What piece of boat equipment can you "go cheap" on?

[NateD]

I guess it depends on your preferences and how you use the boat, but I am having a hard time thinking of boat things were you can typically get away with buying the cheapest available, especially on a small boat. If it's on the boat, then I need it. Either I will be using it regularly and it will be receiving a lot of use and abuse, or it is backup parts/tools/safety equipment that I hope I won't have to use, but if I do need it, it probably means I'm in a trouble and will be glad I didn't pinch pennies while outfitting the boat.

Everything I get for the boat I can come up with a strong argument for buying good quality stuff either due to expected heavy use, or for safety reasons. I guess there are some comfort items (screens/hatches) that aren't necessary, but if you did install them, you would probably be able to justify a higher quality one (don't want the hatch leaking).

What items have you bought for the boat and consciously chose to buy a lower end product?

[brackish]

Not sure if this is considered "low end" but in outfitting my P23 I recently bought and installed a Ritchie compass at the lower end of the price scale, choosing to put more of my finite budget into the GPS.  A compass has been relegated to back up status by the advent of very sophisticated GPS chartplotters, particularly for coastal cruising. 

Being old enough to have made the sailing navigation transition from RDF/ADF to Loran to GPS, I would say that back in the beginning of that continuum I would have put relatively heavier bucks into the compass.  In my early sailing days I relied on the compass and paper charts extensively, now it seams they are there in case the GPS fails.

I don't think my price point selection affects accuracy nor reliability over time, but some features are not there.   It will get me home in a fog if necessary, that's what I want.

The previous owners of my boat, lake sailors, had installed neither a compass nor a GPS chartplotter.

[Steve Ullrich]

I suppose this would qualify...  but only in that I opted to pay less money for the product.  I don't believe that I have compromised performance or safety in any way.  The product I obtained is a quality product.  I'm talking about my new sails.  I could have gone with North Sails Direct and purchased a new main and a new 135 genoa for a total of $645.00.  I saved $100 by going with National Sail Supply (Rolly Tasker).  The dacron used in the North sails would have been heavier.  The genoa was rated to 23 knots max apparent wind for instance... but if the apparent winds are 23 knots I won't be flying a 135 genoa anyhow.  I'm sure the heavier dacron would last longer but I'm sure I can get at least ten years out of the sails I bought so I'd rather have the extra $100 for something else.

[Joseph]

I am not sure I would willfully compromise on anything related to structure, systems, navigation or safety.  I agree with Brackish that paper charts and compass are mostly used when the GPS fails. However, I would also add that there main purpose is actually to have a means to use coastal nav to check the GPS and find out when it fails or is inaccurate enough as not to deserve to be trusted. Also, a common cause of positioning error (of enough yards as to get a boat in the rocks) is to have the GPS set up to a horizontal datum different than the one used by the chart. My compromise is on things like dishware and glassware: I use Frisbees as plates (with obvious advantages when the plates start flying...) and mugs as cups... I also try to limit to a minimum the use of disposable stuff (which in the long run is anything but cheap). If I were to consider things that I have irretrievably lost at sea as an indicator that they better be replaced with cheap alternatives, I would have to include shades, hats, gloves, multi-tools, fenders, even shoes and, once, the rudder...

J.

[Bob Condon]

Very interesting question...

I go cheap on service, in other words, I do the majority of repair myself.

I built my own sails from kits (but I bought the sewing machine as the investment) Combined it was a wash but I got one GREAT sewing machines for cushions, upholstery, you name it, it fixes it (8 layers of fabric on my friend's dodger...


I purchase screws, nuts, bolts from my local hardware store which has an extensive selection of
stainless screws, nuts, bolts etc.

I maintain the boat myself for two reasons... cheaper and I understand when off shore, how to fix it.

I went with hand held radio for compac but perminent radio with mast antenna on Cape Dory..
===
What do I not cheap out on?

PFD, safety items,

Books, manuals, magazines

[NateD]

If I were to consider things that I have irretrievably lost at sea as an indicator that they better be replaced with cheap alternatives, I would have to include shades, hats, gloves, multi-tools, fenders, even shoes and, once, the rudder...

That's a good one that I hadn't thought of. I bought a 12 pack of sunglasses for $15 off ebay and my sailing hat was $2 at SHOPKO. Figured they would either be broken, dropped overboard, blown off my head, or lost in an accidental dunking at some point, so I went as cheap as I could. I also got a $3 multi-tool as a backup if my regular knife, screw drivers, or pliers goes over. I added "cheap goggles" to my shopping list yesterday. I figure if something goes over the side in shallow water, I might be able to recover it if I had a pair of goggles aboard (or to check on possible damage to the underside of the boat if I bump something). So I guess I will be going cheap on the goggles too.

I agree on the GPS too, being a lake/river sailor, I don't need much and bought a $40 model off craigslist (my wife could resist a flashy one she saw and now I have a much nicer one though). Since my boat sits on the trailer 99% of it's existence, and probably spends .001% of it's time tied to a dock, I went with the cheapest dock lines that were available at West Marine (probably still paid too much, given the store).

[Joseph]

... and when something inadvertently gets committed to Davy Jones' locker, no matter its value, I remind myself of being thankful to old Davy or the water goddesses for having demanded so little in exchange for my wake. In some way this seems to make me feel better and prevent the mishap from ruining the day...

J.

[Potcake boy]

BEER - Buy one good one and drink that one first. 
Remember the acronym BOAT "Bring Out Another Thousand".  Personally I think the most common error in equipment purchase is to misjudge the real cost of fitting out a new purchase.  If you blow your whole budget on the boat you'll be hard pressed to convince the average wife that XYandZ are necessary components of sailing.  The cost of goodies and maintenance for the most part goes up exponentially with the size of the boat so keep that in mind.  Also consider with a used boat purchase how much stuff transfers to you as the new owner. That bucket of misc. SS fasteners could save you some serious money, and possibly a few trips to the boat store.  Line can last forever if treated properly and is expensive to replace so extra line that comes with your boat should be considered as a good savings.  Last but not least, don't load your boat up with a lot of unnecessary impulse stuff.  Stick to the basics - know how to tie fenders on the life lines for example and skip those quick clip things.  Starting with the boat - none of this stuff is strictly necessary to our survival - well sort of - so there is no mandate for what you should buy (aside from safety equipment) for your personal enjoyment.  The only thing I think is real nasty on a vessel is rusty galvanized hardware and blue poly sails, although the blue poly probably holds a good shape for a day or two.  The best gauge of your purchases can be to look in the mirror and see if you are smiling or not.

"A cheap date may be more costly than cheap boat gear"

Ron

[Bob23]

   Back in the day I was a foreign car mechanic I was taught that good tools are the best investment. I still have most of them 36 years later. (I rarely loose tools.) That being said, I find that if I've invested a decent sum in a high quality tool, compass, line, whatever- I'll be more prone to take care of it and maintain it. I think in the long run, this is the best and most economical way to go. Plus, the better stuff is usually so much nicer to use.
   When I first read this thread, I was gonna mention beer but Ron beat me to it. However, life is too short for cheap wine, bad beer or and ugly sailboat. Seems most of us here don't have to deal with the ugly sailboat issue- we sail Compacs! (Mine was recently noted as the "prettiest boat in the harbor" by an attractive older blonde Norwegian woman.) Sorry about the side path.
Buy the best beer you can afford and enjoy. If you like Pabst, so be it. If Shark Fin gets you swimmin', have at it. Myself, I love a cold Guiness and a great cheeseburger but, being a NJ native, Flying Fish beer is mighty good. Better to drink water or Coke than a poor beer.
   I don't like cheap sunglasses. I used to buy Vaurnets from Campmor till they stopped selling them. I'l take bronze hardware over stainless anyday. (my 23 is a 1985- all bronze.)
   David: Yes, Hinckleys are out of reach and I tend to lean toward smaller boats anyway. I hope I never find a Flicka for sale- hard to resist; they are beautiful and so well built.
Bob23...just my 2 cents.
   

[Craig Weis]

Two good home sharpened yet cheap [If they go overboard, no big deal] stainless steal knives. One in the cabin,
one on my teak binocular/soda can/winch handle/knife catty attached to my lift off fiberglass fuel tank cover. P.S. that catty makes a great lifting handle BTW.
skip

[Potcake boy]

   "I don't like cheap sunglasses."

Bob - I guess that means you are not a ZZ Top fan.

[romei]

I wear Ray Bans on land.  I've had this particular pair for several years.  On the boat is a different story though.  While I've been lucky for the last several years and haven't lost any of my cheap sunglasses to the river gods, I'm certain that if I wear my Ray Bans out there that they will surely sink to the bottom withiin a few days. 

I use a Casio G'zOne cell phone.  It's waterproof.  I tie a key float onto it.  When I first bought it, they were expensive but I see they've come down in price.  So go cheap on a cell phone and buy a G'zOne.

Everything about the phone is cool except for the sound quality.  It doesn't bother me because I usually don't do a lot of phone talking anyway, and I've gotten used to it now.  You can hold the thing under water for 15 minutes, pull it up, flip it open and make a call.  It'd be nice to have in your pocket if the worst were to happen, like if you fell off your boat and your boat sailed away............

[Steve Ullrich]

I don't know where you draw the line to call them cheap but I wear polarized Iron Man sunglasses that I got at Target for about $20.00. My wife says they look good, that's good enough for me.  If I should lose them overboard it isn't such a big deal.  I did lose a pretty nice Seiko next to the mooring ball one year.  That was sad.  I was hanging over the bow hooking the lines from the mooring ball to the bow hook on my Hunter 23 and the freakin band broke.  I watched it drop in slow motion.  Had a five year battery, might still be running down there somewhere in the mud...

I wear Ray Bans on land.  I've had this particular pair for several years.  On the boat is a different story though.  While I've been lucky for the last several years and haven't lost any of my cheap sunglasses to the river gods, I'm certain that if I wear my Ray Bans out there that they will surely sink to the bottom withiin a few days. 

I use a Casio G'zOne cell phone.  It's waterproof.  I tie a key float onto it.  When I first bought it, they were expensive but I see they've come down in price.  So go cheap on a cell phone and buy a G'zOne.

Everything about the phone is cool except for the sound quality.  It doesn't bother me because I usually don't do a lot of phone talking anyway, and I've gotten used to it now.  You can hold the thing under water for 15 minutes, pull it up, flip it open and make a call.  It'd be nice to have in your pocket if the worst were to happen, like if you fell off your boat and your boat sailed away............

[brackish]

Funny thing about those sunglasses.  I used to buy cheap, say less than ten bucks in today's dollars.  I found that I would lose or break them regularly, several pair a year.  About fifteen years ago I bought a pair of Serengeti's from Sam's, about fifty bucks at the time.  The next year I bought a second pair so I could have a pair in each vehicle.  I've had those same two pair ever since.  Must be that they are a little tougher and a psychological thing where I value them more and don't lose them.

Frank

[Salty19]

I cheaped out on thiings like throwable PFD line, a topping lift hook, and the swim ladder.  The homemade PVC furler likely falls under that category too (although it's held up quite well this year, even in high winds). $20 well spent.  The swim ladder was $100, hutchins was $269. For my uses (very occasional dips in the water), the $99 unit is more than sufficient.

However if I had a bigger boat than a 16 and was going to use it in the ocean regularly, I would have bought a real furler and a very sturdy SS (vs. aluminum) ladder.  Just depends on your purposes and intended use. 

One thing is certain though...high quality parts are only as good as the installation and maintenance/service/inspection.  Those $6 pins for the shrouds that "should" cost $1 may never break, but easily come off if not intalled correctly or if not inspected regularly for damage to the cotter pins. As inspections are free if you do them yourself, it's worth mentioning...