There are a couple of stores…
There are a couple of stores that you (we!) need to enter with a shopping list in hand, and then stick to it. This is either because they are too well designed to make you spend money, like IKEA for example, or they are just filled to the roof with cool stuff. In the latter category is one of our favorite stores: Mountain Equipment Co-op. Fortunately, for our wallet anyway, we do not have one of these stores locally. But when our plans to meet family in Ottawa yesterday to go skiing were squashed by the lack of snow, we immediately concluded that the “downside” of the poor weather conditions was that we now had a block of time to fill, and what better way than to visit the local MEC!
As we knew from experience the value of a list, we did go in there solely with the intention of picking up some climbing-related stuff. Carabiners, webbing and cord have multiple uses on a boat, and this place is a LOT less expensive than West Marine or most other chandleries. One hundred and fifty bucks later (it makes me feel better to round that number down) we walked out with the following kit:
Some of that stuff may be used to create tethers to attach our soon-to-be purchased harnesses to jacklines. The rest will be kept on board for yet-to-be-determined uses that I know will come up.
Oh, one other thing did slip into our shopping basket… a toaster, which we think might work well on our stove. Rebecca is very particular about her breakfast!
Cosco is my bane. I call it the $200 club because that is the minimum amount I seem to spend there. It doesn’t matter how useless or odd the items there are, I must have them because there are so many of that item it makes them desirable to me. I cut up my membership card years ago and haven’t (and have) regretted it since.
Allan
I recently overheard a lady in the grocery store saying the same thing about Costco, except she said $400!
Pick up a cheap toaster. Make it a cheap one because it will rust when you reach salt water and salty air. The Honda generator that you intend to acquire en route is more than adequate for running a toaster.
Tip regarding metals : carry a small magnet with you when you shop. Anything that the magnet sticks to will rust in the salt air. When you buy spare hose clamps (and you should have a bunch) you’ll discover that most of the “stainless steel” hose clamps sport non-stainless steel screws. The screws will rot out in short order.
Magnets won’t stick to stainless or aluminium. Check everything metalic with a magnet…if it sticks it will rust.
I’ve heard that about the magnet. Great tip. We do have a toaster on board, which we have used when on shore power. It will likely run off our boat’s inverter but I assume it would drain a lot of current. Running the generator to brown a couple of pieces of bread seems like a bit of overkill to me. Perhaps it would be necessary though.
You’re right, no matter how you “slice it” (HA!) browning bread will cost energy.
Either you use the inverter (yup, draws lots of current) and then recharge the batteries, or use the Honda generator directly, or use a propane stove top or oven.
Once you’ve been out here a while you’ll find managing power to be an almost full time preoccupation.
But the difference between camping and cruising lies in the conveniences and luxuries. I have an electric waffle maker aboard…totally not necessary but I love it! Sometimes you just want those little luxuries. The longer you are out here the more you’ll come to see that’s true.
Excellent. I am sure we’ll agree, and I can’t wait until we can draw our own conclusions from having “been out there for a while!”
Looking Good!
When you buy your harness, do a test-hang for at least 5 minutes, to see if your legs are going to sleep. They can get REALLY painful after a while, if it is not fitted to the person. This, of course, may be a challenge if you both want to use it, but you may get lucky. Go for a padded bigwall-style harness, rather than a popular sport climbing model.
An extra foot loop, to take the weight off, is a God-send when up top, too.
Always trail a rope to haul up the tool bucket.
I was waiting for your replies to these posts:)
I do already have a (sport) harness that is pretty comfortable for me. It is the one that I used in the video of us climbing the rope in the gym (several posts down).
No sweat. If the it shoe fits, it’s good.
I always like a square skillet for toast, burgers, pancakes, and the like. It really helps get more cooking into a small space.
We bought one of those large, flat, rectangular camping skillets for Katana. It fits perfectly across the two burners of the stove.
This site looks like an antidote to high priced lines: http://www.theropeguy.com/servlet/StoreFront
Thanks for the tip Ken!
I have such an excellent camp toaster story that I will save until we can share while having drinks on a beach or a bow some day!!
Deal.