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We are planning on taking our on a weekend trip from our home port, Hammond Marina. We are thinking about sailing to Michigan City and doing the zoo for the kids, shopping for the wife and beach for me...
Any pointers on what to bring or leave behind? We still haven't got the interior "organized" yet and need to consolidate and utilize the under galley storage to its fullest. DLAnserson, any tips on the marina? Room for my behind yours?

ualpow wrote:Any pointers on what to bring . . .

As little as you can get away with.

ualpow wrote:. . . or leave behind?

Everything you don't bring, which should be almost everything you own.

The big exceptions are, of course, all required safety equipment, ID for each person, personal effects (not a steamer trunk) including shower supplies, with flip-flops or shower shoes for public marina showers and swim trunks/suits plus towels for the kids, and super important stuff like a coffee pot that you can use on the boat with filters/coffee/cups, electric if at a dock if you prefer, or fuel if not or for future-proofing your supplies. Paper goods for eating (disposable), paper towel for cleaning (disposable), head supplies (TP and such), and so on. Cooler with food and ice (you won't be able to refreeze anything, so might as well start and finish with ice), some way of cooking if that's the plan (but restaurants don't require such preparation, again, as long as you know you'll have access to them), etc.

And critical boat things like dock lines, boat hook, charts, nav equipment, a working compass, and so on. Bug screens and an electric fan (battery if not at a dock with power) or two so you can sleep at night. A 12VDC or 120VAC TV with rabbit ears if you or the kids need some toob before bed (but this is a great opportunity to unplug).

But for a first trip, I'd keep it as light as possible. You'll learn (fast) what works and what doesn't, what you needed and what you didn't, and so on.

I've never overnighted on this boat, but have plenty of times on a larger boat, and room was at a premium on a larger boat, so do keep in mind that even for just a weekend, the boat will get crowded fast with 'supplies', so don't bring anything you don't absolutely need and can't find locally at your destination.

Here's something we found useful. We bought a number of plastic bins with lids that clip on securely.
Everything possible goes in a bin.
During the day, bins go in the sleeping area under the cockpit.
At night, we place as many bins as possible in the cockpit to make room for sleeping.

Trip is cancelled. Went out on the 4th and had great sailing. When we got close to marina the outboard would not start. Has happened before but started after letting sit for 30 minutes or so. This time no go. Called Boatus and sailed around for an hour till he showed up. Got towed in, wife embarrassed and said she will not go on boat until it's fixed. So Sat morning I'm headed there to trouble shoot. I had to warn the tow boat driver 3 times that he was headed off course directly at oncoming boats. He did not seem "all there".

Know the feeling mate, Installed a new 50hp Bigfoot 6 mo. ago and no problems .
I got $1500 FOR MY bf50 Honda , 1997
Love the Big Foot.
Would have love to put the Suzukie 90 on the boat. But no can do here in SW FL.
Dave

ualpow wrote:Trip is cancelled. Went out on the 4th and had great sailing. When we got close to marina the outboard would not start. Has happened before but started after letting sit for 30 minutes or so. This time no go. Called Boatus and sailed around for an hour till he showed up. Got towed in, wife embarrassed and said she will not go on boat until it's fixed. So Sat morning I'm headed there to trouble shoot. I had to warn the tow boat driver 3 times that he was headed off course directly at oncoming boats. He did not seem "all there".