T&T: Suggestions for Equipping a Trawler for the Southern Caribbean

[Marty Campanella]

Deb and I have just completed a 6,000 mile, 14 month trip from Chicago to
Trinidad via the St. Lawrence in our Krogen 42. A few random thought s on
equipping a trawler for a trip to the Caribbean:

 

1              SSB radio, and if possible get your ham license so you can
use the HF channels.  This will be used daily for the weather, and very
frequently to keep up with friends who are now a couple of days behind or
ahead of you.

2              An anchor  that is way too large for your boat and 250 feet
of chain.  The favorite anchors down here are CQRs, Delta fast sets and the
new generation of Rocnas and Mason Supremes.  The typical cruiser anchors 7
days a week and the winds are frequently 25kts+.  You should have a means of
telling how much chain you have down.  Your neighbors will want to know and
be prepared to answer in meters.

3              A power up and power down windlass.  As often as half the
time it will take two or three attempts (up and down anchor) to get the
right placement and set in these crowded anchorages.

4              A long cable and strong lock for your dinghy, many people use
8 to 10 feet of stainless chain. The unspoken rule is lock it or lose it.
You will lock your dinghy to your boat at night - unless like many of the
sailboats you lift it out of the water

5              A good system of locking your outboard.  The Master lock bar
with the lock inside the bar is popular.  The thieves have bolt cutters and
have cut locks off the turn handles of the outboards.

6              One or two flopperstoppers for anchoring, especially if you
have a boom you can use for leverage.  The Magma Rock and Roll system and
custom made ones are seen frequently. Rolling in the anchorages is common
and these are effective if you can get the flopperstopper out some distance
from the boat.

7              Solar panel or panels. These are cost effective in the
Caribbean, reduces the time spent on the generator, and extends the time
between charges while you are taking day trips.

8              Dinghy anchor with 5  feet of chain and 40+ feet of line.
Danford style anchor is suggested not the grappling hook frequently seen in
the US.  Have seen many owners  of the grappling anchors buy a new anchor
down here.  Stainless chain is preferred because you don't have a windlass.
Also suggest you figure out a way to put a cleat on the dinghy both for e
and aft.  You will frequently put a stern anchor out to keep the dinghy off
the dock. 

9              If you are buying a new dinghy what you see in the Caribbean
are the ABs and Caribes. The storage compartment is useful for an anchor and
a white light.    

10           Watermaker.  Some buy their water because it is cheaper,
however, this requires going into a dock and filling up, frequently a pain,
not always available.  Those without watermakers frequently follow strict
water conservation.  

11           Fins and goggles - you will need these to dive on the anchor
and to clean the bottom of your boat (every three weeks).  Scuba gear, a
tank or hookla are recommended.  Suggest you buy a dive skin.  While the
water is warm the junk on the boat bottom gets all over you when you scrape.
Dive gloves, or the cut proof work gloves are essential. The small barnacles
are sharp.

12           Waterproof bag for your passports and boat documentation.  You
will be dinghying these in frequently enough that it is smarter to protect
them

13           If you are buying a new laptop consider one of the small ones
that are easy to carry ashore.

14           Wifi external antenna and amplifier.  These are universal and
those that didn't buy them in North America  have paid Caribbean prices for
one when they are here.  

15           Two different credit cards and two different ATM cards.
Regardless of what you do the companies will shut you off every month or so
because the card is being used on different islands.

16           A Skype connection.  This will be your means of communication
back home and for calling to the other islands.  Land phones are expensive.
Get a headset.

17           A quad phone.  Once you leave St Martin you can get a Digicel
sim and it will be good through Trinidad.  The frequencies change from
island to island but a quad phone will handle them all.  Make sure it is
unlocked.

18           If appropriate for your boat, tarps that you can hang to block
the sun from your windows and the rain from an open hatch.  The sun is
brutal and can heat up the salon easily.

19           Spare parts, assume generally 50 to 100% more here than in
North America, if you can get it.  Frequently seen 3 week waits and $75
shipping charges.  Often a cruiser has been stuck for a month waiting for a
part to be shipped in.  If you have friends visiting you in St. Martin or
St. Lucia load them up with spare parts and you can bring boat parts in
without duty. You can download the catalogues from Budget Marine and Island
Water World to check prices, but don't assume they have all the items in the
store (St. Martin and Trinidad are exceptions).

20           Two VHF radios at your helm.  You will join up with others for
crossings, especially at night and frequently a  second channel is monitored
for communication among the group.

21           If you use 30w oil for your engine or generator load up in
Puerto Rico or possibly St. Martin.  30w is difficult to find down island.
In Puerto Rico there is a $1 per quart refundable recycling charge which you
will be stuck with.

22           Bring a European plug adapter for your computer, or you can pay
3 times the price in St. Martin.  

 

Marty Campanella

Bay Pelican KK42