Equipment Summary

Equipment	Opinion	Comments
Alternator, Balmar 105 amp	J	Dependable, modest output
Anchor, CQR, 45#	J	Our standard
Anchor, Danforth, 25#	J	Good.
Antenna tuner, SGC 2000	J	Can use w/2 radios
Autopilot, Autohelm 3000	K	Worked OK, repaired 3 times
Autopilot, Autohelm ST4000	J	Good so far, belt lasted 400 miles; bearings frooze after 5000 miles.
Batteries, Prevailer 27	JJ	One lasted 9 years, 2d is still good.
Batteries, Prevailer 4D	JJ	First set lasted 10 years; we 'cooked' one with 16 volts of charging voltage.
Battery monitor, Cruising Equipment Amp-Hours +	J	Very useful, amp-hour computation not accurate
Bilge pump, Edson Gusher 30 manual	K	Hard to stow
Bilge pump, West Marine 500	L	Couldn't lift water 5'
Bilge pump, Whale Gusher 10 manual	K	Have rebuilt twice
Bilge pumps, Rule 350/500	LL	Have replaced 3 in 9 years
Bilge pumps, Rule 3500	J	OK
Bilge switches, Rule regular	L	Have replaced 3 in 9 years
Bilge switches, Rule Super	K	Have replaced 1 in 9 years
Blocks, Shaefer	J	Mostly good; a couple have frozen from corrosion
Boom, Selden single-line reefing	J	Smooth operation
Compass, Danforth Constellation	J	Good.
Compass, KVH Sailcomp 103AC fluxgate	L	Display died after 2 years, had to buy replacement and new one is intermittent after 4 months use.
Deck wash pump kit, Groco	J	OK
Dinghy, Avon 280	J	Has stood up well.
Engine, Yanmar 4JH2E	JJ	No bleeding required.
EPIRB, ACR 121	K	Short range but good back-up.
EPIRB, Litton/Guest 406	K	Batteries expensive, must send to factory.
Foul weather gear, Henri-Lloyd	J	Ultra-dry
Foul weather gear, Musto	JJ	Love the Gore-tex
Furler, Pro Furl N42C for genoa	JJ	Solid unit, easy to install
Furler, Mariner for staysail	K	OK, only good for reefing
Furler, Harken#435 for drifter	J	Good, must blanket sail for wind over 10 kt
GPS, Garmin 45	K	Short battery life.
GPS, Garmin 128	J	Good functionality.
GPS, Micrologic Explorer	K	Good but out of business
Hailer, Horizon HL5	K	Not very powerful
Instruments, B&G Network	K	Good functions, low reliability
Instrument, Standard Horizon depth	J	Good back-up, 'hockey puck' inside hull
Inverter, 220 VAC, StatPower	J	OK
Inverter, ProWatt 800 watt 110VAC	J	OK
Life Sling	J	Seems OK, never used, cover lasts 2 years
Line-toppers Lewmar D1	J	Good.
Line-toppers Lewmar D2	J	Good, although needed 14mm clutch to handle 12 mm line.
Outboard, Tohatsu 3 HP	K	Noisy and rough.
Outboard, Yamaha 8HP	J	Smooth; must service yearly
Paint, bottom, Petit Trinidad	JJ	Lasts 3 years, only available in US
Paint, bottom, Interlux	K	Various types available worldwide
Paint, varnish, Schooner	J	Good finish; lots of work
Paint, Sikkens Cetol	JJ	Easy to apply, lasts 1 year
Radar detector, CARD	L	Rarely detects ship before we do.
Radar, Raytheon 20X	J	Good, needed major service at 8 years.
Radio, ICOM IC735 Ham transceiver - MF and HF bands	J	Dependable at 12 years old; modified to use Marine SSB frequencies in an emergency.
Radio, ICOM IC-M710 Single sideband (SSB) transceiver for maritime mobile (MF and HF) bands	J	Solid transceiver although awkward to use; modified to use ham frequencies in an emergency.
Radio, VHF, ICOM IC-M11 handheld	K	Battery packs have failed several times.
Radio, VHF, ICOM IC-M59	J	OK
Reaching pole, Forespar 23'	J	Heavy but versatile.
Refrigeration, Adler Barber Cold Machine	J	Dependable although not real efficient
Regulator, Balmar ARS	K	Original rarely put out more than 45 amps. Failed after 8 years and new one is a little quirky.
Safety Harness, Larakis	J	Comfortable.
Sails, Houseley	JJ	Bullet-proof.
Sails, North Sails - NZ	K	Mediocre worksmanship
Sails, Doyle-Hild	J	Have been happy with their work
Sea Boots, Musto M2	L	Fell apart after 1 year.
Solar panel, Solaris 30 watt flexible	J	OK
Solar panels, Siemens 55 watt	JJ	Great.
Steering, Edson ST-400 pedestal	J	OK
Stove/oven, Gas Systems	J	OK
Toilet, Criddenton-Wilcox Head-Mate	J	Good for a cheap head.
Water filter, General Ecology Seagull IV	J	Have stayed healthy for 9 years.
Water heater, Atlantic Stainless 4 gal	LL	Have replaced tank 4 times.
Water pump, Jet-flo	J	Dependable.
Water pump, Whale foot	J	Good.
Water pumps, Par	L	Kept bursting.
Watermaker, PUR PowerSurvivor	J	One service in 8 years.
Weatherfax, Furuno 206	JJ	Versatile and good backup receiver
Weatherfax software, PC HF Fax 7	K	OK, superceded.
Weatherfax software, Xaxero	J	Newer technology.
Winches, Barient 10 to 28	JJ	Sorry they are out of business.
Winches, Lewmar 36 to 48	J	Good experience so far.
Wind generator, Ampair 100	K	Quiet but low output
Windlass, SeaTiger 555 anchor	J	Powerful; 1 rebuild
Wind-vane, Monitor	JJ	Wouldn't leave port without it.

Caveat - This summarizes our experience with various equipment on board. Our experience may differ from others using the same equipment or different models from the same manufacturer. We make no recommendations for others to follow. We make no representations about similar equipment or other units or models by the same or different manufacturers. Despite all of these caveats, we believe our experience is typical for a long-distance cruiser and believe our observations are reasonable.

We have installed a lot of equipment on 'Long Passages' over the last 12 years, most of it good and some not so good. Here are our opinions, subject to a caveat - use them as just one input into your decisions.