Sailboat Spares and Equipment for Long Distance Cruising

Electrical Spares

• Bulbs and fuses for all electric appliances;

• Cable ties;

• Circuit breakers;

• Crimp connectors;

• De-ionised water;

• Electrical wiring of various sizes;

• Heat shrink tape and tubing;

• Insulating tape;

• Petroleum jelly or silicone grease;

• Self-amalgamating tape;

• Spare electrical terminals and connectors;

• Voltage regulator for solar panel;

• Voltage regulator for wind generators;

Miscellaneous spares

• 12v inverter;

• Assorted stainless steel self-tapping screws;

• Dinghy repair kit;

• Emergency tiller;

• Emergency vhf antenna;

• Handheld compass with bulkhead clip (as backup to main steering compass);

• Handheld gps (as backup to fixed unit);

• Handheld vhf (as backup to fixed unit);

• Hose clamps and lengths of hose;

• Pressure regulator for gas bottle;

• Sheer pins for outboard motor propellor;

• Spare air cylinders for foghorn;

• Spare batteries for torches and electronic devices;

• Spare blades for wind generator;

• Spare electric bilge pump;

• Spare servo pendulum blade for self-steering;

• Spare winch handles;

• Spare windex;

• Spare plywood windvane for self-steering gear;

• Spark plugs for outboard motor;

• Stainless steel nuts, bolts and washers of various lengths and diameters;

• Various connectors for shoreside power supplies;

Mechanical and electrical tools

The problem with tools is knowing where to stop...

• Marlin spike;

• 12v cordless drill with assorted bits;

• A spirit level??? Yes, for levelling up the boat when on the hard;

• Ball peen hammer;

• Butane filled or 12v soldering iron;

• Claw hammer;

• Club hammer;

• Craft knife and spare blades;

• Crimping tool;

• Digital multimeter;

• Engine workshop manual;

• Gas torch with soldering attachment;

• Grease gun and oil can;

• Hacksaw and spare blades;

• Large and small adjustable spanner;

• Large magnet;

• Metal files;

• Needle nose pliers;

• Oil and fuel filter wrenches;

• Oil change pump;

• Pliers of various types and sizes;

• Polarity tester;

• Rubber or plastic mallet;

• Screwdrivers of various types and sizes;

• Set of allen keys;

• Set of feeler gauges;

• Small plane;

• Small screwdrivers;

• Socket set;

• Spanner set;

• Tape measure;

• Vice grips;

• Whetstone;

• Wire cutters and strippers;

• Wood chisels;

Engine spares

• Air cleaner element;

• Alternator diode;

• Engine and gearbox oil;

• Gasket material and sealants;

• Penetrating oil in aerosol can;

• PTFE tape;

• Spare alternator; 

• Spare cooling water impellers and impeller replacement kits;

• Spare engine oil filters and primary and secondary fuel filters;

• Spare fuel pump; 

• Spare injectors; 

• Spare raw water pump; 

• Spare V belts; 

• Thermostat;

• Various oils and greases for pumps, stern glands and general use;

Sails and rigging

• Assorted blocks including a couple of snatch blocks;

• Assorted clevis pins and split pins;

• Assorted ropes and cordage;

• Norseman fitting for each wire diameter;

• Replacement blocks and jammers for the mainsheet tackle and kicker;

• Riggers knife;

• Sail repair kit including sail cloth;

• Sail slides and jib hanks;

• Sailmaker's palm and assorted needles;

• Set of splicing fids and tools;

• Sewing machine (reeds sailmaker or similar);

• Shackles of various types and sizes;

• Spare bottle screws for each shroud diameter;

• Spare sail battens;

• Spare sheets and halyards;

• Turnbuckles and toggles;

Service kits

• Fibreglass repair kit, including mat, cloth resin and underwater epoxy;

• Service kit for all manual pumps;

• Service kit for sea toilet;

• Service kit for sheet and halyard winches;

• Service kit for the watermaker and plenty of spare filters;

• Spare seals for each deck hatch;

Medical equipment

Now I'm no medic, but this is what I've ended up with in my first aid kit:~

• Adhesive tape;

• Alcohol free moist wipes;

• Analgesics (pain killers);

• Antibiotics;

• Antifungal cream;

• Antihistamine (for allergies);

• Antiseptic creams;

• Assorted plasters;

• Clinical thermometer;

• Cotton buds;

• Disposable gloves;

• Eye drops;

• Eyepad with bandage;

• Finger stalls;

• Gauze swabs;

• Lip moisturiser;

• Plastic eye bath;

• Safety pins;

• Scissors;

• Seasickness tablets;

• Silver foil blanket;

• Splinter forceps;

• Sterile cotton;

• Sunscreen;

• Various sized bandages;

• Various sized dressings;