Cruising Equipment

It is important to have an inventory that is appropriate to your intended operating area and conditions. Listed below is an example inventory for a RIB cruising in and around the Solent area:

• First aid kit
• Flares
• Lifejackets
• Spare kill cord
• Search light
• Multi-tool
• VHF - See guide to marine VHF DSC
• VHF aerial
• Chart plotter or GPS
• Depth sounder or fish finder
• Compass
• Paddles
• Throw line
• Binoculars
• Mooring lines
• Fenders
• Insurance - See guide to RIB insurance

There are a number of online chandlers, including:

Navigation Equipment

The fundamental basics are charts for your intended operating area, together with a fixed and handheld compass.

Assuming you have the basics, then a very practical and useful addition is a GPS or Chart Plotter. The fundamental difference between the two is that while the GPS provides position and information with respect to the next waypoint, the Chart Plotter overlays this data on a chart. An entry level handheld GPS costs around £100, however, using one at speed is very difficult! An entry level Chart Plotter, such as the Garmin GPSMAP 450 costs around £425, plus charts at around £160. Budget permitting we would always recommend a Chart Plotter. Garmin, Navman, Lowrance and Eagle are major manufacture of Chart Plotters.

One approach to keep costs down is to import from the USA. For example the Lowrance Global Map 3500C retails at $475 in the USA and £475 in the UK! You will need to pay shipping costs, VAT and Import Duty (around 4%).

Many entry level Chart Plotters have 5" diagonal screens. These can be difficult to read at speed, therefore, we would recommend a diagonal screen size of 7" as the minimum. An additional benefit of a larger screen is that you can split the screen and have two charts with different scales operational at the same time, this is ideal for cruising around coastal waters.

You can import directly from West Marine, which is a major US chandlers:

How to buy a GPS unit

Because GPS (Global Position System) units are used in a wide range of industries many brands, models and features are available. However, most units suitable for outdoor use are similar in size, cost, and complexity to a cell phone. Here's some help to get you pointed in the right direction.

• How GPS works
• Types of GPS receiver units
• Functions and features

How GPS works

Global Position Systems units are a powerful technical tool in an easy-to-use interface.

• These units communicate with a network of satellites providing world-wide coverage.
• The satellites broadcast signals that your receiver uses to triangulate your position to within 100 feet.

Types of GPS receiver units

Before you decide to buy a unit, consider what you want to do with it.

• Portable (hand-held)
• The compact and versatile design of these units allow them to be used for hiking, camping, hunting, and virtually any other activity that requires navigation assistance.
• Mounted
• Designed for use inside a vehicle.
• The larger size allows some of them to store more information (built-in maps) than hand-held units.
• Chart plotter
• Designed for marine use to help you navigate bodies of water.
• Often include additional marine features such as water depth, water temperature and tide prediction tables.
• Often used with fish finders.
• GPS Software Systems
• Designed for use with portable computers or PDA's to turn the unit into a fully functional GPS.
• Requires a compatible operating system.
• GPS Fitness Systems
• Provides distance and rate of speed data to track your workouts
• Allows you easily navigate to desired locations
• Allows you to map your favourite routes

Functions and features

• Waypoints
• The eastern and northern coordinates that describe a particular position on the globe
• A waypoint can be a trailhead, campsite, rock formation, or a series of points on a featureless landscape
• Route mapping
• Creates a set of waypoints for an area you plan to visit
• Especially useful for trips to unfamiliar places
• Routes
• An ordered series of waypoints. When following a route, the GPS selects each waypoint.
• Some units generate waypoints and automatically create a route as you travel, a handy feature if you end up having to backtrack in bad weather or darkness
• Altimeters
• Indicate altitude, or feet above sea level
• Very handy when hiking through mountainous terrain or when referring to a topological map
• Antennae configuration / number of satellites
• External antennas can often be manipulated to improve reception
• Optional plug-in antennas are handy for use in cars or boats, since they allow the unit to pick up signals in places (such as under a metal car roof) that satellite signals usually can't penetrate
• Built-in antennas are protected from breakage, and can communicate with up to 12 satellites
• More satellites translate to more accurate positioning, faster updates and better reception
• Connectivity
• A GPS unit can be made more useful via connections to a computer or another GPS unit. Most computer and computer accessory retailers carry the cable and software you will need to take advantage of these features.
• In addition to easy back-up, sorting, and additional mapping capabilities, connectivity allows you to share exact information on where you're going or have been with someone else
• Size
• For backcountry use or when extra load weight is a concern, you may opt for a smaller, lighter model
• If you will be using the unit in complicated outdoor terrain and/or urban locales, a larger unit with a bigger screen may be preferable
• Battery life and extra weight are related. The more batteries a unit carries, the longer its life and the heavier its weight. For long trips, the extra weight may be worth extended battery life.
• Most GPS units are equipped with a lithium battery backup memory function so information won't be lost when batteries die
• Waterproof
• While most receivers are built to withstand some exposure to rain and snow, they probably won't fare well if submerged in a lake or river
• A beefier, and consequently heavier, casing means better weatherproofing

Flares

The Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) regulations state that any boat operating in coastal waters must carry the following flares:

• Red rocket flares x2
• Red hand flares x2
• Orange hand smoke x2

These are available as kits, together with a waterproof and buoyant container. A major manufacturer is Pains Wessex.

Binoculars

A good pair of waterproof binoculars are perfect for picking out distant bouys and landmarks, in particular for identifying bouys during night navigation. Don't buy binoculars that are too powerful. The ideal choice for many RIBsters are 7x50, because you can hold them steady and they capture significant light. For example these 7x50 Illussion waterproof binoculars are good value for money.

Multi-tool

A multi-tool is a very useful tool to have on a RIB. There are many to choose from, in particular there are two major manufacturers competing for your business, namely Gerber and Leatherman.

We would recommend buying a multi-tool that has a pair of pliers included, for example the Gerber MP800.