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5 Things We Can't Live Without on Our Boat | Sailing Essentials to Travel the World
11 March 2026 · 17 min · 31K views · Fiji
What this video covers
Warren and Erica aboard Vaan identify five systems they consider essential for long-term offshore cruising, illustrated during a daysail between islands in Fiji during cyclone season, where winds are inconsistent and charts are unreliable.1:17
First is ground tackle: a Rochna 33 kg anchor, 300 feet of Cro-Mox stainless 3/8-inch chain, a Maxwell RC-10 windlass, and a waterproof camera mounted over the chain entry point so the helm can monitor the anchor without shouting to the foredeck.5:55 Second is OpenCPN, a free open-source chart plotter that overlays satellite imagery over digital charts — critical in poorly surveyed areas like the Tuamotus and Fiji, where official charts are incomplete or inaccurate.6:51 Third is a combined watermaker and rainwater catchment system Warren built into Vaan's existing deck gutters, routed through a filtration system and a diverter valve controlled from the nav station, costing under a few hundred dollars and often eliminating the need to run the watermaker for months.10:29 Fourth is a 2,200-watt solar array across six panel sets with individual controllers, including 400 watts integrated into the bimini top.12:00 Fifth is a sail wardrobe — mainsail, genoa, asymmetrical spinnaker, and Code Zero — that lets them minimize motoring; they completed an entire cruising year in Mexico on one tank of fuel.14:35 Starlink and autopilot receive honorable mentions but were excluded as now-standard equipment.13:03
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