List of Spares

[davidpm]

Coastal cruising can and is often is done with a very limited inventory of parts. Maybe just the sails you are using plus a spare impeller and you are good to go.
After all help is usually only a few minutes away.

Most folks when crossing oceans start thinking about spares.
First of all several weeks of straight sailing can wear gear and out-of-the way ports may not have the right parts.

I'm particularly interested is folks who have had to make the hard decisions. What did you bring what didn't make the cut either for space or cost reasons?
Also what did you not bring that you wished you brought?

If you don't mind, through an approximate number on the items you mention.
I'm actually going someplace with this. I figure that the appropriate (or at least customary) number of spares is is significant part of the cost equation that might be easily overlooked.

[Livia]

I'm starting our spares list so I can start purchasing so I'm going to watch this thread with great interest.

I have not been "out there" so so far I've compiled our prelim list from a few publications, from my marine diesel class notes and our own idiosyncratic items.

[TQA]

Nowadays there are VERY few parts of the world where the WWW and FedEx do not reach. So does the question become do you ONLY carry spares that you can fit yourself out at sea and send for the rest as and when required.

I recently had the pulley and raw water pump fail. I sailed over to where there was some marine services and bingo 2 days later I had the pulley bushed and a replacement pump. I could also have phoned the US for a pump and paid FedEx to deliver it.

Mind you if I had a pump and pulley on board I could have fitted them myself and plan to rebuild the original pump and keep it as a spare. However if I follow this path I can see me painting a new boot strip on as my waterline will be somewhat higher.

I like to cruise the quieter places of this world and do carry things that will allow me to jury rig and patch up things like;-
Short shroud wire with end and clamps.
Ali sheet + pop rivets
Plywood squares for patches plus Self tappers.
threaded rod and suitable nuts BIG washers
5200
epoxy 5 min and 30 min
tape all kinds
hose all sizes hose clips
electrical wire and solder.
Box of assorted nuts and bolts.
Stuff to allow me to fix the steering gear if something breaks. This could be as simple as having a hole drilled through the top of the rudder to allow a rope to be passed through and some jury steering set up created with ropes.
I also carry a bit of kit that allows me to jury rig the alternator in the event of the regulator failing. It consists of a stop tail light bulb a 3 position switch and terminals. In 7 years cruising I never needed it but it helped out others on several occaisions.