The entry-level series is supported by:
New sails, outdated deck hardware, fresh colorful lines - all of these can make the trip more pleasant. But after a beautiful day of sailing, only the toughest ones need to wrap themselves in a damp spinnaker under a tarpaulin; It should be a little more living comfort. It can look very different depending on the size of the boat and budget, but the main points are always the same: food has to be prepared and food kept fresh, drinking water has to be bunkered and a bunk for the night. In addition, electricity is required for equipment, but also lighting. And a heater when it gets cold.
How these comfort requirements are implemented on board depends not only on the budget and size of the boat, but also on how it is used. A daysailer does not need a built-in refrigerator; a cooler bag for snacks and drinks is sufficient. There is also no need for a full bunk or heating. The latter, however, can be useful after a rainy day to dry wet clothes or sails; a fan heater would be sufficient for this.
All products, both expensive and complex, but also simple and cheaper variants, appeared in Part 3 of the beginners' series in YACHT 1/2021. Selected pieces of equipment are presented here.
Warm air
The basic equipment: the fan heater. It only works with shore power and then only at full power (1500 watts) if there are not too many other consumers on the grid. Then it quickly gets nice and warm in a small cabin. Available from the supplier or hardware store. Price: 50 euros.
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Fan heater for 230 volts with 1500 watts of power
Diesel heating
Diesel hot air heaters are very reliable, low-maintenance and insensitive to ship movements. The test winner from YACHT 6/2020 is called Autotherm Air 2D: Warmth at the push of a button, it couldn't be more comfortable. In addition to diesel, it also consumes electricity for preheating and the fan. Available with hoses from 530 euros.
Order the heater from Autotherm here *
Diesel warm air heating from Autotherm, formerly Planar
Warm feet
A boot dryer is the luxury for the winter trip. Put the tubes in the shoe and the inside is dried and warmed with warm air. Thanks to the low power, it can also be operated with an inverter, but safer with shore power. There are also variants for several pairs of boots. Price from 45 euros.
Order here at Decathlon *
Electric boot dryer
Lantern
The Ledlenser ML6 is also available with warm white LEDs. It can be placed or hung up and measures almost 18 by 4 centimeters. It is protected against splash water and is charged via USB. The brightness can be dimmed from 20 to 750 lumens, and there is a practical red light that does not dazzle. Price: 75 euros.
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The LED lantern can be set up or hung and is charged via USB
LED fairy lights
Good price, just hang it up, and no external power supply is required because the LED light chain has its own battery compartment. That is definitely enough in a small cruiser - and is done quickly, good for a long to-do list. Price: 12.99 euros.
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Thanks to its own battery compartment, the LED light chain manages without an external power supply
Lithium instead of lead
Liontron offers 100 ampere-hour lithium iron phosphate batteries. A comparable lead-acid battery would have to have 200 ampere hours. The lithium battery only takes a few minutes of driving the engine to charge; Shore power is hardly necessary any more. Price 989 euros.
Order here*
The battery has Bluetooth, so the charge status can be checked using a smartphone. The special thing about Liontron: individual components are interchangeable. In this way, the battery can be repaired, and a new one does not automatically have to be produced in the event of technical defects
Clean tank, clean drinking water
If the water tank is kept clean, the water can also be consumed without a special filter. To do this, the tank and lines must be rinsed with a cleaning agent. For example with the water tank super cleaner from Yachticon. Price from 20 euros.
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Water tank super cleaner from Yachticon
Mobile water tank with filter
When clean tap water isn't available, Lifesaver's Jerrycan can help. With it, drinking water (not salt water) can be treated with an integrated filter. That's enough for 10,000 liters of water. Suitable as a day tank or water supply on small boats. Often, however, there is clean drinking water on the jetty, in which case a cheap water canister from the hardware store is sufficient. The Lifesaver Jerrycan costs 270 euros.
Order here*
With the filter integrated in the Jerrycan, bacteria and viruses can be filtered out of the drinking water
cooling box
The CFX3 series from Dometic offers compressor cool boxes with a capacity of 35 to 100 liters. The temperature can be regulated precisely to the degree, and the cladding is particularly robust. Price from 799 euros.
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Cool box with compressor cooling like the home refrigerator. Works with shore power and 12 volts
The mini oven
The Omnis looks like a cake tin, the heat flows in through the hole and is deflected by the lid - this is how top and bottom heat is created. This works very well, also to bake bread rolls. Price from 45 euros.
Order the Omnia oven here *
The Omni also turns a one-burner stove into an oven
Single-headed
The Campingaz stove is very compact, easy to use and the ideal solution on small boats. Gas installation and assembly are completely eliminated. The stove costs from 48 euros. One cartridge lasts for several days and costs about 5 euros.
Order the stove here *
Order suitable cartridges here *
It couldn't be easier, but it is enough for the preparation of many dishes: the single-burner gas stove
Passive cooling
The Qechua product keeps drinks and food cool for a day trip, but is also suitable for moving purchases from the supermarket into the refrigerator on board. It can then be folded up to save space. Volume 20 liters. Price: 20 euros.
Order here at Decathlon *
Cool bag without cooling unit: Sufficient for a day trip - or longer if you regularly add ice or cool packs
Just better
The area of navigation electronics is deliberately excluded, there is an abundance of plotters, encoders and antennas. But to set off with the new used boat, all you need is a tablet with a navigation app.
The simple solutions in particular can quickly make the used boat comfortable and leave enough time when there is still a lot of work to be done on the hull, rig and machine. So it can still go into the coming season on time.
Further recommended equipment, original gifts and much more can be found in our shop
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