Strangely not many bites on this interesting topic Ozzie.
So finally I’ll mention the three most useful stuffs I have bought and used for the last few years.
https://www.whitworths.com.au/oceansout ... -cover-kit
Size 1.7 - 1.9 cat #14244
Bought eight years ago and used almost every trip gives great shelter from sun and rain and perfect fit on the Investigator. I sometimes even sail with it up (boom on highest mast setting).
https://www.whitworths.com.au/raymarine ... ller-pilot
Used this for the past five years and wondered how I ever sailed without it. Takes the drudgery out of long passages i.e. Hawkesbury, Myalls Broadwater and offshore.
Easy to use, lets you hoist sails solo whie keeping you to windward. And will even tack for you.
I can stow all sails, bimini, all deck gear whilst motoring to ramp saving time in car park.
Two big safety issues however.
Use safety harness when sailing solo cos you don’t want to go overboard with tiller pilot on. Goodbye boat and cruel world.
Watch out for pesky kyaks camouflaged on the water I almost got me one on Yowie bay Port Hacking. I was down below ‘doing something’ and happened to look through forward hatch window- never moved so fast in my life and missed him by inches.
Finally
Boating Australia&NZ HD by Navionics
Used this on my ipad and has got me out of many tricky situations. Very detailed charts with all tide and depth information. Just make sure your ipad has gps on board. Navionics do charge yearly subscription of $13.99 after initial $84.99 Not a biggie iimho for what you get.(with continual updates).
Had some bad reviews but those were for early buggy versions - latest works well.
P.S I have no affiliation with these products or companies etc.
Anyone out there with more useful stuffs?