Boating Equipment Must-Haves
List of essential equipment for sailing the world, these are your official boating equipment must-haves.
We have put together a list of boating equipment must-haves for blue water and long term sailing ventures, with the help of Kim and Barry from Jadean who have been sailing the world with their children.
Finding the right boat
Boating equipment is irrelevant if you don’t even have a boat so before getting started let’s talk about finding the right catamaran for you.
Here are Kim’s tips for deciding what boat is best for you and how they came to the decision to buy 45ft Lagoon Catamaran.
- a balance between living space and speed – “the majority of the time will be spent at anchor”
- brand – which brand will be good for resale
- size – family of four, toys, storage and how we manage
Big options & after-market necessities
Here are some of the big boating equipment must-haves that were important to have aboard (for Kim and Barry)… These may not be essential for everyone but this is what makes their time living aboard that bit more comfortable.
- washing machine
- solar
- inverter
- dive compressor
- water maker
- air-con
- freezer
- ice machine
- drinks fridge
- oh and a damn good coffee machine and sound system
- large generous tender boat with a plaining motor
But first, SAFETY
Boat safety equipment is by far the most essential boating equipment so it is always important that you check local guidelines and maritime frameworks to not only keep yourself and your crew safe but keep within regulations. Here are the necessities onboard Jadean…
- PLB and MOB per crew
- Epirb
- 2 x 6 man life rafts
- High guard rails
- Kid nets
- SOS Danbuoy
- 2 x life rings
Navigation and communication
On the theme of keeping safe, it is essential to have the best navigation and communication equipment possible, especially when crossing oceans.
Navionics
- B&G Chart Plotter
- Predict Wind
- Paper Charts
- Cruising guides
- Iridium Go – Unlimited
- XGate platform for easy mail access on your Mac or PC
- Local sim cards wherever you are
VHF Radio
Maintenance
Things are bound to need repairs, make sure you are prepared…
- spare everything
- tools
- suppliers manuals, schedules and contact details
Sails
People are always asking us what sails they need, really this is up to the skipper but here is what’s onboard Jadean.
- Reacher (99m2)
- Asymmetrical
- Symmetrical
- Genoa
- Square top main
Medical/Health
International Medical and Travel Insurance
Good first aid kit
Medication for most eventualities
Oxygen
Defribulator
First Aid and Ships captains’ medical courses
Provisioning
- Count your meals
- Shop for number of meals
- Vacuum pack meat for meals and freeze
- Shop the markets
What equipment you need to bring (in your mind)
It is clear that to cross oceans you should be able to sail, however, Kim says the ability to plan is the most important. You must understand how to plan a route, investigate the places you are visiting and understand the seasons and what that means. Kim also suggests that some courses may give you more confidence to take on the open waters.
“Having sailed my whole life, the kids and I were not going to do the Atlantic Crossing and then Barry asked me “what will it take”. I said I needed a piece of paper to show that I could do it. So I did my Yacht Master Offshore. I felt a tremendous amount of confidence after that.”
LATEST LAGOON CATAMARAN OWNER REVIEWS
Lagoon Catamaran Charter Boat Investment Journey – Mike
Six years after purchasing a Lagoon 40 for charter in the Whitsundays, Mike reflects on the decision that exceeded expectations.
“We approached the charter boat investment with a business mindset. We modelled everything conservatively, and honestly, it’s performed better than expected. Even through COVID, we averaged around 165 charter nights a year, and the boat held its value far better than we’d anticipated.
The Lagoon 40 hit the sweet spot, it’s the perfect size for the Whitsundays market. Less intimidating for first-timers, and a strong performer in bookings.
The boat was delivered basically ready to charter.
After six years, I’d absolutely do it all again. It’s been a positive experience from start to finish, and if we go again I’d be looking at the Lagoon 43.”
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Lagoon 46 Favourite Features Real Owner Testimonial – Mike and Linda
After 2 seasons of sailing the Med on their Lagoon 46 Mike and Linda shared what they love most, “The Lagoon 46 has given us a whole new level of freedom and comfort. I love the Code Zero sail for light wind performance, and Linda’s favourite spot is the flybridge, it’s where everyone gathers when we’re sailing. With a watermaker and generator on board, we’ve been able to explore more remote places and stay cool during the heatwaves in Greece. It’s made the whole experience effortless and enjoyable.”
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Customisations and working with Lagoon – SEVENTY 7 Premium Offering Review – Luke
Luke the skipper of TMG Yachts latest Lagoon SEVENTY 7 handover said, “We were looking for a boat that enables us to do long-range cruising in comfort in luxury but also still being run by a small crew. The owner came from a sailing background and was really keen to get back to it, so it kind of met all our requirements. The team running the SEVENTY 7 line do a fantastic job adding all the customizations, they were super helpful and always answer your phone call, the support’s been fantastic.”
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