5 sailboat essentials and boatlife must-haves under 50€
We have lived for over 4 years on our sailboat ForTuna and bought a lot of different sailing gear. Some turned out to be live aboard essentials, and some turned out to be useless on a boat and just a waste of money. Some of these sailboat essentials help you to stay safe on board. Some save water and energy. Others will make you sleep better at night. All of them will make your boatlife a lot easier and more enjoyable no matter your destination.
In the following boatlife blogs, we will share items that have become integral to our life at sea. This first list contains only sailing gear that cost less than 50€. Yes, boating gear is expensive, but many smaller items can change your boatlife dramatically without hitting your boat wallet hard.
If you are looking for a great sailing gift, we highly recommend any item on this list. Some of the links here are affiliates; we will get a small commission if you buy through our link. Nevertheless, all the items you see here are used by us daily on our sailboat ForTuna. We only recommend sailing gear proof tested by us.
But enough of the introduction, let's jump into the list of 5 sailboat essentials and boatlife must-haves under 50€:
Boatlife Must-have number 1: the sailing gloves
Ever got burned by a sheet slipping through your hands? It's the kind of experience every sailor has to have on their own before they understand the value of sailing gloves. Like children who have to touch the hot stove before they believe their parents that fire does burn. Whether you are a professional skipper or a Sunday sailor, sailing gloves should be a part of your sailing gear. Moreover, their reasonable price and high request make them the perfect birthday or Christmas gift for your favourite sailing buddy. Every year again. (get 10% off with the discount code BOATLIFE10 on all ZHIK sailing gear)
Boatlife Must-have number 2: the drop saver
Whether you get your fresh water from the dock or have a watermaker, fresh water is very precious on board. Ironically when we sail, we are surrounded by water, but it's mostly salt water, which we can not use. We found these little drop savers on the internet to ensure we only use the water we need. The water only flows when you push the little stick and allows us to reduce our water consumption by 30%. It might seem crazy, but one wastes a lot of water in the time it takes to switch off and on the tap. And if you have the "switch" closer to your hands, you will switch off the water constantly. It will only run when you need it.
We use these little dropsavers on all taps on board of ForTuna. Unfortunately, the seller on eBay we got them from is no longer active, and we have not found any other seller. If you find them, please let us know we would love to share it with your all.
Boatlife Must-have number 3: the sailor’s checklist
Safety is the number one priority on every boat. There should never be a discussion about it. However, boat safety includes so many aspects that sometimes we can miss out on smaller or bigger things. To avoid any mistakes and be prepared in emergencies, we have not only one but two Sailor's Checklists on our sailboat ForTuna. One accessible on board for when we leave for longer passages and one in our grab bag. Why? Because this waterproof booklet includes checklists for when you "open or close" your boat at the beginning or end of the season, a checklist before every navigation and a vast assortment of information for emergencies. From first aid rules, Man-overboard manoeuvres and distress signals. In our opinion, this is a must-have for every sailboat owner.
Boatlife Must-have number 4: the Anchor app
This little gem allowed us to sleep deeply no matter the wind, weather or sea bottom. We discovered this app by luck while cruising the Mediterranean Sea and have never stopped using it. The great thing about being on a boat is the endless possibilities of throwing your anchor and spending the day or night outside the harbour. It's the epitome of freedom.
However, staying at anchor comes with risks, and many sailors do not feel comfortable sleeping at anchor. No matter how expertly you throw your anchor, there is a possibility of the anchor dragging and your boat ending up on shore. It's a nightmare for every boat owner, but luckily technology is here to help. Anchor app is straightforward. It uses your phone's GPS tracker to track the boat's movement. When you drop your anchor, you annotate the spot on the app, then draw a circle using the length of the anchor chain as the diameter. The app won't bother you if your GPS tracker stays within this circle. But the moment the tracking does leave the circle, the app makes a shrill noise to alert you.
Simple but effective, this app will keep anchor watch while you sleep. One of the main reasons why it made it on our list of apps every sailor should use.
Boatlife Must-have number 5: sailing hat
On a boat, you are constantly exposed to wind and sun. Especially the sun can be very damaging to your skin, and protecting it should be your utmost priority when sailing. Save that sweet head of yours from sun and wind by wearing a sailing hat. It will not only help you avoid getting sunburned but also avoid getting sunstroke or seasick. Besides a sailing hat, you should apply sunscreen. There are many different options on the market just make sure to choose one with high protection and which is reef-safe to preserve the ocean we love to sail.
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