Pack lite, pack for your position
Work clothes and sensible work shoes. Forget about heavy work boots, all you will do is damage your knees. I use low cut laced redwings. Comfortable and lite. You gotta carry all your gear around, airport to airport if international. Weight costs money. Extra bags cost money. Travel lite
A USB battery pack, most people use their phone as an alarm clock and your nearest charging point may not be near your pit, charge up a USB pack whilst youâre on watch and then you can recharge your phone next to your head whilst you sleep.
If youâre deep sea then a two way sat communicator like a Garmin inReach means youâre not reliant on ships systems of varying quality and availability to keep in touch with home.
A good multi tool and sheath. One where the blade can be opened one handed ideally.
Definitely.
Books are way too heavy. A good e-reader is an excellent investment.
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âŚand turn up late to their watch. Get a small alarm clock.
Why does a smartphone not work perfectly as an alarm clock?
Too many variables, battery, sound settings, automated settings such as DST changes etc. Have had people turn up late because of a stupid phone⌠well, use an alarm clock. Never been late since I started going to sea. Your G-Shock or Timex works well, too. Or donât use it. Donât give a shit. Just my opinion.
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Arenât you just the perfect lil sailor boy.
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The iPad I bring is loaded with books as well as charts because they are so easy and quick to download when I find something I want to read right away. So yeah, paper books are superfluous but I bring along one or two anyway.
I donât have an explanation for it other than to say that I find satisfaction reading books on paper that reading from a screen doesnât provide. Itâs a small luxury I allow myself. Call me old school.
One big disadvantage to e-books is you canât give it to someone else to read when youâre finished. Or leave it in the shipâs library. Before e-books a lot of the crew would have read the same books.
From a readerâs perspective, I like shipâs libraries or âIrishâ libraries full of paper books. From a writerâs perspective, e-books have a monetary advantage over paper. A paper book read by hundreds of people only brings in a royalty for the sale of a single book.
Why donât you go and sit on a milk crate
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Wtf does that even mean?
I think heâs calling you âWaffle assâ
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It used to be known as the âNMU lawnchairâ if that helps.
Reminds me of an episode in the Persian Gulf when a bunch of us were on working on deck in 120 degree temperature drenched in sweat. One of the OSâs was sitting on a milk crate in the shade.
When we pointed out to him he wasnât pulling his weight, his response was âI be sweatinâ on the inside.â
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Gladly.
When I first started sailing in 1970 at 16, an old AB that mentored many of us kids gave me his ditty bag with palm, needles, wax and twine when he retired. I carried it for 39 years and passed it on to my young cousin when he started sailing.
Iâve been retired 10 years but when I opened my shaving kit, I still have the 71 GM timing tool and Sperry rudder repeat-back couplers that I always carried for 35 years. They got me out of a bind several times.
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OMG. You have some gold, have you considered selling?
Back to the main post: a couple of people here said toss clothes after a trip. I do that, too. I soaked a few pair of pants in diesel this year and out they went. I use cheap-o t-shirts. Hit your local thrift store(s). Youâll find a wealth of work clothes there.
I have a Dakine roller duffel that I have used for 5 years now and itâs got a few patched holes, but itâs still a great travel bag. I have 5.11 RUSH 24 backpack I bought on sale that holds the kitchen sink, and that is my carry-on bag.
In third world countries, use the buddy system and wear old clothes to blend in and look like someone not worth targeting for money. And donât get stinking drunk.
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