Ground Tackle
Ground tackle is very important insurance when spending a lot of time "on the hook". Therefore, having dragged anchor a few times using older conventional CQR design anchors, the components for Buena Vista have been selected to provide good peace of mind and using modern designed anchors.
There are two main anchors, a 55kg Anchorite Excel as a regular anchor with 50m of 13mm high test chain and 50m of 20mm nylon rode and a 70kg Rocna as a storm anchor with 100m of 13mm high test chain and 50m of 20mm nylon rode. Both these anchors are modern, fast set and high holding designs.
Either anchor, when used, will be secured with a 20mm nylon bridle with a devils claw, to distribute load away from the windlass and to also minimize the "sailing" affect of swinging around at anchor when the breeze gets up. The bridle will be secured at the central 5" Sampson post via port and starboard hawse.
Both anchors are fitted to the dual bow roller and are operated via a Maxwell 3500 hydraulic windlass with dual capstans and gypsies.
A third Fortress anchor is carried to be used as a stern anchor if required. The Fortress is selected for this task as it provides extremely good holding for a relatively light weight as is easy to stow as it lays flat.
Dinghy's
Buena Vista will carry two dinghy's, one large center cockpit RIB model, we have chosen the Aquapro 1198 with a 25hp Yamaha outboard, which will be used for exploring, where a bit of speed is useful and also for use around harbours and rivers where a bit of extra carrying capacity will be useful.
The other dinghy will be a small inflatable with a 4hp outboard for use at beaches where weight is an issue in getting the dinghy up on the beach to secure it while exploring on foot.
Davit
The Davit, or crane, is a Steelhead SMR1500 from Canada, with extended boom reach to 12' (approximately 3.7 metres) in order to be able to launch and retrieve the dinghy over the stern and clear the swim platform. The SMR1500 has a lifting weight of 1500lbs (approximately 680kgs), although the Aquapro dinghy with outboard only weighs approximately 200kgs.
The dinghy could be launched from port side of the boat with the standard 10' boom, but the additional reach was considered useful so that the dinghy could be launched & retrieved over the stern when in a rolly anchorage or when in a marina pen.
Watermaker
We started off with a 3000 litre per day Seafari HRO 900-1 watermaker but later had it modifed to add another membrane thus converting it to an HRO 900-2 and 6000 litres per day. This may sound like a lot and it is, but it does mean that we can make 750 - 1000 litres of water during a normal generator run, while we charge batteries, do washing etc.
Remote Engine Operation
Rather than individual wing stations, for use when docking, we have opted for the Yachtcontroller wireless remote. This can hang around the neck on a lanyard and will operate from anywhere on the boat. The remote can operate the engine in forward or reverse and also the bow & stern thrusters.
As well as docking this remote operation also controls the anchor windlass and is therefore useful when launching and retrieving the anchor, particularly in strong breezes, as everything can be done from the bow, using the bow thruster to keep head to wind, while retrieving the anchor.
Pasarelle (Gangway)
Having moved the boat to the Mediterranean, it was necessary to add a pasarelle for use with the Med Mooring (stern in) technique used in the Mediteranean. After some quick research we narrowed it down to two suppliers; Opacmare and Bezenzoni. The Opacmare unit was selected mainly on the basis that their French office was only a few kilometres from where we wanted it fitted.
This unit is hydraulic with controls for up/down and extend/retract. As well as fixed controls at the cockpit door, we have two remotes enabling the pasarelle to be retracted and lifted when we leave the boator at night to avoid unwanted visitors.
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