Big Ol’ Packing And To Do List

Note: This is Captain Cat’s photo pick – not the First Mate’s. We will be using only one bag and a soft-sided one at that, suitable for tucking away into small odd shaped storage places on a boat. (Ahem, my Can Opener. Discussions on this topic are ongoing, I believe…)

 

Sailing Packing & Preparation LIST

This is our list. A thing of beauty and an ongoing project. I have assigned the Can Opener to collect, pack and carry all. Of course.

To do last thing before leaving:

• put charged up camera in bag
• put charged up phone in bag
• put food from fridge for flight in carry-on bag
• take out garbage

To do:

• re-check weather forecast
• hang clothes to dry
• set auto-timer on lights in living room
• pack food for journey

Packing List

Body

• kleenex
• toothpaste
• toothbrush
• floss
• nail clippers
• nailfile
• hand cream
• shampoo
• conditioner
• witchhazel
• sunblock
• lip block
• catnip
• clearasil
• eye patch sleep mask
• EAR PLUGS!!!!
• night tiara

1st aid kit and medicine

• vitamins
• tweezers
• antibiotics
• anti-seasickness medicine (Stugeron)
• rehydration salts
• Arnica cream (for bruises)
• bandaids
• catnip
• Polysporin or Savlon (antibiotic cream)
• anti-seasickness wrist bands!! 

Admin

• passport
• health insurance papers
• flight tickets 
• Get written airline confirmation that life jackets and CO2 cylinders are okay on plane.
• IATA says it’s okay but you also have to get written confirmation from your airline before flying too – print out all and take with. Apparently there can be confusion at security check points and this helps.
  
• flight boarding passes
• metro/bus tickets
• currency for country/s will be in
• credit/debit cards 

• phone and charger 
• camera and charger 

• sailing text to study
• RYA log book

• karate & yoga training guides 
  
• leisure reading material – a small! book 
• morale-building passage milestone treats (bubble-makers, party hats, balloons…)

• addresses & contact info needed – boat, crew

• detailed directions from airport to dock
• map of key city/s?
• guidebks?
• notebook
• pens
• highlighter 

Clothes

• underwear
• socks
• 1/day shirts (assortment of long sleeve and t-)
• 1 turtleneck
• 1 thermal underwear
• 2 pairs pants
• 1 pair shorts
• 1 bathing suit

• 2 sweaters
• 1 wooly hat
• 2 scarf/bandanas
• feather hat
• day tiara (ceremonial)
• cape

• sunglasses
• sailing hat
• sailing watch
• sailing gloves
• foul weather jacket
• foul weather pants

• sailing boots
• deck shoes
• shower sandals
• sneakers

and

• day bag
• plastic bags for laundry
• sleeping bag
• towel
• toy mice
• orb and sceptre
• palm fronds for First Mate to fan me with

Food 

• dried fruit
• granola and oat bran
• camomile tea
• green tea
• chopped ginger teas 
• catnip 
• smoked oysters
• and food for the flight/transport
• (rest of voyage food to be picked up at departure point)

–Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

Practical Research on Foul Weather Gear

Just back from taking the Can Opener out for some practical research on foul weather gear and life jackets. Time well spent.

Looks like we have narrowed it down to the Musto or the Henri Lloyd ocean gear.

Next, we’ll do some more targeted price comparison shopping before the big invest.

Feels like things are beginning to move along!

–Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

Sailing Boots – Dubarry or not?

The gold standard…

 

What to look for 
‘Boots – breathable, if you can afford them. Dubarry is the gold standard, (but) I wear Sperry Fathom’s, they have kept my feet dry from both sides.’

    – Jackdale, replying to ’Foul weather gear – clueless as what to buy’ post, Sailnet 

And of course boots should be… 

• big enough for an extra pair of socks
• have traction
• non-marking soles
• NOT be attached to foul weather pants (if you go overboard, the boots and pants will fill with sea water and make it a LOT more difficult to pull you back on board).

Usage 

• If you’re looking at daysailing only, simple rubber sailing boots (eg Gill) might make the most sense.
• But if you’re aiming for ocean cruising or night sailing, best to invest in something that will keep you toasty warm and dry. Warm and dry means focused and healthy in the long run. Nothing worse than freezing feet sloshing in your boots – no good has ever come of it…

How much should you spend? 
‘Imagine that you are cold and wet at night and still have hours to go. (Then) ask yourself then how much you would spend to be warm and dry. My advice is buy the best gear you can afford.’
   – VGWS1, replying to ’Foul weather gear – clueless as what to buy’ post, Sailnet

Taking care of your boots 
‘I would suggest, that if you are buying boots for sailing that you don’t want to wear them walking around town. Your foot wear for the boat should be reserved for the boat. Walking around the street with them will only wear them out faster and make you loose traction.’
   – Sailortjk1, replying to ‘Marine Rubber Boots’ post, Sailnet 

Sample Pricing 
These are the prices* I could find today at the websites of major chandleries on each side of the pond. This is just a baseline price trawl for rough budget estimating purposes. Here we go… 

Some Ballpark Price Checks in the USA 

westmarine.com 

• Dubarry Ultima Stretch Boots $399.00 (£255)
• Dubarry Men’s Newport Boots $329.00 (£210)
• Helly Hansen Men’s Helly Welly Sailing Boots $199.99 (£128)
• Gill Men’s Tall Yachting Boots $79.95 (£51)
• Sperry Topsider Women’s Rain Cloud Boots $74.99 (£48)
• West Marine Tall Cruising Boots $64.99 (£42)
• West Marine Short Cruising Boots $59.99 (£38)
• Gill Short Performance Sailing Boots $59.95 (£38)

Defender.com 

• Gill Men’s Kevlar Boat Boots $295.00 (£188)
• Gill Men’s Leather Sailing Boots $269.00 (£172)
• Sperry Foul Weather Boat Boot $79.99 (£51)
• Gill Tall Yachting Boot $79.95 (£51)
• Gill Short Cruising Boat Boot $59.95 (£38)

BoatersWorld.com 

• Musto HPX Ocean Gore-Tex Black Boot $418.94 (£268)
• Gill Tall Yachting Graphite Boots $97.94 (£63)
• Gill Short Yachting Boot $78.89 (£50)

Some Ballpark Price Checks in the UK 

sailingclothingstore.co.uk 

• Dubarry Ultima Boots £239.95 ($376)
• Henri Lloyd Shadow Boot £169.95 ($266)
• Sebago Marine Squall Sailing Boot £149.95 ($234)
• Gill Tall Yachting Boot £49.95 ($78)
• Gill Short Cruising Boot £32.95 ($52)

force4.co.uk 

• Dubarry Ultima Sailing Boot £239.95 ($376)
• Gill Breathable Leather Boots £189.95 ($297)
• Gill Breathable Kevlar & Leather Boots £189.95 ($297)
• Quayside Biscay Sailing Yacht Boot in Navy/Brown £119.95 ($188)
• Quayside Ocean Sailing Boots £89.95 ($141)
• Gill Tall Yachting Boot £49.95 ($78)
• Musto Classic (Full Length) Boot £39.95 ($63)
• Gill Short Cruising Boot £37.95 ($59)

marinesuperstore.com 

• Dubarry Ultima Gore-Tex Stretch £239.95 ($376)
• Dubarry Newport Boots £169.95 ($266)
• Dubarry Fastnet Gore-Tex Boots £149.95 ($235)
• Henri Lloyd Shadow Boot £129.95 ($203)
• Quayside Biscay Sailing Boots £99.95 ($157)
• Gil Tall Boot £44.95 ($70)
• Gill Short Boot £29.95 ($47)

oceanleisure.co.uk 

• Dubarry Ultima Boots £239.00 ($374)
• Dubarry Gore-Tex Newport Deck Boots £195.00 ($305)
• Henri Lloyd Ocean Extreme Boots £195.00 ($305)
• Sebago Marine Squall Men’s £160.00 ($250)
• Gill Tall Yachting Boots £50.00 ($78)
• Henri Lloyd Deck Boot £45.00 ($70)
• Gill Short Cruising Boots £33.00 ($52)

Observations 

Pricing 
Not much to choose between US and UK prices. $5 here or £5 there is not enough to cross an ocean for. 

Sizes 
Lots of choice in boots for men on both sides of the pond. Nearly nothing in women’s sizes in the US that’s designed for cruising or ocean. And there’s no cat-sized boots anywhere. 

No wonder so many wives refuse to cruise. There’s no equipment for them. Nothing worse than freezing and sliding around on a boat. At best it’s nasty. At worst, it can get you killed. 

The UK seems to stock more (as in any choice at all) in women’s sizes. The sailingclothingstore.co.ukat Cowes is a good place to start. 

Dubarry or not dubarry, that is the question… 
Checking out the forums (sailnet, cruisers forum, cruiser log), it looks like anyone who didn’t buy Dubarrys is adamant that they get along just fine without. 

And anyone who did buy them claims to be ecstatic that they did. Guess we’ll just have to do in-the-shop research next and see how it goes… 

Next steps 
So. We’re off to take the Can Opener shopping, to put some good boots on his feet and let him take ‘em for a spin. 

From the online research above, I’m guessing that we’ll probably go with some Sebago Squalls or the Dubarry Fastnet boots – both about £150 ($235). But fit is all-important. 

We’ll update the outcome is another post. Who knows? I might feel generous that day… Naaahh. 

What kind of deck boots do you have? How’re they holding up? Would you buy this brand/model again? 

–Captain Cat 

(transcribed by the Can Opener) 

Update: I went with the Dubarry Altimas in the end. The Can Opener’s a good bloke and I decided he deserves warm feet. 

* Since sales tax varies by state in the US (from 0% to 7.25%), sales taxes for the US prices are not included. However, for the UK prices, VAT is included already in the price. (VAT in the UK is 20%. But if you buy in the UK and then export to your country of residence, you can claim this back.) 

Safety Gear 
Next: Carrying Self-Inflating Life Jackets on Planes
Previously: Life Jackets – How Much Does Safety Cost?

Foul Weather Gear – So How Much Does Safety Cost?

 
 
 
 
 

Part 2 (of 2) of Foul Weather Gear     


So how much does it cost?

I’m assuming that the deepest markets have the most competitive prices and start from there. So, this short survey samples prices on both sides of the pond, the UK and the US.

Since I’m suiting and booting the Can Opener up with ocean-going assumptions, this is where I’m looking the hardest. But I’ll take a fly by the whole spectrum for good form.

The prices quoted below are for the lowest price I could find at the brand site or at the website of major chandleries. Of course prices change all the time and brilliant seasonal sales timing and scouring of outlet malls can totally change the price value landscape here.

Since sales tax varies by state, sales taxes/VAT not included.

This is just a baseline price trawl for rough budget estimating purposes.

Here we go…

Some Ballpark Price Checks in the USA

Ocean Sailing

Helly Hansen (at redskyatnight.com and shop.hellyhansen.com/US)

• Ocean Racing Jacket $700 (£443)
• Ocean Racing Bib Pants $400 (£253)
• Skagen Offshore Jacket $280 (£177), 20% Off, (Regularly: $350.00)
• Offshore Bib Pants $200 (£127), 20% Off, (Regularly: $250.00)

Musto (at pineapplesails.com)

• HPX GORE-TEX® Ocean Jacket $899 (£569)
• HPX GORE-TEX Trousers $599 (£379)
• MPX GORE-TEX Offshore Jacket $599 (£379)
• MPX GORE-TEX Trousers $399 (£253)

Henry Lloyd (at redskyatnight.com and brand site)

• Ocean Explorer Suit $598 (£378)
• Ocean Explorer Hi-Fit Trouser $475 (£301)
• Shockwave Offshore Jacket $425 (£269)
• Shockwave Hi Fit Trousers $395 (£250)

Gill (at brand site)

• Ocean Racer Jacket $649 (£411)
• Ocean Racer Trouser $449 (£284)
• OS1 Jacket $489 (£310)
• OS1 Trouser $359 (£227)

Slam (at brand site)

• Ocean Waves Foul Weather Jacket $399 (£253) (Regularly: $599.95)
• Ocean Waves SB Trouser $350 (£222) (Regularly: $499.00)
• Force 3 Foul Weather Jacket $280 (£177)
• SLAM Force 3 Long Johns (Trouser) $240 (£152)

Commercial Fisher Gear

Grundens (at go2marine)

• Petrus HD 44 Hooded Jacket, Neoprene Cuff $96.29 (£61)
• Petrus 82 Hooded Jacket $77.04 (£49)
• Clipper 116 Bib Pants, Rain Gear, Waterproof Trousers $70.00 (£44)

Guy Cotton (at tackledirect)

• X-Trapper Jacket $124.99 (£79)
• X-Trapper Bib Trousers $145.99 (£92)
• CBD Bib Trouser With Fly $115.99 (£73)

North 66 (at brand site)

In the US, they seem to focus on skiing and climbing clothes. Do they carry sea-going wear in the US? Their brand site does not include it.

Some Ballpark Price Checks in the UK

Ocean Sailing

Helly Hansen (at sailingclothingstore.co.uk)

• Ocean Racing Jacket £400 ($631)
• Ocean Racing Bib Trouser £280 ($442)
• Skagen Offshore Jacket £240 ($379) 20% Off, (Regularly: £300.00)
• Offshore Bib Trouser £160 ($253)  20% Off, (Regularly: £200.00)

Musto (at sailingclothingstore.co.uk)

• HPX GORE-TEX® Ocean Jacket £449.96 ($709)
• HPX GORE-TEX Trousers £324.96 ($513)
• MPX GORE-TEX Offshore Jacket £316.62 ($500)
• MPX GORE-TEX Trousers £166.63 ($263)

Henry Lloyd (at sailingclothingstore.co.uk)

• Ocean Explorer Suit £483.25 ($763)
• Ocean Explorer Hi-Fit Trouser £324.96 ($513)
• Shockwave Offshore Jacket £224.96 ($355)
• Shockwave Hi Fit Trousers £195.79 ($309)

Gill (at brand site)

• Ocean Racer Jacket £354.96 ($560)
• Ocean Racer Trouser £245.79 ($388)
• OS1 Jacket £283.29 ($447)
• OS1 Trouser £199.96 ($316)

Slam (at brand site)

They have a UK website, but seem to be still recruiting shops to carry their stock. Something to watch for the future.

Commercial Fisher Gear

Grundens

I had a hard time finding a distributor in the UK for this while looking online. Scanning some commercial fishermen’s forums online, it seems I am not alone on this.

Guy Cotton (at Advanced Netting UK):

• X Trapper Jacket £54.16 ($86)
• X-Trapper Bib & Brace Trousers £57.86 ($91)
• Heavy Duty Bib & Brace Trousers £55.31 ($87)

North 66 (at brand site)

• Baldur Dual Coloured Seaman’s Jacket 115 € (£100 / $1))
• Baldur Dual Coloured Bib and Brace 115 € (£100 / $159)
• Odin Seaman’s Jacket with hood 68 € (£59 / $94)
• Odin Seaman’s Bib and Brace Narrow legs 62 € (£54 / $86)

Observed

• Ocean gear in this sample is priced at 125% ~ 200+% higher than the offshore gear on both sides of the pond.
• Commercial fisher foul weather gear is a fraction of the cost of ‘sailing’ gear as expected.

UK/USA price comparison

• UK gear is cheaper almost every time in this sample. I guess this makes sense – Musto, Henry Lloyd and Gil are UK companies (Helly Hansen is from Norway), so US stores would bear the costs of export taxes, shipping etc.
• There weren’t too many sales in the online stores, so any advantage in buying in the UK could potentially be wiped out by a really good sale or visit to a US outlet mall – if you can find them/get there.
• There are sales in the UK too and of course, there’s always Bicester Village.

Doesn’t the US have good sailing gear companies too?

• Yes. But Gul focuses on the dinghy racing market.
• Harken is almost exclusively a hardware manufacturer.
• Slam is worth taking a look at. Their ocean gear is about 40% less than Gill and 55% less than Musto. Does this represent good value or lighter weight/cheaper gear construction? Haven’t seen their products in person, but I’m gonna make a point of seeking them out soon.

Where did you buy your foulies? Would you buy them there again? Any recommendations for good price/value brands?

   

–Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)


Safety Gear

Next: Life Jackets – Safety Gear Upgrades

Previously: Foul Weather Gear is Safety Gear

Foul Weather Gear is Safety Gear

 
 
 

Part 1 (of 2) of Foul Weather Gear


Some things you just can’t cut corners on. Safety gear is one of them. You can never be too prepared. So time to upgrade my First Mate’s safety equipment…

Foul weather gear is safety gear

I want the Can Opener to have the best foul weather gear to protect him – gear that will keep him warm, dry, moving freely and highly visible.

Staying warm and dry in driving rain/storm/gale conditions means he can continue to act and make decisions in peak form – which is the form I need him to have when the going gets tough. Actually, top form is how I like to keep him all the time. (If you want to keep me so warm and dry, mon Capitaine, how come I’m the one who has to run out in the rain to bring in your cape and sceptre that you forgot out on the marina lawn?)

Colour for safety

And in the unlikely (we fervently hope) event that the Can Opener is ‘crew overboard’ one day, I want him as warm, mobile, and as visible as possible. I want to give potential rescuers the best chance to find him ASAP, and who can argue with that? Here’s a highly motivating look at survival rates in various temperatures of water. Time is of the essence.

So what’s a good colour?

Obviously not-so-great choices would be white (blends in with wave whitecaps) and black, green, blue (too dark against the waves).

I have read that yellow might be a shark attractor. If there is the remotest chance of this being true, we are staying faaaaaar away from yellow. Nothing against sharks of course. I’m sure they’re very nice, er, individuals. Just don’t want to test the theory.

Which leaves us with red and orange as the only remaining easy-to-spot colours.

Red for the jacket (with loads of reflective tape) for visibility. Navy/black for the pants (hides dirt).

How much does it cost?

Good offshore foul weather gear does not come cheap, it can cost a bike.

Best to figure out realistically what your usage needs are – what kind of sailing will you be doing? Offshore? Costal cruising? Daysailing?

If you’re looking at daysailing only, then good news (pocket-wise) – you might decide you can get away with a lighter option. Check out places where commercial fishermen shop, like Bass Pro in the US or Advanced Netting in the UK to avoid the yachtie ‘premium’. Grundens, for example, seems to be a kind of PVC covered cotton foul weather gear that gets good reviews in the US. In the UK, consider Guy Cotton or North 66.

If you’re aiming for coastal cruising or ocean coastal, best to prepare with foul weather safety gear for the worst possible conditions you might meet – and that means ocean gear. Cuz you never know, the ocean might come to you when you least expect it.

Since the Can Opener and I’ll be doing ocean crossings, we’re gonna stick with the tried and true ocean gear. Which means checking out the usual suspects, brands like Musto, Henry Lloyd, Helly Hansen, West Marine and Gill.

Price Shopping

I’ll be price shopping on both sides of the pond – and will work out how to actually pick up the stuff later. (How did anyone survive before the internet?? Or before good friends flew back and forth regularly with extra packing space in their bags?)

Next post on foul weather gear: price comparisons – by purpose and by region.

What kind of foulies do you have? How are they holding up? Would you buy them again?

–Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

Next: Foul Weather Gear – So How Much Does Safety Cost?