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Please prioritize three items one should Never leave port without. 1. most important 2. almost as important 3. very important

Life vests, VHF radio and anchor would be my first priorities.

Kelly

1) a boat that does not leak.
2) an anchor that will HOLD in 40 mph winds.
3) sails

Three is too low a number. You need to reevaluate

Different situations dictate different solutions. You need to be prepared for as many as you can, and hope none of them happen

Ray

..

1) Hammer
2) Leatherman
3) Ducktape



I agree with Ray - three is *way* too short a list to even approach safety.

How about:
1. Common sense
2. Humility (towards mother nature)
3. As much experience as you can beg, borrow or steal

If you're speaking of physical, rather than intangibles, I would say; 1. PFDs 2. An adequate anchor, and 3. A First Aid kit.

I'm with Eric in assuming you mean on top of the minimum equipment rqrd....

After that:

Rum
Scotch
Vodka

.... did I mention RUM

G

For a true passage where your whereabouts can be in dispute

PFD on your body
A float plan filed with a responsible party

would the first two on my much longer than three list...

but wearing my PFD is like breathing to me, so Im not sure I list it...

NiceAft wrote:Three is too low a number. You need to reevaluate

Ray

Ray is definately right...
In our case, assuming all the PFDs, boat horn, anchor, depth finder, enough fuel, and lunch are aboard,

1. the admiral,
2. didnt forget the dog at the pier,
3. the boat hook (or maybe in reverse order --just kidding)

I dont know about you folks, but that boat hook for me is better than a pacifier for an infant.
In reality, the boat hook is like having a 3rd long needed arm--docking, retreiving, fetching, grabbing, pushing other boats away that dont know how to sail, preventing my boat from scraping marina boats because of my novice sailing, etc. ! (works well for AOB, or DOB (Admiral & Dog over board--or COB--Captain over board ).

Catigale wrote:For a true passage where your whereabouts can be in dispute

PFD on your body
A float plan filed with a responsible party

would the first two on my much longer than three list...

but wearing my PFD is like breathing to me, so Im not sure I list it...

After reading Stephens entry I got to wondering how many others follow the practice of wearing a PFD.
I pretty much wear mine 90% of the time, only when it is hot and conditions are non-threatening do I go without but even then I keep them handy.
Mostly I have to set an example because the Admiral does not swim (I am a fish) and if I remove mine she will too, and I just cannot deal with her not wearing a PFD and being unable to swim. Actually being able to swim doesn't really cut it because the water is way too cold and one would not last long in the water.

I have an inflatable vest that is comfortable to wear so I really dont have any excuse but I really only wear it at 3 times: heavy weather, single handing and if I have to go up on deck for an extended time or to do something awkward. I do religiously take the vests out of the bilge and keep them handy before heading out, regardless of the weather or forecast.

Kelly

I picked this up from REI -



Astral Buoyancy Hybrid PFD http://www.rei.com/product/722022

Has everything that I wanted.

After reading what Stephen wrote, I almost posted, but I waited until someone else took the plunge.

I always wear my PFD. I purposely spent the extra gelt in order to have the auto inflatable type. I bought six, so every one who comes on the boat can wear one (I never have six on the boat because it's too crowed for my comfort. What did I know at the time?). I firmly believe that having one "handy", "readily accessible", "within reach" is to assume that when an emergency comes, it will be slow enough for you to respond.

Just recently I read an article in the paper about a sea kayak being found afloat, and empty. A day or two later a body was found floating in the ocean. The kayak had a PFD on deck, in a handy position, fastened with bungee cords. The fellow didn't get to it in time.

OOPS just won't do it when you need that vest. OOPS is what the guy said who dropped three dice.


Ray