I'm sure you will get lots of advise. Of course, your budget is most important. As a bare minimum, I would recommend the following:
Windlass
Regrigerator( you could get by with a 12 volt plugin, instead of a permanent installation)
autopilot
chartplotter/gps(even if only a handheld version)
compass
VHF(this could be a handheld too)

Solar panels/wind generator are not essential. As an alternative, you might consider a Honda 2000.

You would also need a supply of backup parts for both the engine and head, particularly if you will be offshore as you plan.

Have fun getting your boat ready.

Ditch the CQR and get a new gen anchor, Rocna or Manson Supreme. What's your entire boat worth to you?

Read Beth Leonard: The Voyager's Handbook. She talks about this subject a lot. Great book.

Check out the u tube video main sail did look up cqr verses rocna

I don’t know your experience level so forgive me if this is old hat. Safety at sea & at anchor is paramount. Considering you bought the boat striped out, first thing; make sure all required safety gear is on-board and functional. Then, if you don't have already, consider upgrading to or buying:
• New VHF w/ DSC feature
• Off-shore PDF w/ harness for you and all your loved ones
• Hand held VHF with GPS feature (or 2)
• Fire Extinguishers (Beware the ones that came with the boat.)
• Jack Lines
• EPIRB
• First Aid Kit (the best you can afford & don’t forget any prescription meds)

Next, make sure the boat is in the best mechanical condition you can possibly make it. Fix any nagging “minor” electrical issues before they kill the battery or, at worst, cause a fire. Replace all engine belts & hoses if you don’t know how old they are. Same for the propane system. You said there was new running rigging. A standing rigging failure can sink the boat or kill a crew member. Whereas your engine can get you out of trouble, your ground tackle can keep you out of trouble. Others have recommended upgrading and I agree. I could go on and on but it’s also about having some fun, isn’t it?

Where creature comforts are concerned, personally, the Admiral & I like plenty of fresh water. Consider adding an extra tank or water maker. No one likes being “stuck” on the boat. You have the RIB & outboard (both in excellent good condition presumably) that can take you ashore or here or there. But there are other ways to get off the boat and have some fun. Consider getting a kayak or paddle board, masks/fins/snorkels, fishing gear, etc. Install or upgrade music & entertainment systems (but be considerate of the neighbors unless they’re…)

There is one “luxury item” I don’t have and I really wish I did (I see ‘em on the "big boats") – an ice maker.:rolleyes:

Here's some observations from someone who has done it:

[url]http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5270.0.html[/url]

Here are some electrical system observations:

[url]http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5977.0.html[/url]

Safe journey.

A lot of this depends on your strength, age, fitness levels.

For instance, windlass? I have a 33# Delta and about 50' of chain and don't need a windlass, and typical anchoring depths in the PNW are, well, DEEP. In the parts of the Caribbean I have sailed in we mostly anchored in 20' or less depths. Windlass is high on my list of 'things to avoid maintaining' and low on my list of 'things to buy'. But I'm 31 and not too crippled too.

Autopilot - Had one on my old boat, not this boat. Very useful for long boring motoring trips, not useful under sail unless you get quite a sophisticated unit that will do a good job of steering to a true wind solution, which of course first requires you to spend real money on instruments to get that number.

bimini - the boat I sail on in that part of the world doesn't have one, but we do put up an awning as soon as we park the boat. I think a bimini is a nice-to-have but there is a performance tradeoff for sure.

solar panels - Probably not a bad idea once you get a fridge going, but now you will need the bimini so you can mount them?

chartplotter - nice to have, but we didn't use these things until 15 years ago or so, and people got around fine. I have never got more sophisticated than a black and white Garmin GPS Map 76 handheld. BUt I do have a PC downstairs with charts on it, I think it has been used in anger twice ever?

cockpit table - nice to have but very easy to make yourself

compass - critical

water heater - nice to have, but I'd get a fridge WAY before I got a water heater.

davits - these are like the windlass. If you have what it takes to get your dinghy upside down on the foredeck, that is a much better place for it on passage. If that is too large a task, then Davits could be a good choice. HAving a dedicated system for hoisting the dinghy using a spinnaker or whisker pole up front can make this a pretty routine process.

Also see my other thread on mast step failure, you should have a look for stress cracks next time the mast is down, that said if you are in the SE part of the world you might have had a lot less rain down the stick than I have!

Also remember, something a very smart older sailor who has done it all told me once:

"Cruising is just fixing your boat in more exotic destinations than usual"

That philosophy has guided me to keep my boat very simple, and any comfort systems I add (windlasses etc) had better be something I can do without in a pinch, or fix with what I have on board at any given time.

At risk of sounding like a hyper-critical know-it-all a-h^$#, (Not denying I'm one, I just don't want to come off as one but I digress) I must tell you, there are a couple issues with your post that concerned me and prompted my first comment. You want advice on equipping the boat for "coastal cruising". Methinks that even island hopping in the Bahamas and Caribbean should reasonably be considered off-shore sailing/cruising. That said, a well-equipped well-sailed Catalina 36 should be up to the task.

Secondly, the fact that the boat was "stripped" of equipment concerns me. Why was that? Did the PO remove anything of value before selling? Did he start a project and quit/sell before he had to spend any real money? How might these possibilities be reflected in the boat’s overall condition?

I'll assume you already have the answers to mine or similar questions and are happy with overall condition of the boat.

Best wishes on your upcoming refit and Caribbean cruise. Please post some pictures and make me jealous.

[QUOTE=mike37909;19615]I am torn between getting a windlass or not. I am also of the belief to keep it simple. That is one reason for the post, I am basically trying to find out what I need and what I can do without. I am going to lift the anchor a few more times before I decide. I would consider a manual windlass. I really need a chain cleat or something though as a minimum.[/QUOTE]

Many posts I have read, here and elsewhere, indicate that manual windlasses are slow and after a short period of time a PITA to use. You might want to search around, say on [url]www.cruisersforum.com[/url] about these.

Chain stoppers: here's what I did - a short line tied to a cleat and then a chain hook. Works great, I anchor out every week.

Our PO also installed a simple hose hanger in the anchor locker. I find it invaluable to hang the rode (35 ft of 1/4" chain, 200 feet of 1/2" rode). Might not work if you have a LOT more rode. We generally anchor in about 12 feet of H2O.

Engineer & nurse is a great combination. Now if I only could get The Admiral to become a nurse...:D

[QUOTE=stu jackson c34;19631] Now if I only could get The Admiral to become a nurse...:D[/QUOTE]

At least, buy the uniform and hope for the best. :o

Aha! "Uniforms make the man" - gotta think some on that one, but what a good idea! ;)

I had originally thought to get a manual windlass. See my earlier thread on this, if you like...but (a) they appear to be almost as expensive as an electric and (b) you have to stand at the bow next to all the dangerous ropes and chains while operating it, so I gave up on them.

The answer to your original question is, "Whatever makes you comfortable."
We spent a lot of money getting Hilbre ready for the Baja and cruising in Mexico. Most of it for additional safety, creature comfort and easier/safer handling in rough weather. After two seasons in Mexico we are happy with our additions however we have seen cruisers also having lots of fun on a very tight budget with many less creature comforts than us.
In 1971, I sailed from South America to and through the West Indies on a home built Piver 36' Loadstar Trimaran. Our equipment list consisted of a Sextant, a few large scale charts, a small portable radio with a rotating ferrite bar containing a midget compass in the middle for Radio Direction Finding, a Pelorus and a Liferaft. There was no radio, no fridge, no watermaker, nothing compared with what you can and will find on boats today; you can go minimal. In the end, it is all about your budget, about maintaining safety for you and your crew and what additional creature comforts you want or those you can live without.
Hilbre
About to begin season three.

[QUOTE=mike37909;19711]I will have a chain hook for sure. I really like the idea of a racheting chain stop. Can anyone tell me if this [url]http://www.marinepartdepot.com/newststchst.html[/url]
would only let the chain be pulled in and then when you need a break it would be automaticly locked? or do I need this one
[url]http://www.starmarinedepot.com/maxwell-levered-chain-stopper-f%2F5%2F16%...

Thanks[/QUOTE]
I did not see an answer to your question. The stoppers both are designed to prevent: 1 pull on your windlass, 2 free-fall of your chain. Stu's hook is basically the same thing. I suspect you could use it "to rest" while you are pulling the rode in. I think it might be difficult to position the chain while under a load, perhaps pinch fingers?
I have found over the years that just pulling the rode in slowly is a good practice. Many times I will just sit with my feet in the well and pull the boat forward foot by foot. If I have a crew and want to go faster I have someone power the boat slowly. You can always cleat off the rope or chain to relax a minute. I usually wear gloves and just take my time. Having said that, I do enjoy using the windlass I have, as well, when I need to. I believe there is a used windlass for sale in the classified adds, at least there was. I initially had some concern with the windlass which just has the drum. Conventional wisdom would tell you that it was not designed for chain, but again the last 60' of my rode is chain and I have found that bringing it in slowly that the two wraps is not chewing up the drum. Many times I just use the windlass for the rope and pull the chain by hand.

Hi there. We have been living aboard for six or seven months at a time, and been away from service agents and electricians so have had to be pretty self sufficient...
FWIW:
You might like to try the minimalist / comfortable compromise... The Pardeys advice is sage, but hard for us (esp. you Americans) to follow closely ;-)

I suggest if long passages are envisaged that an underdeck autohelm be a high priority. Wheel pilots will do OK but not in stronger conditions. Don't rely on hand steering at night, esp if shorthanded.

A fridge is great, but we try to limit dependence. Seal eggs with vaseline, seal cheese with wax, use milk powder (product of New Zealand ;-), wrap fruit in tinfoil; dehydrate fruit etc. Then have a small chiller or preferably freeze box that uses minimal amp hours.

I think solar is best if you're gunkholing, wind gen good on passages, mainly. At anchor they are noisy. If your engine is good you can use it to charge batteries if you move a lot, if you are not then a silent genset is handy (Find a way to stop it rusting)

Get a bimini if you have money left over, you can always throw a silver tarp over the boom at anchor...

Make sure you take a sample of chain to buy the windlass to match it up.

Hope this helps :-)

We used 1) a simple cheap old chartplotter to get Lat Longs (hand held GPS backup) and plotted on paper charts for some years. 2) We now have a laptop with 'mouse' type of GPS. Much cheaper than large chartplotter, albeit less reliable. See 1) for backup!

As you can see the list can be LONG. Did anybody mention a fly swatter? There are things that are necessary for safety, things for day-to-day, and then there are the "borderline necessary" optionals and I think this is what you're asking.

My wife and I lived aboard our Southern Cross 39 in the late 80s for two years, cruising from San Francisco to the Exumas to Boston. By the time we got to the optionals, we were down to just a few $thousand. We invested in:

An autopilot was our #1 good choice. It was a Autohelm 4000 rated for much smaller than our 22,000 pounds. Did it handle every point of sail? Nope, but you're cruising and that means a lot of motoring. It did fine and saved our marriage. We even named it.

Not far behind was our windlass. Our primary was a 44lb Bruce on all chain. All I can say is we slept like babes. It too saved our marriage.

We did have refrigeration and a water maker and felt these were important as we would spend weeks away from stores and docks. Not sure if this is your cruising model. Regardless, refrigeration substantially lifts cruising above camping. Happy wife, happy boat.

We just had a sextant for offshore and used dead reckoning for inshore because GPS was not available back then. A chart plotter is a Godsend to navigation and safety. Could save your boat.

I'm not kidding about the fly swatter. Spray your ankles with OFF too....

Before we finally broke down and bought a real flyswatter (yellow model Y, $1.98 at Ace Hardware), we used rolled up newspaper. Yes, newspaper is an essential cruising tool, since you don't want to get oil all over the galley countertop with tools, etc. :)

The in-depth report that I provided in Reply #11 is important.

Watermakers should NOT be considered luxuries depending on where you're cruising.

A stout electrical system is a MUST. If you are unfamiliar with electrical systems, see Reply #11, too.

We've had our boat for 15 years. We started off bare bones and have added and upgraded as we've gone along.

Don't forget two metal coat hangers to use for pulling wiring and hoses around the boat in places you can't reach.

You know, twice now I have needed a wire coat hanger and didn't have one. I still don't have any on the boat - keep forgetting! :(

the boat I cruise on down that way does not have a bimini but we have a sunbrella awning for the cockpit. In the center is a spigot fitting so that we can use the awning to collect rainwater. Lots of opportunities and a couple full buckets usually is good enough for washing dishes and doing a little laundry. It saves the tank water for drinking and cooking and considerably extends the capacity. With that setup we can go almost two weeks with 6 people on a boat that holds much less water than my Catalina does.

When I was doing ocean passages back in the day, we had the simplest water catching system imaginable. When a squall started, we would let the heavy rain wash the decks for a few minutes. Then we'd put a clean rag or towel behind the opened deck fill. The rain water gushing down the deck would hit the cloth "dam" and flow right down int the tank.