By Greg Flederman Bluewater Sailing Club Winter Seminar Series “Preparing Your Boat to Go Offshore” Cruising

SAFETY Checklists Rigging & 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 MHZ with GPS and Globalstar messaging, SAR by company ACR mini B MHZ and 406 MHZ, non GPS, SAR by USCG/AMVER McMurdo MHZ and 406 MHZ, GPS, AMVER SAR ACR Aqualink MHZ and 406 MHZ and 406 link, with I'm OK and Aquaview LED test function, AMVER SAR

MSLD’s Marine 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 Club Winter Seminar Series “Preparing Your Boat to Go Offshore” References: Books- The Seaworthy Offshore Sailboat - John Vigor Offshore Sailing - Bill Seifert The Voyagers Handbook - Beth A. Leonard Websites Electronics vespermarine.comwww.acrelectronics.com Products and pricing -