Outfitting New Boat

But is it a necessity for small boat cruising? No! You always have the alternative to stay put. And invest that $2000 in something else, such as gas. But if you can't see, stay put. Unlike that guy and his buddy who came up from Seattle to Friday Harbour in a dense fog without any visibility; stupidity is still stupidity.
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I agree with Boris that Radar is not a necessity. Nor is most the electronics we have on our boats. But, most this stuff can increase your safety on the water. I say can, as it's still only as good as the skipper using it. Use this stuff as a tool as opposed to letting it use you! Failing to maintain situational awareness while just trusting your electronics can bite you in the butt! That being said, really if one wants to keep it really simple, and you are just out putzing around on a small familiar lake or stream, you really don't need anything other than the boat. Eventually you might wish you had a compass and then maybe a depth sounder, and then maybe a GPS plotter... :wink:

Finally, Boris, while I would not advocate going out in poor visibility, I don't think I'd go as far as saying it's stupidity. There may be a valid reason for having to go out. But the more prudent decision would be to stay in port on bad days. (I'm not sure I advocate stopping and staying put. That may not be the best option if you are out in the middle of somewhere. In which case you better know your sound signals!) Colby
 
I would chose a depth sounder over a compass. If you are on a small lake you probably aren't out of sight of the shore. On a river or stream you can only go upstream or downstream and a compass won't be much use.

However, in either case (depending on the water quality) you may not be able to see what is under your boat and a depth sounder can help you out.
 
Wow time flies. Just finished adding some fans and a chart light today, thought I'd catch up this old thread, where to start.

My handheld GPS bit the bucket not long after this thread so when I pulled into a marina to get breakfast I asked an old friend who works at a large Beneteau dealer to work me up a price for a VHS, plotter and radar and WOW! he quoted me about $100 more than the equipment would have cost me to purchase, and that was installed. The savings was mostly from a "new" used 3G simrad radar they had for a steep discount, so I went ahead and got an ICOM M330, Simrad Goe9 and Simrad 3G radar installed. It's been great, we've been out a lot at night where the radar has been helpful.

We've done a lot of small upgrades, adding the rope handholds in the cabin was great and cheap (thanks Bob).

Added hydraulic steering.

Added an opening window/screen in the cabin door (prob dumb, to expensive but we like it).

Added the fan/light combo in the v-berth and cabin.

I got a larger anchor roller that I need to install so I can use my Delta if I need and if I keep using the Bruce it'll hold the shank up off the deck.

I bought two new batteries and upgraded to Group 27 from 24.

Rebuilt the trailer, added brakes, rewired it, carpeted bunks.

Lots of safety gear, EPIRB, water activated lights for everyone, spare VHF and GPS.

This boat has been a great blank canvas for us, we've enjoyed it immensely and continue too. Of the 24 months we've owned the boat we've been out in 22 of those months. One month it was in the shop another work got in the way. It didn't help that SC closed ramps but we still made it out just before.

Headed out for and an overnighter this weekend with our family of 4 aboard. The kids don't like the cruising as much as me but they sure love the beach combing, swimming and tubing and my son will love fishing when he's a little older.

The upgrade list is getting pretty short, maybe some cockpit lights and a docking light, a fan or two. Would be nice to replace the two aft hatch covers eventually. Add a coupe rod holders.

There have been repairs along the way. I removed the fuel tanks and batteries and rebedded everthing in epoxy, engine repairs and maint not to mention small things here and there. Small price to pay IMO.

Thanks everyone! This site has been great, it's ironic I spent more time here before I got the boat, I need to rectify that and give back more.
 
It sounds as if you really scored on the chart plotter/3G Radar! Certainly well thought out improvements. Great time to be out with the family, and enjoy the spring!
 
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