"Calpurnia" - Beneteau Oceanis 461

Official US Coast Guard Ship Number = 1089536
FCC Ship Radio Station Call Sign = WDC4392
MMSI Station Identity = 367023950
Amateur Radio License = KC0ZFB (General Operator Privileges)

I spent along time looking for the most boat I could buy.  I tried very hard to find a used Beneteau 50 to purchase, but they either were $300 grand or a stripped down 4 cabin version used by the Moorings.  I feel I got the biggest boat that I could afford and still have enough money left over to install the things I thought I needed.  Short of finding more money, I would buy the same boat again.

Existing Equipment on the boat:

• Primary anchor, 45 lb. CQR
• Second anchor, Fortress

Things I purchased or added to the boat:

• Raymarine E80 Chartplotter
• Raymarine 4kw radar antenna
• Added a halogen light on the mast for a deck light, doing it again I would have a total of three halogen lights.
• Upgraded "steaming light".  30 watts bright I believe.
• Northern Lights 8kw generator, with control panel for nav station.  This unit is great but I might look into getting a Westerbeke genset which is what my motor is.  Then I might be able to use the same filters, spares etc.
• Standard Horizon VHF/Hailer, w/ side speaker.  Hailer has been very helpful.  Fog horn has been helpful.
• External Speaker for hailer on mast.
• 30 gal fuel tank added, for a total of 80+ gallons.  Very nice.
• Spectra Newport 400 water maker, with control panel for nav station.  I don't see how you could do it with out, but many people do.  The unit makes 17 gallons per hour.
  Icom SSB and tuner.  I do not have the paccar (?) modem for email, that would be nice but not necessary
• Raymarine E80 chart plotter.  Mounted at helm, requires about a 3" height adjustment in helm.
• Raymarine fish finder (have not gotten this to work yet)
• Raymarine 8001 (?) autohelm controls and computer (forgot the name of model # of this)
• Life raft.  I purchased the soft case, big mistake, should have gotten the hardtop mounted on deck.
• Have a total of two propane tanks, need both of them.  One will last about 30 days.
• Screw on water filter for sink.
• 5 battery banks.  One in bilge, one in lazerete, and two under bed, and fifth for the engine.  The engine starter battery has crapped out on me twice.  It is a traditional auto battery for deep cranking but I think it charges at a different rate than the rest of them so it burns out.  I will replace it with one like the others.
• 280' of chain.  This has been very helpful in the deep anchorages of the North West.  I think it will also be useful in the Caribbean, because the coral heads can cut right through the rope.  I have no rope, just the chain.  The weight of the chain helps balance the weight of the genset.  My anchor/chain has never dragged, this helps you sleep when the wind is blowing.
• Modified both heads so that with a Y valve, I can dump waste directly over, helpful when underway.
• Added a tri-nav light/all around/strobe on top of the mast, with a switch for the strobe mounted on the helm.
• Replaced 3 db whip VHF antenna and upgraded the VHF coax cable with a thicker gauge.  (can not remember now the gauge thickness, but it is thick).  This was easily done with the mast out of the vessel.
  

• Flat screen monitor with DVD player (very nice !!!)
• Two A/C //heater units, boat needs three.
• CD player
• Large custom davit for a 10' RIB dingy and 10 hp motor (should have gotten 15 hp motor)
• Very nice touch of adding two red trailer lights on bimini frame pointing down.  This allows me to have some red light at night when I need it while adjusting lines or what ever.  Very cheap to do, but a big help.
• Electric winch (very nice)
• Jack Lines
• Inflatable PFDs
• Iridium Sat Phone
• GPS EPIRB
• Two radar reflectors
• TrackVision 4 - Direct TV satellite receiver

Things I would like to purchase:

• Do not have a wisker pole, this would be nice to have but I get along with out it.
• Do not have spinnaker, but I'm fine with using the engine in light wind.  I generally want to get to where ever I'm headed.
• Would like an alternator regulator that is aware of the battery state and can vary its output.
• Possibly would look into adding a second Racor fuel filter unit, either installed in serial or parallel with a Y valve.
• Possibly would look into options for upgrading or helping the frig & freezer.  I at least need more insulation.
• Would like to look into (not sure their brand name) the prop cutters which cut through any line/sea weed that gets caught around your shaft.  This has been a problem.  This problem has lead me to believe I need a small scuba tank onboard so that I can check the bottom of the boat or untangle something while at sea.  I tried doing this with mask/fins, no way could it be done in only a 1 knot current
  

Things I don't think I need:

• As I said, I do not have any light air or storm sails.  Neither has been a problem.
• Don't see how I would use a solar panel or wind generator.  The diesel genset with the extra batteries does it all.
• I do not use safety netting, don't believe it would help.
• I have lots of guide books but no paper charts.  The Raymarine E80 is what saves my day every time.