LakeCruising

This will be my ramblings that could ideally turn into a book on the subject of Inland Lake Cruising.

- The Dream
  - Friday night till Sunday escape from the working world
  - What is your dream?
    - The family outing
    - Friday Floating Happy Hours
    - Devil's Cove Raft Ups / Lake Havasu
    - Friends out for an evening cruise
    - Weekend on the lake
    - Extended cruising
- Section 1 - Power Boats
  - Picking a Boat
    - New vs. Used
    - Budget
      - Financing
      - Slips
      - Partnerships
      - Gas
    - Size Matters
    - Style
      - Sedan Style Cruisers
      - Bridge Style
      - Trawlers
      - Aft Cabin style (Carver)
      - Sailboats
      - How many suites? Sleeping capacity
      - Heads
    - Engines
      - Single vs. Twin
      - Bow Thruster
        Batteries
        Shear Pins
      - I/O vs Inboard / V-drive
      - Diesel vs. Gas
      - Joystick Docking
    - Electronics and Electrical System
      - GPS / Chartplotter
      - Fish / Depth finder
      - VHF
        Do you need one on a lake?
        Group events
        Hand Held vs. Mounted
        Special Features
        Emergency Mode
        Wx channel
        Ch 16 monitoring
      - Engine Monitoring (Fuel Flow, tach, temps, etc.
      - Trim Tab indicator
      - Rudder Indicator
      - Chain counter
      - Radar
      - WiFi - Hotspots
      - Satellite dish
      - Radar
      - Generator
        The argument for / against a generator
      - Inverter
        How big is "big enough"?
        Battery sizing
        Battery sizing rules of thumb
        Sample Calculation for running a small space heater
      - Sound and Lighting
        Basic sound vs. "one of THOSE guys"
        LED lighting
        Special lighting - string lights, flashing, etc.
      - Batteries
        Starting Engine Batteries
        House Batteries
        Stereo System
        Solar Chargers
    - Other Features
      - Sleeping
        Bed arrangements:
        Walk Around Platform Bed
        Bed against one side
        V-berth
        Cross-oriented (aft cabin beds)
        Coffin berths and Caves
      - Hot water heater
        Dual Sourced - AC or Engine
      - Head
        Shower
        Toilet
        Macerator
        Pump Out
        Tank Monitoring
        Probes vs. electronic
        Xilinx
        See Level II system from Garnet
      - AC
        12V / Electric
        Defrosting
      - Galley
        Fridge
        Microwave
        Ice Maker?
        Built in - water quality issue
        Table top
        Grill
      - STORAGE
        Master suite storage
        Galley / main cabin storage
      - Swim Platform
        Swim Ladder
        Grill
      - Main cabin layout
        Working table
        Sofa
        TV / stereo
      - Exotic Features
        Washing machine
        Trash compactor
        Water maker
    - Other Necessities
      - Life Jackets
        Inflatable life jackets
      - Lines and Fenders
        Dock Lines
        Misc Lines
        Long lines for tying off to shore, etc.
        Back up dock lines
        Small lines for tying off floats, etc.
        Fenders
        Sizes and styles (hang over side vs. traditional)
        End hole vs. through the body
        Fender Baskets
        Wire
        Home-made
        Fender Covers
        Fender Hangers
      - Anchors and Rode
        Delta
        Plow
        Claw
        Rode
        Chain
        Rope
        Windlasses
        Rode type
        The chain size, and rope size matters!
        Electrical Issues
        Fuses / Breakers
        Batteries
      - Spot light
        Handheld vs. mounted
      - Your Slip
      - Canvas
        Bimini
        Camper Canvas / Isinglass Enclosures
        Protective covers
      - Water Supply
        Bottled water vs. water tank water
        Use a water pressure regulator
        Should you use a water filter?
      - The Dingy
  - Going Cruising
    - Short Term Cruising - what to bring
      - The wagon
      - Ice Chest
      - Ice Maker - table top?
      - Swim Floats
      - Towels
      - Clothes
      - Toiletries
    - The Log
    - Navigation
    - A typical weekend out
    - Longer Cruises
    - Pumping Out
    - Cold weather
    - Work from Boat
    - Anchoring
    - Rafting up
      - Swimming at the boat
        Cushions, Lazy Bunz, Floating Beer Pong
        Tie one on! (the floats and the people - not the hangover!)
    - Single Handing
      - LIFE JACKET
      - Docking
    - Maintenance and Repairs
      - Annual engine service
      - Bottom Job
        Zebra Muscles
        Primary points of attachment - Outdrives, Trim Tabs.
        Bronze props not affected
        Bottom paint generally effective
      - AC Issues
        Loss of prime
        Water Pump
        Control board
        Fan
- Section 2 - Sailboats
  - Picking your dream
    - Day cruising
    - Overnighting in a cove or at the dock
    - Longer stays
  - Buying a boat
    - New vs. Used
    - Size Still Matters
      - Cabin Space
      - Sleeping space
      - Standing headroom
      - Storage space
      - Head
      - How big?
    - Styles, Brands, Materials
      - Fiberglass vs. wood or other materials
      - Boat Brands
        Catalina
        Hunter
        Beneteau
        McGregor
        Others
      - Swing vs. Fixed Keel
      - Tiller vs. Wheel
      - Catamarans
    - Engines
      - Outboard
      - Inboard gas
      - Inboard diesel
      - Electric
    - Sails
      - Racing vs. Cruising sails
      - Lake Cruising vs. Coastal Cruising
        Light air sails
        Spinnakers, A-symmetrical, Genoa
        Main sails
        Furling
        Jib bags
        Dutchmen / Lazy Jack and Zippered Stack Packs
    - Typical vintage boat fixups
      - Replace the outboard
      - Check the swing keel and keel winch cable
      - Running Rigging / Standing rigging
      - Add a roller furler
      - Sail Covers
      - Seat Covers
      - Anchors
      - Inside bulkheads and other woodwork
      - Bilge Pumps
      - Electrical system
        Radio
        Depth finder
        GPS
        Battery system
        Lighting
        Solar panels
    - Other features
      - Auto Pilot
      - Bimini - a MUST
      - STANDING head room
      - Air Conditioning
        Installed
        Window Units
        Room AC's
      - Heaters
      - Refrigerators
      - Microwaves
    - Lake Cruising in a Sailboat
      - Lake winds - light, shifty
      - Night Cruising / wind patterns