If you're just starting to play around with larger boats, you might also check out Sailboat Owners forums - Having a jump-starter like the Weego (as an example only) gives me a little peace-of-mind, and who doesn't want one less thing to worry about on vacation. Now the batteries in a 36-foot boat are pretty large, so it's unlikely that you could drain both batteries overnight, particularly if you're halfway careful with your consumption and switch those lights over to LED, but not all batteries are kept well. In the morning, you can find yourself with both batteries still in parallel, and not enough juice to fire the engine. Most people charge their batteries while motoring on Both, and some people forget to turn it back on 1 or 2 when they anchor and start partying.
The stock switches on Catalinas was a manual "1-2-Both" battery switch - feeding power between the alternator to Battery 1, 2, or Both in parallel. What I was referring to is an additional level of redundancy. Who knows what your 'previous owner' (PO) did to the system, but the default is for redundancy built-in. The stock configuration of the batteries has those 'jumpers' already hard-wired in, and can be made with the twist of a (large) switch. Your family will be much safer and comfortable if you've thought about this before leaving the dock. We've got some remote areas here, and it's nice to know that you won't be stuck in some bay for a month before they look for you.ĭon't mean to scare you with any of this, but you asked what I carry. Other than day-sailing in our local bay, we always file a float-plan with someone who'll call the coasties if we're overdue. We also carry GPS-based personal locator beacons (the poor man's EPIRB). For thinking about scenarios, I'd look up the excellent articles by Mario Vittone (ex-CG) on safety at sea: įor real emergencies, we have the required flares and the ships VHF. I don't know how cold you water is, but we would not last long in May. The most common fire will be the galley stove or grill getting out-of-hand, so we carry a fire blanket to douse those. If you can't control an on-board fire, your only alternative is to swim. For fire, I'd consider the USCG requirements a bare minimum.
Think about these things before you slice your toe open on something and you need to figure out how to stop the bleeding. Here's a good link for what you should consider: If you're going sailing more than an hour or so from help, you really should read a marine or back-country first-aid book (and have it on-board) so that you know what to do with that stuff.
I suggest getting a box and making your own up - of stuff you need and know how to use for the length of time you expect to be away from professional help. Most ready-made first aid kits have garbage supplies and are just collections of small bandaids and aspirin tablets so they can say "150 pieces". I carry a first-aid kit, and a more extensive kit that I've put together myself. It's much more likely that the crew will be the weak link in your sailing plans than the well-made boat. Consider the much more common emergency contingencies of personal injury / illness and fires. You've covered the "water coming in" contingency with leak stopping stuff.
I carry a spare anchor and 100' rode for stern anchoring or if I lose the primary. For sailing, I carry enough spare line to rig spare sheets or tow something. It's much easier and cheaper to order from Defender, Catalina Direct, or Amazon now than hitch a ride to the local hardware store when you're in some scenic harbor, or five miles offshore.
I'd carry one of those glove-box starter batteries to jump start if you forget to swich your batteries over and enough tools to adjust every type of fastener on the boat.
If your new-to-you boat does not already have spares, I suggest engine spares from Catalina Direct so that you have at least two spare raw water impellers, fuel and oil filters, and a generator V-belt. I try to carry enough spares to avoid any outside rescue, and enough safety gear so that we're all alive and healthy if it turns south and we need to call the Coasties. My two risk steps are (1) what will end the party / cruise and (2) when will I need outside rescue or towing. I suggest going through your cruising plans and doing a bunch of what-if scenarios. For example, we don't have as many line obstructions here in the Great Lakes as you seem to have in the NE coast, so line cutters are not as popular. All of this depends on your particular location, sailing goals, and risk appetite.