By Greg Flederman

Bluewater Sailing ClubWinter Seminar Series

“Preparing Your Boat to Go Offshore”

Cruising

SAFETY

ChecklistsRigging & Sails

Navigation & Routing Electrics & Electronics

Upgrades

Checklists

• Systems Checklist• Delivery Checklist

• Pre-departure Checklist • Post Departure Checklist

Systems Checklist • Exterior • Bilge• Batteries• AC power• Engines and Generators• Electronics• Navigation lights• Interior lights

Delivery Checklist

• Hull• Sails & Rigging• Nav Lights & Shapes• Safety• Engine & Electrical• Tools• Charts & Navigation• Paperwork• Spares• Recommended Items

Rigging and sails:Rigging• Cruising rigs are often neglected• Rig check by a recognized rigging specialist• Less work, peace of mind, insurance value.

Sails• Sails inspected and repaired• Additional reefing points• Roller furling Genoa Luff pad• Tri sail and storm jib

• Repair/replace running rigging as needed

Navigation and Routing Navigation• Basic navigation including finding and plotting position,

maintaining a log , basic dead reckoning plot.• Paper charts for entire area of cruise including Charts for safe

harbors along the route.• Maintain library of navigational books including Bowditch,

Reeds Almanac, and others pertaining to cruising grounds.• Celestial navigation

Routing• Weather windows• Commander's weather• Seasonal considerations

Electrics and Electronics Electrics• Supply - Wind, solar, generator, engine alternator• Storage - Battery banks, Chargers and Inverters• Demand - Decrease usage -LED's, dimmers, and

foot pumps

Electronics• GPS, DSC VHF-radio, AIS and Radar• EPIRB's, PLB'S and MSLD's

DSC enabled VHF radio

Stand alone DSC radio with dedicated GPS

DSC radio with GPS data input from Chartplotter

AIS – Automated Information System Standalone installation

Radar • No real breakthroughs that affect offshore sailing.• High definition and broadband radar.

EPIRB’s • Electronic position indicating radio beacon• Now include GPS connectivity and or integration

PLB’s

Personal Locator Beacons• Three main types - EPIRB, EPIRB with GPS, GPS• Spot - 406 MHZ with GPS and Globalstar messaging,

SAR by company• ACR mini B -121.5 MHZ and 406 MHZ, non GPS, SAR

by USCG/AMVER• McMurdo - 121.5 MHZ and 406 MHZ, GPS, AMVER

SAR• ACR Aqualink - 121.5 MHZ and 406 MHZ and 406

link, with I'm OK and Aquaview LED test function, AMVER SAR

MSLD’sMarine Survivor Location Devices

• SeaMarshall - base unit and PLB, extensive commercial use• Mobilert - transmitter activated by water, generates GPS tag• Firstlight Mermaid ID - base, thru hull and ID -pods, water

activated, generates GPS tag• Emerald marine alert 2 - As above with optional R.D.F kit• Raymarine Lifetag - tag activated by distance, sounds Seatalk

alarm, records position and creates mob target on all Seatalk devices, lowers range on chartplotters and radars to optimum for MOB/SAR, up two 16 tags per base station.

Upgrades • Electrics • Electronics • Tankage• Water maker • Wind vane• Life raft • Foul weather gear

By Greg Flederman

Bluewater Sailing ClubWinter Seminar Series

“Preparing Your Boat to Go Offshore”References:

Books-The Seaworthy Offshore Sailboat - John VigorOffshore Sailing - Bill SeifertThe Voyagers Handbook - Beth A. Leonard

WebsitesElectronics - www.panbo.com, www.acrelectronics.com, www.raymarine.com, vespermarine.comProducts and pricing - www.westmarine.com