Things to take traveling (on a boat)

Posted: Sat 2nd February 2008 in Odd's and Ends

Some things I've found or bought or seen, that I reckon are improving my "Quality of Life" on the boat.

Microfibre towel. With the need to carry phone, digital camera, 12 and mains chargers for said, lead for said. MP3s and similar. Space in my bag was a premium. These were a good buy!

Taken with a Mu 770

NOTE: Since writing this I have become aware
that the Olympus Water/Shock proof camera's
are not as robust as one might expect.
Katrin's Leaked and died, mine now leaks.
another friend's battery exploded. They're a 
mishmash of dissimilar metals, which corrode in 
salt water. I can no longer recommend them,
compared to other modern camera's the
picture quality is not great.

Olympus mu 770 waterproof digital camera (and accessories). This is an Excellent camera - doesn't matter if it gets wet in a dinghy and you can use it bellow water! (12 volt charger off ebay's a bit crap) Get a spare battery for said they're cheap. Get a USB card reader, then you can plug the card into other PC's or Internet cafe's.

Light coloured T-Shirts. I like my black T-shirts, but hell are they hot. Your white T-Shirts will end up grey but they're only T-Shirts.

US Dollars. I hate carrying cash, but the worlds ATMs seem to be getting worse not better. I'm hopping the'll be safe hidden on the boat......

MP3 player, Wish I had a better one.... I'm mostly using my phone. Pre acquire audio books and BBC radio 4 comedies to go with it.

A USB stick. so you can move data around, copy other peoples photos off their laptop etc, take your photos to the internet cafe. suggest pre loading some tools on it. Skype is not available as a stand alone ap (curse their closed source ass). But you can get Firefox browser, Thunderbird mail etc in stand alone versions. That way you can just run them off your own stick in someone else's internet cafe/laptop. Look at DSL damn small linux If your a geek -for when that free PC doesn't work carry your own os..

Software

I've got a laptop. If you don't someone on your boat will. I recommend some bits of software.

Selarium Screen shot

Stelarium Astronomy software. Find out what the hell all those stars are.

Picasa (no link sorry) Think this is google owned, defiantly free, the tweaking of photos contrast etc is excellent.

Virtual Dub Little free video editor that rotates your digicam videos! See this page.

GpicSync (sorry no link). Allows you to tag your Photos with Lat and Log from a GPS track. Then drops them on google earth! google earth users click here.

Network Crossover cable. Windows XP does internet connection sharing with a tiny little crossover net cable you can have 2 for the price of one internet!

Mask and Snorkel (and flippers) . Mine came from El Courte Inglais, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria for €22.95, fits works doesn't leak, bargain!

Things I didn't bring and wish I had...

Master Card visa is shit and doesn't work in Aruba, Bonaire, Venezuela and Panama and not reliable else where even where it says VISA. Just in case you didn't get that VISA IS SHIT!

Bigger wifi antenna! I've got boosted WiFi but not boosted enough.

Shortwave Radio. This is the BBC world service Dan da da da da dan da da...

Better MP3 player, Oh and Ipod users consider "Rock Box" an alternative to Apples normal Ipods internal programming. Allows it to work without itunes (If you don't have your own computer or hate itunes)