Preparing our coastal cruiser for blue water:

Camomile was an elderly girl equipped to a level you might expect for coastal day sailing when we first started seriously thinking about blue water cruising.
Up to that point we had already re-engined her, added an inboard autopilot a diesel heater, renewed the steering quadrant gearbox and replaced the portlights with opening ones.
From 2004 through to October 2009 we added, changed, modified and re-did another 250 items ( on average about 1 a week) ranging from the trivial right through to a full hull treatment.
It just seemed to go on and on and it turned out that many of our friends had similar lists mainly based on reading blue water books by various authors. I thought it might be interesting to review the list after a some time on board to see how necessary it all seems now we have a perspective based on our time living aboard.
The more or less chronological list below is scored 1 (would do again) to 3 (could live without if I had to) down to 5 (probably unnecessary).

No	Description	Score
1	A frame added to aft deck	1
2	Wind instrument replaced	1
3	Radar & chart plotter added	1
4	12v Battery drill added to tool kit	1
5	Bow roller (chainplate) repaired on split & upgraded	1
6	Forepeak headlining replaced	3
7	Forepeak side bunk lining replaced	3
8	Anti 360 roll locks added into forepeak area	1
9	Forepeak revarnished	2
10	Fix spinnaker pole bracket with through bolts	1
11	Forepeak hatch replaced and rotated	1
12	Revarnish forward heads	2
13	New heads hatch	1
14	New shower head in heads	1
15	Added additional grab handle to heads	2
16	Reheadlined forward heads	3
17	Cover bracket to protect heating pipes in saloon	3
18	Build Faradays cage into grab box for protection of portable electronics in lightening	1
19	Make new pocket to inside of chart table to take additional charts	2
20	Replace saloon Hatch	1
21	Repair washboards & make complete back-up set	1
22	Fit secure stowage for washboards	1
23	Replace seal in diesel filler in cockpit to avoid water ingress into fuel if swamped	1
24	Buy drogue and rode	1
25	Change taps in forward heads	2
26	Back-up anchor light (additional to gas version)	1
27	Buy electric bug killer	2
28	Buy jump starter unit as an engine battery backup	2
29	Fit davits	1
30	Fit anti halliard wrap rig to radar reflector	1
31	Write and print engine check procedure	3
32	Change engine battery switch	1
33	Write and print new crew briefing procedure	3
34	Fit new mattress in forepeak	2
35	Safety goggles (anti spray)	5
36	Install new sheetblocks to replace broken ones	1
37	Add and connect up water tank level indicator	1
38	Buy spare filler lids (water/diesel)	1
39	Replace aft heads locker lining	3
40	Replace taps and shower head in aft heads	2
41	Get additional winch handles	2
42	Buy rig tension gauge	3
43	repair catches on chart table draws	1
44	Get spare navigation lights	1
45	Add TV ariel	2
46	Buy kedge anchor line	1
47	Set up downhaul system	1
48	Buy hurricane lamp	3
49	Put toilet brush holders into heads	3
50	Write and print mayday procedure – gmdss	3
51	Write and print passage plan procedure	3
52	Add fiddles to cooker hob	1
53	Make hanging bracket for companionway steps	2
54	Make hanging bracket for both engine doors	2
55	Add latches to table bottle locker	1
56	Add tool box compartments & tools	1
57	Replace lining for forward cabin locker back	3
58	Make galley drawers liners	3
59	Replace winch for roller furling	1
60	Seal aft nav lamp properly	1
61	Fit new blind for aft cabin c/w fly screen	1
62	Write and print night sail procedure	3
63	Change galley taps for on with shower head	2
64	Change rope clutches	1
65	Make Corian galley worktops	1
66	Make diesel filling device to allow engine to be topped up in foul weather	2
67	Fit freezer into galley	1
68	Fit subwoofer for radio	4
69	Fit new DSC VHF & speaker	1
70	Buy new dinghy	1
71	Buy new outboard	1
72	Buy new sprayhood & canopy	1
73	Fit Navtex (worldwide)	3
74	Buy new 4 man canister liferaft	1
75	Replace plates and bowls in galley	3
76	Rework chart table IP and re-wire switch panel	1
77	Service Genoa	1
78	Replace steaming lamp	1
79	Add detachable inner forestay	1
80	Add rod kicking strap	1
81	Add mast steps	1
82	Replace domestic water pump & accumulator	1
83	Add bilge pump below decks with back-up	1
84	Make adaptor so toilet can be converted into bilge pump	3
85	Fit Hydrovane self steering	1
86	Fit outboard bracket on port side	1
87	Add gas strut to deck locker to prevent it from closing when rolling	1
88	Make dinghy cover	2
89	Make pushpit seats	1
90	Buy fully battened main	1
91	Buy new genoa	1
92	Buy storm jib	1
93	Set up quarterberth bed for bench vice & tool storage.	1
94	Make cupboards in quarter berth for grab bag stowage	1
95	Replace barometer interior	1
96	Buy 12v vacuum cleaner (dewalt)	3
97	Fit battery fixings suitable for capsize	1
98	Blind and flyscreen fitted to saloon hatch	1
99	Make saloon dorade vents sealable	1
100	New Domestic Batteries (ex red project)	2
101	Upgraded first aid kit	1
102	Buy parachute anchor	1
103	Galvanise and fit 60lbs CQR	1
104	Fit new quarterberth mattress	2
105	Fit back-up tillerpilot for Hydrovane	1
106	Fit new jackstays	1
107	Buy EPIRB	1
108	Add Echomax radar reflector	1
109	Re-model aft cabin to include athwartships bed and extra storage	2
110	Make companionway seat	4
111	Fit yacht legs and trunions	2
112	Upgrade running rigging	2
113	New blind and flyscreen for forward hatch	1
114	Make bookselfs	2
115	Add decklocker water seal fitting & new hinges	1
116	Make additional cockpit drainage	1
117	Fix floorboards	1
118	Fit additional autohelm remote & sockets & ferrites & fix autohelm	2
119	Fit watermaker & drinking water tank	1
120	Fit holding tank	1
121	Add anti roll latches onto chart table	1
122	Fit anti roll latches on all drawers	1
123	Fit anti roll latches onto freezer lid	1
124	Reinforce and repair saloon leeboards. Fit restraints	1
125	Fit anti roll latches onto bunk locker lids	1
126	Fit anti roll latches onto saloon shelves	1
127	Make underfloor storage boxes	1
128	Repair saloon headlining	3
129	Add deep shelf into galley	3
130	Make new curtains	3
131	Retrim suite and replace foams	1
132	Add anti roll locks to cockpit grating	1
133	Make fly screen for companionway	1
134	Make window replacement boards.	1
135	Add anti roll locks onto shower grating	1
136	Reinforce companionway lock arrangement	3
137	Add aft boarding platform	1
138	Get breathable drysuit waterproofs	3
139	Laminator machine for procedures	3
140	Buy vacuum packing machine	2
141	Buy portable (12v printer)	2
142	Fit battery monitor	1
143	Fit new domestic batteries & leads	1
144	Add engine fuel shut-off lever	2
145	Add forward dorade vents & steels	3
146	Replace jerry cans	2
147	Get MOB recovery system (trybuckle)	2
148	Fit gas BBQ	2
149	Replace portable vac cleaner with Dyson	1
150	Fit aft dorade vents & steels	2
151	Fit in line water filter and accumulator into drinking water system	1
152	Fit battery management system to aux. alternator	1
153	Add second alternator & resite new engine batteries	1
154	Rewire bilge pumps	1
155	Add solar panel and regulator	1
156	Fit wind generator	1
157	Fit electric windlass	1
158	Fit 60m of 10mm anchor chain	1
159	Fit LED replacement bulbs	1
160	Fit line bags around cockpit	2
161	Fit floodlamp to A frame	2
162	Fit electric fog horns	3
163	Add teak strake for cockpit canopy tiedown hooks	3
164	Add kedge anchor roller and aft fairleads	4
165	Put boat hook fitting for long hook onto babystay	5
166	Move stern nav lamp up above dinghy for good visibility	1
167	Fit scuff plate to bed latching mechanism	3
168	Add spares kit into engine bilge space for easy access	2
169	Gather spares for engine (filters, belts & impellers)	1
170	Fit dedicated windlass fuse and breaker	2
171	Add electric windlass remote control and chain counter to cockpit	1
172	Assemble a night sail & on deck alone kit personal kit i.e. lights, strobe, flare,floating knife	2
173	Repair electric fog horns	3
174	Fit tufnel safety guard over wind generator dump resistors	2
175	Add second non return valve into grey water pump system to stop flowback	2
176	Change fluorescent bulbs for LEDs in centre saloon lamp and add red night lighting.	1
177	Re-route depth sounder & log wires to try and eliminate flaky readings	3
178	Fit second station for windlass chain counter	4
179	Re-route and up gauge speaker wires for better reliability	3
180	Move TV ariel from A frame to masthead for better reception	3
181	Wire the bilge pump monitor circuit into the DC monitor	1
182	Fit Lifetag MOB alarm system	1
183	Interface Comar AIS to Raymarine plotter	1
184	Make sunshade (harbour canopy)	1
185	Install lightening conductor at masthead and complete shroud and tank bonding	1
186	Varnish cabin sole with 2 pack	2
187	Add more fridge insulation & new thermostat	1
188	Fit new flame sensor to diesel heater	3
189	Replace handbasin seacock fore & aft heads	1
190	Varnish galley	3
191	Varnish chart table	3
192	Anchor well drainage through forepeak bilge	2
193	Fit new copper fuel tube onto Eberspacher	5
194	Remake lightening conductor connection and check electrical path (between keel bolts)	1
195	Osmosis treatment – sheath with grp and Cuprotect coating	2
196	Repack stern tube & replace tube rubber hose	1
197	Replace prop shaft	1
198	Remove, repair and service rudder shaft	1
199	Fit new cutlass bearing	1
200	Repair stanchions (x1 base x3 stanchions)	1
201	Liferaft service	1
202	Sail repairs & clean	1
203	Buy paper charts for Gib to Fiji	1
204	Buy world Navionics charts	1
205	Fit and commission SSB Radio	1
206	Buy and fit SCS bluetooth pactor modem	1
207	Fit strobe light to A frame	2
208	Wire in a relay and better electrical supply for foghorn	2
209	Fit membrane and commission watermaker	1
210	Fit new house batteries	1
211	Change and upgrade cap and lower shroud ubolts	1
212	Buy proper rigging wire cutters	1
213	Replace chafed genoa sheets	1
214	Make tropical sun/rain canopy covers for opening portlights	2
215	Service outboard	1
216	Change front crankshaft oil seal	1
217	Make twizzel rig & commission	1
218	Steering drivechain check & repair slack on quadrant	1
219	Add wheels to dinghy	2
220	Reinforce mainsheet fixing point to boom	1
221	Paint rusty forward heads radiator	3
222	Renew galley water filter	2
223	Check and record SSB fuse types – get spares	1
224	Fit ammeter for Sun, wind & battery charger	1
225	Make bimini canopy	1
226	Fit autorelease Hammer unit onto liferaft	2
227	Fit red LED night lights to aft cab & heads.	1
228	Make mosi net frame for main hatch	1
229	Make repair to bow area	1
230	Strake repairs	2
231	Assemble damage control kit bag and plywood sheets	1
232	Make dinghy tube cover	1
233	Make outboard cover	1
234	Make windlass cover	3
235	Make and fit drip rails above windows	1
236	Block oversize underfloor pipe holes	2
237	Put plastic protection on shrouds to prevent damage to twizzle poles	1
238	Adapt topping lift for MOB recovery- new plus float	1
239	Fit new, brighter lamps for engine bay	3
240	Get spare genoa re-cut for use under twizzel rig	1
241	Fit shroud boots to protect sheets	1
242	Replace broken toilet seat	1
243	Buy seasearcher magnet and fit to bracket forward in deck locker	5
244	Set up twizzel Pole storage points on stanchions	2
245	Service Furlex	1
246	Inspect rig	1
247	Make emergency SSB antenna	2
248	Improve rod kicker mounting	2
249	Add bellybands for dinghy davit mount	1
250	Make mosi net for bed	1
251	Obtain additional jerry cans – total 280 litres	1
252	Make new cockpit seat foams	1