Check lists ?

sarabande

sarabande

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I was in a hurry to leave the boat last week, and forgot to lock the for'd hatch, which was an ooops moment when I arrived yesterday.

Whilst I have (or thought I had) a routine for checking from stem to stern when leaving, I am now tempted to make a list as a reminder.

Do others rely on a routine, or is it thought cissy and geriatric to have a physical list to run through ?
 
I need lists but also have to remember where I put the list!

Great joy in crossing them off though. Some of the things to do seem to appear from way back, well, 4 years ago lists at least!
 
I use a list, printed and laminated. Just helps make sure everything's done, after we're left settles the mind about whether we missed anything.

We've just moved from a river mooring into a marina so it might need a bit of updating.
 
I have a laminated list just next to the companionway

3 items

Turn Gas off
Turn Electrics off
Close seacocks.

What would your list contain
 
My list which is always checked off every time we leave the boat:

Heads inlet closed – port / starboard
Heads outlet closed – port / starboard
Engine sea cocks closed and note left – port / starboard
Electric isolated - port / starboard
House electric isolated
Solar panel on engine batteries
Ignition keys removed
Gas disconnected
Front window open
Fridge doors open and secured
Mattresses aired
Sterile tablet in water in tank/s
Fuel additive added
Remove and wash window blinds and vinyl windscreen
Toilets in unlocked position and lever in water inlet (left) position
Flush toilets with HCL
Leave bilges dry
Fly spray
Remove batteries from weather centre
Replace old ensigns
Bring mats indoors
Secure spinnaker pole
Flush through outboard with fresh water
Disable CO monitor
Wash chain
Adjust lazy-jack halyards
Wheel cover on
Remove Navionics card
Shore cable detached
Unplug Victron dongle

Richard
 
My "list" consists of:

  • Electrics off
  • Gas off
  • Fridge lid off
  • Hatches closed and locked

I don't need this in physical form to tick off :)

EDIT: I suppose there is also tidying up on deck - putting on the sail cover, moving the spinnaker halyard from the mast to the toe-rail and the main halyard to the outboard end of the boom, putting on the instrument and binnacle covers and taking down the ensign and burgee. But these are all visibly obvious, and are mostly done on the way up the river rather than immediately before leaving.

Pete
 
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I use a set of cards (laminated credit card size) which cover everything that needs to be done. One for each job such as ' Engine Seacock OFF' - 'Hatches Locked' and so on. As I complete each job I place the relevant card on the chart table.
This system allows me to vary what to do according to the season eg I file away the card for 'Check Dehumidifier & Heaters' during the summer.
 
I started off without a list, and although I did not miss any task decided that a printed checklist was useful and would save leaving the boat and having later doubts (it's a 2-3 hour journey). After many years I tend no longer to use it but simply go from fore to aft and know in each location what I need to check.
 
RichardS said:
My list which is always checked off every time we leave the boat:

Heads inlet closed – port / starboard
Heads outlet closed – port / starboard
Engine sea cocks closed and note left – port / starboard
Electric isolated - port / starboard
House electric isolated
Solar panel on engine batteries
Ignition keys removed
Gas disconnected
Front window open
Fridge doors open and secured
Mattresses aired
Sterile tablet in water in tank/s
Fuel additive added
Remove and wash window blinds and vinyl windscreen
Toilets in unlocked position and lever in water inlet (left) position
Flush toilets with HCL
Leave bilges dry
Fly spray
Remove batteries from weather centre
Replace old ensigns
Bring mats indoors
Secure spinnaker pole
Flush through outboard with fresh water
Disable CO monitor
Wash chain
Adjust lazy-jack halyards
Wheel cover on
Remove Navionics card
Shore cable detached
Unplug Victron dongle

Richard
Click to expand...
Now, what was I going ashore for? Oh yes, bread :)
 
I have a list, of which I keep several copies in the "Boat folder". At the end of each trip I go through and cross off each thing as "done / checked" as I go. I then put the list in my pocket and keep it with me until I get home. This is not so much as to make sure that all the things are done, but so that I don't have one of those "Oh hell, did I actually close that seacock or just think I did" moments on the motorway on the way home; or if I do, I can look at the list again and see that it is crossed off - panic over. I live an hour and a half's drive away from the boatyard, and I really don't want to feel I have to drive back for a "just in case" check, or worry about it till next time I go for a sail. The list has been expanded as I discover more things I am capable of forgetting!

Current version attached for your amusement (if you are easily amused...).

Steve
View attachment Osprey - leaving check list.pdf
 
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I live a thousand miles from the boat and I really don't want to be thinking about did I or didn't I when I'm at home. For the same reason, I take off the genoa for the winter, the mooring lines are oversized and I have plenty of fenders.
 
sgr143 said:
I have a list ... Current version attached for your amusement (if you are easily amused...).

Steve
View attachment 73746
Click to expand...

I noticed the imperative 'Go home!' at the end of it, but under the heading ‘Before leaving marina’, and wondered if without it you might be dithering on the pontoon in an agony of indecision. And I’m not meaning that rudely, as part of my reason for having a printed list was to avoid such uncertainty - and later questioning on the long journey, or at home. (And you did say it might amuse!)

The trouble is that one can even get to the point of wondering if one might have absent-mindedly ticked off an item but not actually done it - a bit like driving a very familiar route to work but not remembering parts of it on arrival. :rolleyes:
 
Hydrozoan said:
I noticed the imperative 'Go home!' at the end of it, but under the heading ‘Before leaving marina’, and wondered if without it you might be dithering on the pontoon in an agony of indecision....
Click to expand...
Osprey is on an unconnected mid-river pontoon, so the "on the pontoon" is also "before loading the dinghy" - the "before leaving the marina" is really to check I have put everything in the car! I guess "go home!" , means you really, really, have checked everything four times over, go home, you berk, however nice it would be to go back aboard, go to the pub, or sit on the dock of the bay...
Always happy to amuse....
 
sgr143 said:
Osprey is on an unconnected mid-river pontoon, so the "on the pontoon" is also "before loading the dinghy" - the "before leaving the marina" is really to check I have put everything in the car! I guess "go home!" , means you really, really, have checked everything four times over, go home, you berk, however nice it would be to go back aboard, go to the pub, or sit on the dock of the bay...
Always happy to amuse....
Click to expand...


On a quick skim I had missed:

'1. Check the below & above decks checklist again item by item – nothing forgotten?
2. Unload bags and boxes to go ashore from boat '

If I were on a mid-river pontoon, I'd probably be using a comprehensive checklist too.

And adding a final command to depart, to the one I still have but tend not to use, might be a good idea for the reasons you mention.
 
sarabande said:
Whilst I have (or thought I had) a routine for checking from stem to stern when leaving,
Click to expand...

I use the same system. As a final check, I think gas, electrics, seacocks, car keys. To make sure I have the boat keys, I always close the hatch padlock once the hatch is open then I can't accidentally lock the keys inside.
 
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