Offshore - Master Equipment List

Equip Your Boat for Offshore Voyaging

The following checklist describes the equipment you should consider taking along on an offshore journey. The type of boat, how far you're going offshore, and the duration of your trip will all factor into your decisions for which pieces of equipment to bring along.

In addition to this topic, see also related topics on maintaining offshore equipment, provisioning food and supplies, and conducting sea trials before you start your voyage.

Equipping Your Boat for Offshore Voyaging

	Item	Link to Detail
Abandon Ship
	Ditch Bag	Detailed list of contents
	Emergency provisions
	EPIRB or GPIRB	BOAT/US EPIRB rental service
	Life Raft
	Visual Distress Signals	BOAT/US Foundation review of different flares
Anchoring
	Primary Anchor, chain and line suitable for the boat
	Snubber for anchor chain: typically about 30' of 1/2" 3-strand nylon line
	Secondary anchor, chain and rode
	Kedge anchor and rode
	Misc: Anchor light, chafing gear, spare chain and shackles
	Bridle for anchor chain
	Kellet (aka sentinel) weight for rope rodes. Dive weights can double as kellets.
	Anchor retrieval ring (optional) for retrieving 2nd anchor using the dinghy
Collision Avoidance
	Binoculars - 7x50. Optional (preferred) 18 x 50 stabilized binoculars. These are especially useful on the ICW.
	Deck light - mounted so that it can be moved to illuminate the sails
	Foghorn (electric preferred, but handheld air horn is OK with spare can(s) of air)
	Radar (optional, preferred)
	Radar reflectors
	Running lights (required)
	Spotlight (to shine on sails)
	Tri-color masthead light (preferred)
	White anti-collision flares (optional)	Pains Wessex recall notice
Communication
Cell Phone (backup coastal communications)
	Cell phone (as backup for calling the USCG)
	12v car-style charger for cell phone
	Spare battery for cell phone
	List of USCG phone numbers
Single Side Band (SSB)
	Single Side Band radio and associated equipment
	Ships Station license for SSB
	List of frequencies and times	List
	Emergency broadcast instructions card - posted next to SSB
VHF Radio
	Handheld VHF radio, waterproof case and spare battery pack
	Permanent mount VHF radio
	Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) registration number for DSC equipped VHF radios.	Link to free MMSI registration web site
Cooking & Meals
Galley Installation
	Small bungee cords set around perimeter of counter top, about 5" above counter top for holding items in place.
	Cup holders installed in galley

Galley Equipment
	Pressure cooker or other pot with spill-proof lid
	Stainless steel (unbreakable) thermos
	Spill-proof mug for each crew member
	Heavy "fisherman's" apron to prevent burns from hot liquids while cooking
	Galley belt
	Non-skid foam matting
	Stove fitted with pot holders to hold pots in rough weather
	Filleting knife and cutting board for fish you catch while underway
	Optional - Vacuum bag sealing machine - useful for preparing pre-cooked meals that can be frozen
	Optional - foot pump and salt-water spigot in galley for washing dishes. Use a fresh-water sprayer for the final rinse. Saves about 5 gallons/day of fresh water.
LPG/Propane System
	Conversion fitting to allow disposable 1lb propane bottles to be fit to the main system.
	LPG/Propane fume detector and shutoff solenoid installed
Clear Into Foreign Ports / Return from Foreign Ports
	Cash for cruising permit (note: $300 for the Bahamas)
	Courtesy flags for countries you'll be visiting
	Crew list / passports / personal papers
	Ships registration Papers
	US Customs vehicle sticker - Needed for reentry into US ports after visits outside the US.	Link to web site
	Vetinarian's health certification for any pets on board
	Yellow "Q" flag (quarantine)
Clear a Fouled Prop
	Mask, fins and snorkel
	Wet suit (optional, recommended), weight belt to balance buoyancy of suit
	Serrated knife with blunt tip
	Work gloves
Crew Safety
	Harness (or PFD with built-in harness) and tether for each crew member
	Jack lines for cockpit and each side of the deck
	Lifesling or similar MOB retrieval device
	Man overboard pole, horseshoe buoy, strobe and drogue
	PFD for each crew member with attached whistle and personal strobe on tether long enough to hold overhead. Apply extra reflective patches to PFD's, especially in shoulder areas.
	Type IV throwable PFD's (2) in cockpit
	Immersion suits (optional) for sailing in high-lattitudes and/or very cold water areas where the possibility of rescue may be slow.
Crew Comfort
	Leecloths or leeboards for berths
	Sleeping bags or blankets/linens for each crew member

Damage Control & Jury Rigging Repairs
Removing a Damaged Rig
	3lb short-handled sledge hammer with wrist lanyard and steel punch pin (s) to match clevis pin sizes on board (e.g. 1/4", 5/16" )
	Heavy-duty wire cutters (not bolt cutters)
	Hacksaw
Stop the Intrusion of Water
	Collision mat
	1/4" plywood
	Quick-set underwater epoxy putty
Make Repairs
	Click here for the checklist of damage control spares and materials
	Click here for the checklist of tools
Dewatering
Prevent intrusion of water
	Latches on large cockpit lockers
	Locking pins on companionway hatch boards
	Post a diagram of all thru-hulls where crew can see
Water Removal
	Buckets (at least 2)
	High-water alarm in bilge - set for 6" above bilge pump trigger level
	Manual bilge pump (permanent mount)
	Spare handle for manual bilge pump
	High capacity emergency manual pump
	Softwood plugs for each through-hull, stored in zip-loc bags
Dinghy (prepare for extended cruising)
	Spare prop for dinghy motor and 4 spare shear pins
	Two sets of spark plugs for dinghy motor
	Inflatable dinghy repair kit
	15' chain and lock. Sturdy padeye mounted on transom for locking up ding.
Docking
	Four large fenders; two small fenders
	Bicycle pump and inflation needle for inflating fenders
	Two 4' long fenderboards (sections of 2x6 with holes drilled in each end)
	Docklines - two 40' springlines, four 25' docklines
	Two 6' pieces of chain for use on rusty/barnacle fouled pilings that would chafe or cut through rope. Four galvanized shackles to fit chain.
	Telescoping boat hook
	Chafe guard (e.g. used canvas fire hose)
Drinking Water
Obtain & Transport
	5 gallon jerry can(s) for carrying water from the dock
	Optional: 40 gallon bladder tank for transporting large quantities of water in the dinghy in one trip
	Household water filter fitted with 8" hose for filtering dock water into jerry cans
	Bimini or awning equipped with hose to capture rainwater
Filtering / Sanitizing
	Sediment filter mounted after pressure pump
	Sanitary filter mounted at faucet
	Household bleach for sanitizing (Don't use if you have aluminum tanks!)
Storage & Use
	Primary water tank(s) with capacity of at least 3 gallons per person per day
	Tank level indicator or gauge allows monitoring of water usage
	Secondary water tank - separate from primary tank
	Solar shower bag (optional)
	Manual pump in galley in case the electric pressure pump fails.
Fire Prevention / Fire Fighting
	Ability to cut all 12v battery power with master switch(s)
	Automatic halon fire extinguisher in engine compartment
	Fire extinguisher in cockpit, galley and each sleeping cabin
	Smoke hood / breathing apparatus
	Smoke detector(s)
	Carbon Monoxide detectors recommended for boats with gasoline engines or generators, or for boats with furnace/heater systems.
First Aid
	Basic first aid kit	List of supplies
	Advanced first aid kit (trauma kit)	List of supplies
Fishing
	Assortment of lures, leaders, sinkers, etc.
	Filleting knife and cutting board
	Gaff for bringing fish on board
	Gloves to handle fish with / the orange "grip" gloves are excellent
	Rod and reel loaded with 60 lb monofilament line
Fix Broken Gear
	Click here for checklist of spares and supplies
	Click here for checklist of tools
Generate Electricity
	Source of backup energy other than the primary engine/alternator such as wind/solar
	Digital voltmeter, amp-hour meter or some other way to monitory battery bank
	Heavy-duty alternator on main engine (i.e. 80 amps or more). A good option is a "zap stop" device which will protect the alternator diodes if you shut off the ignition key or turn battery switch off before stopping the engine.
	House battery bank sufficient to store 2x daily need in amp-hours	12v Energy Budget Planning Spreadsheet
Heavy Weather Sailing
	Reefing systems for mainsail; ability to pull in two or more reefs
	Roller reefing (note, not "roller furling") for jib, or ability to take down the large jib and replace with a smaller one.
	Grab rails / handholds down below in the cabin allow safe movement
	Grab rails on outside of dodger allow crew to move from cockpit to deck and back safely.
	Note: see Storm Preparation section of this checklist for more equipment
Knockdown Preparation
	Batteries are secured by heavy duty straps or other restraints
	Drawers and locker doors have positive catch latches
	Floorboards are latched down with screws or latches
	Glass items are stowed in lockers or other secure locations
	Items on shelves are restrained with bungee cords or nets
	Heavy items, such as toolboxes are stowed securely
	Locking pins or other mechanism to hold companionway hatch boards in place
Man Overboard (MOB) Recovery
Prevent a Man Overboard (MOB) Situation
	1" webbing jacklines rigged from the bow cleats back to the cockpit on either side of the boat
	1" webbing jackline rigged around the perimeter of the cockpit for the watch stander to clip into
	Suitable handholds and grab bars located at various points on deck
Locate the MOB
	MOB pole, strobe light, horseshoe buoy and drogue tied with 30' of polypropylene line.	Diagram
	Dye markers in cockpit
	Helmsman's fanny pack containing strobe, dye marker and flares. Worn by the helmsman and passed along to the next one when the watch changes.
	All PFD's retrofitted with extra reflective patches, (especially in shoulder areas ), strobe light on a 5' lanyard and whistle on a lanyard.
Recover the MOB
	Lifesling recovery system, "MOM" unit, or similar
	Block and tackle with 150 feet of line for hoisting MOB back on board. Use a 5 to 1 ratio set of blocks.
	Suitable halyard or fitting on main boom to attach the lifesling to.
First Aid for the MOB
	Dry towels and blankets
	Hear reflecting "space blanket"
	Cabin heater
Motor in Light Airs
Engine
	Gauges and/or warning lights are installed to forewarn of problems with oil pressure or high temperature
	Click here for a checklist of spare engine parts and supplies
	Optional: dual fuel filters and cut-over valve to allow a quick swap of filters while the engine is running.
Fuel
	Sufficient fuel is onboard to allow for at least 72 hours of motoring (approximately 400 miles)
	5 gallon jerry can (at least one) to allow you to shuttle fuel to the boat if you can't get to a fuel dock.
	"Baja" filter or similar if traveling to locations with questionable diesel fuel
Misc. Engine Accessories
	Two engine ignition keys.
Navigation
Manual Navigation
	Binoculars / Optional: high-power stabilized binoculars are very effective
	Calculator for working out time/speed/distance calculations
	Celestial Navigation Equipment (optional) - Sextant, chronometer, nautical almanac, sight-reduction work sheets
	Compass - Hand-held and permanently mounted ship's compass
	Cruising guide books for the area(s) you're visiting
	Lead line for taking soundings
	Paper charts for the area you sail in and for the harbors you'll likely land at	NOAA Chart Index
	Tide tables (e.g. Eldridge Almanac for East Coast)
	Tools for paper-based navigation - pencils, eraser, dividers, protractor, parallel rules or rolling rule, calculator
Electronic Navigation
	Depth sounder (electronic)
	Electronic charting tools (optional) - Chart plotter and chart chips (or computer and charting software
	GPS(s) - Primary and handheld backup. Make sure to have plenty of batteries for handheld GPS's. Also carry data cable(s) if you're hooking up a GPS to your computer.
	Inverter (if using a 110v item like a laptop for navigation). Bring a spare inverter as well
	Radar (optional but recommended)
	Speed and distance log (knotmeter)
	Spotlight (optional: 12v plug at bow for spotlight)
Nav. Station
	Chart table - situated so the navigator can brace themselves and work with both hands. Some people use the galley belt at the nav station.
Personal Gear
Personal Safety Gear
	Flashlight (esp. Pelican brand "SabreLight" model) and spare batteries
	Foul weather gear / sea boots / gloves /
	Harness (may be integrated into PFD) and harness - if not provided already by the captain
	Knife with blunt tip and 1/2 serrated edge 1/2 straight edge
	LED headlamp (esp. Princeton Tech brand "EOS" model) with fresh batteries
	PFD (if not provided by the captain) with attached whistle and strobe
Personal Necessities
	Clothing / Towel
	Eyeglasses or contacts (spares) , eyeglasses strap
	ID - driver's licence, passport (for foreign travel)
	Prescription medications
	Sunscreen lotion / hat / chapstick
	Sunglasses (pref. polarized)
	Toiletries
	Wool watch cap
Optional Gear
	Books, CDs, DVD's to share with the crew
	Camera
	Cell phone, charger, spare battery
	Fishing gear
	Notebook and pen for keeping notes / journal
	Sleep mask / ear plugs for sleeping during the day
	Wrist watch (preferably alarm function)
Repair Sails and Rigging
Going Aloft
	Means of going aloft - TopClimber, MastMate, or traditional Bosun's chair.
	Two halyards available to use - one for primary and one for backup. NEVER go aloft on a single halyard.
	Safety gear for going aloft: harness, tether, 2nd halyard
	Tools & gear for working aloft: canvas tool bag, messenger line, walkie-talkies.
Sailing
	Spare winch handle
	Mesh bags in cockpit for sheet "tails"

Prevent Accidental Gybes
	Preventer line that rigs from end of boom to stout block at the stem of the boat, then back to a secondary winch in the cockpit. Also need a stout bail at the end of the boom.
	Dutchman boom brake or similar (optional, highly preferred) - controls speed of boom during an unexpected gybe.

Steering


Self Steering
	Autopilot or self-steering system capable of holding the boat on course.

Ship's Papers / Regulatory Items
State Licensing
	State registration numbers on boat
	Certificate of state registration for boat
	State registration numbers on dinghy
	Certificate of state registration for dinghy
Federal Documentation
	Vessel's documentation number is permanently attached to the boat
	Federal documentation certificate
	FCC Ship's Station radio license
Environmental Compliance
	Oil Placard posted in prominent location
	Trash placard posted in prominent location
	Trash plan document	Sample form
Other
	Ship's Log
	Copy of "Navigation Rules / International-Inland" aka "rules of the road " (Publication # COOMDTINST M16672.2D)

Standing Watch
	Tupperware box of snacks located where it can be conveniently reached.
	Dodger or other foul-weather canvas rigged to keep crew dry in wet conditions.
	Helmsman's emergency gear fanny pack containing "Skyblazer" style flares, dye marker, whistle, strobe, and signal mirror.
	Kitchen timer with loud alarm - lets helmsman set a 10 minute timer to remember to check the radar, etc.
Storm Preparation
	Drogue, rode and bridle
	Emergency tiller or backup steering system
	Plywood or lexan storm "shutters" to cover any large windows.
	Sea anchor and rode
	Storm sails with pre-attached sheets
USCG Required Items - Subject to inspection during a boarding
	Bell
	Horn or other sound producing device / spare air can for horn
	MSD - head cannot discharge directly overboard in US waters.
	See also items under Ships Papers
	Visual distress signals	BOAT/US Foundation review of different flares

Warmth - Keep the Crew Warm
	Source of heat that can be safely operated while underway
	Adequate fuel is on board for the heater
	Wool blankets and/or sleeping bag for each crew member
	Wire rack or shelf for drying wet articles in the engine compartment
Weather
Receive Weather Reports
	SSB radio for receiving weather reports
	List of frequencies/times for weather reports	List
	Navtex receiver for offshore and high seas forecasts (optional)
Plotting and Tracking
	Paper form for transcribing the NMN marine weather forecasts	Sample form
	Weather plotting chart for the area(s) you'll be sailing in	North-Atlantic plotting chart
Local Observations
	Barometer
	Optional: water temperature gauge, or pool thermometer on a line to measure water temperatures, esp. in the Gulf Stream

Links to Outside Resources

The following links provide links to further reading, manufacturers websites and more information on "how to"

	Item	Link to Detail
Topic



Topic

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