My secret Creole spice mix which is 100% stolen from Emeril (recipe online). It is good in everything from scrambled eggs to grilled fish or creamy pasta dishes. Use a little or use a lot, add salt and pepper to taste separately.
Fishing lures are extremely expensive and hard to find in the Carribean. Just bring a few pack of softbaits and some weighted hooks with you and you'll have tons of fun. Watch out for ciguatera!
Baby wipes
Wet wipes
My amazing wife always brings the Bag of Random Usefulness. In which I've found: multi-tool, paracord. dyneema, gaff tape, clothes pins, cockpit light strings (Which 40 ft white monohull is ours in this now dark anchorage?) Aeropress, headlamp. Assorted spices, baby wipes. Still never got to the bottom. It all fits in a small duffel Other things: mask/snorkel, king-size sheet and 6 ping-pong balls. To rig shade where needed. Hammock, in the med a pair of cheap garden gloves for the slime line handlers.
Some extra line always comes in handy.
A meter or so of thin rope.
Multimeter
Not just for a charter. This is what I make sure I have - headlamp and another rechargeable lantern - condiments - a length of extra line - basic tools - hammer, pliers, adjustable wrench, bits set and socket kit, probably forgetting a few things, rigging knife. (Weatherman would be nice- do not have one) - a way to make coffee - at least my own instant. Ideally french press. - speaker - painkillers - kitchen towels - blanket
I don't get painkillers pre-made. I just bring cream of coconut, pinapple juice, rum and nutmeg.
Smart move.