As you know, I’ve ordered a Telstar 28, as mentioned in this post.
There are some changes I’m having made to the Telstar by the builder, and some changes I will be making myself. I’ve also ordered some gear for the Telstar, to outfit it for extended cruising and living aboard.
Out of their standard options, I’ve ordered the 20 HP Honda four-stroke engine, the bimini and dodger, the roller-furling screacher and 150% genoa. I’ve also added the Raymarine autopilot, ST60 Tridata and Wind instruments, Plastimo Compass, mast-raising system, and trailer. I’ve also added the DSC-capable VHF unit.
I’ve asked the builder to add bow chocks to the bow layout. I’ve also asked them to add a Raymarine ST60 Graphic display to the nav station area, in addition to the Raymarine ST60 Tridata and Wind System packages they offer. I’ve asked them to add the Raymarine Seatalk-NMEA interface, so I can connect a computer and GPS to the ST60 instruments. I’ve also asked them to add a second Group 24 battery for use as a house bank. I’ll expand the house bank later.
Some of the changes and additions I’ll be making to the Telstar.
I’m planning on adding a bow roller, windlass, chain pipe and mooring bitt to the bow area. I believe this is necessary to handle a much heavier anchor than is provided by default. The anchor I’ve settled on is a 15 kg Rocna, which is next-generation anchor designed in New Zealand. It will be on a combination rode of 30′ of 5/16″ HT chain and 200′ of 5/8″ nylon. This will give me the ability to anchor at a 7:1 scope in 30′ of water. The windlass is a manual Anchorman windlass by Lewmar/Simpson Lawrence. I will use the stock 14 lb. Danforth as a kedge/stern anchor.
I’m adding two midships cleats to improve docking line attachments. These cleats are by Schaefer and mount on the genoa track, and can be adjusted to any point along the track. The docklines are 1/2″ x 40′. Granted, this is a bit overkill, but not everywhere you might want to tie up is going to be convenient or close to the water. Also, if you tie up without retracting the amas, the cleats are almost five feet inboard, on the main hull.
I’m adding two solar panels, to provide battery charging without running the engine. The solar panels and alternator will be connected through a charge controller and a battery combiner. This should allow me to charge both battery banks without risking the starting battery being dead.
I’m going to use two Nicro solar-powered vents, to help keep air circulating. This is especially important when the boat is docked. As I plan on doing some serious bluewater passages on this boat, the Nicro vents I’ve ordered are not the snap-in kind, but screw into stainless steel deck rings, and have heavy stainless steel deck plates to use while in heavy weather. These are powered completely by a small solar panel built-into the vent and won’t add any load to the main electrical system.
I’ve gotten a Garmin 276C Plus GPS/Chartplotter to use on the boat. It’s a small, portable unit, that doubles for street navigation as well as nautical chartplotting. As I backup, I usually carry a Garmin handheld unit. They can both use the same maps. The only real issue I’ve run into with the Garmin units, is a definite lack of software for the Mac.
I also have the charts to cover the Atlantic seaboard, from the Chesapeake up to Casco Bay, Maine. Redundancy in navigation is usually a good idea. I am learning how to use a sextant, and have a good hand-bearing compass as a backup to the boat’s cockpit compass.
I’ve gotten four Type I PFD’s for my friends to wear… as some of them can’t swim. The PFD’s have a safety whistle, a strobe and a rigging knife attached. For myself, I’ve got a Mustang inflatable, with a sailing harness. I’ve also ordered tethers, four singles for my friends to use, and a double for me. I’ve got 65′ of 3/8″ Spectra-Set II for the jacklines… but I’ve got to learn to eye-splice double braided line. UGH.
In case someone does fall in—I do have a LifeSling2 and a 70′ throwing line. For serious emergencies, I have the VHF and a GPIRB unit. I also have a pretty well-stocked first aid kit. I will have to get three fire extinguishers, but haven’t yet. To round out the safety related gear, I’ve got two horns, a refillable, compressed-air horn, as well as a lung-powered one. I’m holding off on getting the flares, as they have expiration dates and limited lifespans. The last piece of safety gear is a radar reflector. Fiberglass boats don’t really reflect radar much.
To meet the remaining USCG regulations, I’ve got motoring cone and anchoring ball markers. I’m making halyard setups for the two spreaders. One for the anchoring/motoring markers, the other for the radar reflector. I also have to setup a flag halyard for the yatch ensign.
For heavy weather, I’ve got a Gale Sail, by ATN, and will be ordering a Jordan Series Drogue. I don’t see a point in having a life raft, as I’d rather make the Telstar pretty much unsinkable, which seems to be pretty common among a lot of small boat sailors. Especially given how expensive and unreliable most of the inflatable liferafts seem to be. Before doing any serious bluewater passages, I will get a spare autopilot, a watermaker and a windvane. Long passages without some sort of automated steering can be very difficult if you’re sailing short-handed.
The watermaker I’m looking at is fairly unusual. It doesn’t require any electricity or plumbing. It is called a Waterlog, and you can read about it here. I’m hoping to get some feedback from people who have actually used it before I order it.
The windvane I’m thinking of at the moment is the Monitor Windvane. It has a very sturdy mounting system that allows it to be used as an emergency rudder mount as well.
I’m probably going to make a heavier set of drop boards for the boat, for use in bad weather. I also plan on adding a lock mechanism to the dropboards and sliding hatch. I’m also thinking of adding a small bridge deck to the cockpit, to help keep water out of the cabin in bad weather. I think the bridge deck will be a removable unit, as that may make more sense than a permanently mounted change to the cockpit.