Everglades Challenge: Next Steps

The Frankenscot Everglades Challenge project stayed out of the Monster Garage this week. Instead, we had a planning session or two. We started writing up the big punchlist, and we met with Jarhead, a veteran of seven Everglades Challenges, to begin brainstorming possible routes. 

Here's the start of our list:

Safety gear:
EPIRB distress beacon, SPOT personal tracker, hull flotation, submersible VHF, cell phone(!), life jackets, rigging knives, LEDs flashlights, running lights, cabin lights, dry bags, dry suits, battery system, bilge pump, first-aid kit, flares & standard Coast Guard kit. 

Rigging:
Standing rigging, running rigging, boom kicker or equivalent, reefing system, hardware for boat, spinnaker gear, headsail gear, main sail gear, control gear, tiller extensions.

Roller Furling System & Sails:
Harken 164 Hi-load or equivalent, asymmetrical spinnaker, large headsail, standard roller-furling headsail, main with 2 sets of reef points, sheets.

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Rowing equipment: 
Oars, seats, oarlocks, spare paddle. 

Clothing/Gear:
Hypothermia kit, fire-starter, watch, boat-repair gear, sleeping pads & bags rated to at least 40°F, watch-caps, tech performance clothing, bug netting, tent or equivalent.

Cooking & Food:
(later)

Charts:
(duh)

Miscellaneous Electronics:
Compass, GPS/Navigation, GoPro camera.

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And here's a tiny snippet of FrankenScot going upwind in some weather. Ben Moon of Ronstan is crewing for TwoBeers: