Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Miscellaneous Gear
Another important piece of equipment is a sturdy bucket with a reinforced handle and line
to scoop salt water for various uses. We also carried a three-foot wide inflatable child's
wading pool that fit into the floor space of our cockpit. The original idea was to have a
safe, on-board recreational option for a three-year-old. Soon the pool was serving double
duty as an inflatable laundromat, either in a marina or at anchor - a very practical access-
ory!
After our first sailing trip, I learned the value of nesting tupperware: it takes up a fraction
of the space a mismatched set of containers does. Plastic egg cartons are worth their weight
in gold, as is a selection of Zip-loc bags in all sizes.
As for reading material, we became Kindle converts during our sailing time. Much as we
love the feel of a real book in our hands, there's nothing like the huge capacity and con-
venience of an e-reader. I'll never forget the time I was pining for a new title off a remote
Fijian island and found just enough of a signal to download exactly the topic I wished for -
bliss! In e-readers as in any other portable devices, it pays to consider battery life and
power consumption. Our basic models could run for days, even weeks, before recharging.
Newer models with extra features consume much more power. No matter what devices you
choose to carry, make sure you can plug them in on board. Twelve-volt chargers for almost
any small device (including camera batteries and e-readers) can be found on the Internet.
For the most part, we didn't miss what we didn't have, since the Pacific made up for it all
with a thousand other prizes. If we could have somehow fit more on board, I would have
liked a portable printer to print photos for the friendly islanders we met along the way. A
printer would also have allowed us to print notices for enterprising locals who offer their
services to boaters. A watermaker would come in handy for extended stays in lonely atolls
with no reliable fresh water source, though the cost, space, and power trade-offs ultimately
struck this item off our list.
Ultimately, every crew will create a unique list of equipment they deem critical. Some
crews carry SCUBA gear and compressors to make the most of diving opportunities in re-
mote locations. Others bring all the comforts of home along for the ride and have the space
to accommodate them. If this style of cruising is for you, go ahead and enjoy. If, however,
your budget or tastes run to the more Spartan end of the spectrum, don't worry: your Pacif-
ic experience will be every bit as rich and comfortable as theirs. A voyage of a lifetime
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