Checklist for leaving boat

[Gustywinds]

We’ll be leaving the boat for 12 days in the middle of next week for the first time since I got her back in the middle of June. She’ll be in a sheltered, secure, non tidal Marina with shore power connected. I can monitor power onboard through the Victron connect app and I’m planning on hooking up the stern camera that normally feeds to the Garmin GPSMap to my MacMini as a webcam that I can also view.
Does anybody have a checklist they use for leaving? Probably overkill for this short break but I’m viewing it as a dry run for when we leave her over winter later in the year.
it will be strange sleeping in a real bed although one of the things we are doing back in U.K. is visiting a company that makes custom mattresses. The good lady is finding the boats one not as comfortable as she likes, even with a topper fitted.

 

[jbweston]

Yes, I have one - pdf attached below. I tried attaching in Word format so you could edit it but I don't think the forum allows Word attachments.

Of course it needs tailoring for the indvidual boat. This one is different from that for my previous boat, although some items must be relevant for most.

 

[Gustywinds]

Yes, I have one - pdf attached below. I tried attaching in Word format so you could edit it but I don't think the forum allows Word attachments.

Of course it needs tailoring for the indvidual boat. This one is different from that for my previous boat, although some items must be relevant for most.

Thank you, that is exactly what I need. No worries on the PDF format, I can edit that !

 

[julians]

Heres my checklist

- outboard engine fully lifted
- trim tabs fully retracted
- mooring lines checked and tight
- fenders all correct
- shore power connected and switched on
- batteries switched off
- waste tank pumped out
- all sea cocks closed
- ensign in cabin
- outside cushions removed and in cabin
- fresh water tank full + add some steriliser
- covers on all the electronics
- all boat covers on (stern, cockpit, bow)
- boat keys in my pocket
-

 

[benjenbav]

Heres my checklist

- outboard engine fully lifted
- trim tabs fully retracted
- mooring lines checked and tight
- fenders all correct
- shore power connected and switched on
- batteries switched off
- waste tank pumped out
- all sea cocks closed
- ensign in cabin
- outside cushions removed and in cabin
- fresh water tank full + add some steriliser
- covers on all the electronics
- all boat covers on (stern, cockpit, bow)
- boat keys in my pocket
-

“-boat keys in my pocket AND pocket secured”

…says the man who once didn’t and then had to spend an hour magnet-fishing after the keys and I parted company as I stepped from boat to dock.

 

[Daydream believer]

Remember where you left it.
Took me 45 minutes to find my car once
I was in the wrong b..y car park

 

[Boathook]

I used to have a check list but gave up years ago. I had to ring the boatyard up on Tuesday as I had left the power cable connected up. I never do that as all systems are off and the batteries kept topped up by a solar panel ! The yard manager had seen it earlier and thought strange that my boat locked up and power cable out .....

 

[bluetooth]

I don't leave plugged in for more than 2 days [except to cool beers in fridge in advance] because of risk of galvanic erosion, even with galvanic isolator. Can't imagine your webcam needs that much juice

 

[dunedin]

Heres my checklist

- outboard engine fully lifted
- trim tabs fully retracted
- mooring lines checked and tight
- fenders all correct
- shore power connected and switched on
- batteries switched off
- waste tank pumped out
- all sea cocks closed
- ensign in cabin
- outside cushions removed and in cabin
- fresh water tank full + add some steriliser
- covers on all the electronics
- all boat covers on (stern, cockpit, bow)
- boat keys in my pocket
-

Good list, but we differ in that,
- disconnect shore power - don't leave mains charger on but solar to top up
- fill water tanks on return - to minimise stagnant water
- do all engine checks pre departure in case there are any issues that could be fixed whilst away

 

[Alicatt]

“-boat keys in my pocket AND pocket secured”

…says the man who once didn’t and then had to spend an hour magnet-fishing after the keys and I parted company as I stepped from boat to dock.

Ooh that would be bad, there is 6.7m under the keel on my boat when along side the pontoon.
The other mooring at my home haven goes from 1.5m at the side to 3m at 2m out from the dock, with the heat last week the holder, a 125mm soil pipe with end cap, for the boat in front's brushes and mops bade a loud bang and disappeared, I used a 3m long rake and I was up past my elbow in the water fishing it out, got it back though and refitted it for the lad and put a couple of cable ties on it to keep it secure.

This is from page 3 of the owners manual for my Ocean 37


However it is well out of date now as a lot has changed on board

 

[julians]

“-boat keys in my pocket AND pocket secured”

…says the man who once didn’t and then had to spend an hour magnet-fishing after the keys and I parted company as I stepped from boat to dock.

You don't have a float key ring on your boat keys?

 

[Gustywinds]

You don't have a float key ring on your boat keys?

I have a float AND an AirTag on mine

 

[Ray Purchase]

Swop holding tank deck fitting cap with fuel, a tasty mouthful for anyone trying to siphon off fuel.

 

[benjenbav]

You don't have a float key ring on your boat keys?

Didn’t…Lesson learnt.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Spectacles, wallet and watch used to do for me.

 

[Jerbro]

I use the IPhone notepad app… it has the little checklist tag… I guess there’s an Android/ other phone version too..

 

[Gustywinds]

I use the IPhone notepad app… it has the little checklist tag… I guess there’s an Android/ other phone version too..View attachment 181526

Excellent idea! (I am an iPhone/IPad user)

 

[Piers]

Hi Gustywinds,

This is the decommissioning checklist we had on our Fleming55, Play d'eau:

De-commissioning ​

• Customs formalities Completed
• Tech Log Completed
• Water Tanks Full
• Fuel additive Completed
• Courtesy ensign Stowed
• Ensign Stowed
• Boat Cleaned
• Heads 3-way valve Set to Overboard
• Radio handset Removed from Flybridge
• Fridge Cleaned, decommissioned, water OFF
• Perishable food Removed
• Kettles Empty and open
• Webasto OFF
• Safety equipment Stowed
• Portlights All closed
• Curtains Closed
• Ship’s Papers Removed
• Shore Power As required
• E/R Lights AC & DC CBs On
• Lazarette hatches Locked
• Lazarette Main Battery Switches All Off (5)
• Lazarette / Engine room door Closed and locked
• 12v Instrument Battery CB Off
• Sea-Fire extinguisher Safety pin removed
• Thruster battery switches Both Off
• Sea-cocks As required
• Stabilisers Locking Pins inserted (2)
• Fuel valves (incl Webasto) As required
• Engine room checks Completed
• AC CBs All Off (except 24v Battery Charger)
• 24v-12v Dropper Off
• DC CBs All off, except
  • - Fire System ON
  • - Bilge pumps, both ON
• AC & DC Service Selectors As required
• Saloon Windows All closed and latched
• Portuguese bridge doors Closed
• Fly-bridge covers Deployed
• Windscreen covers Deployed
• Warps and fenders As required
• Personal items ** Ready for removing
• Doors All locked and bolted
• Fresh water pressure Released (use rear cockpit cold tap)
• Salt water pressure Released (use forepeak tap)

 

[Bouba]

Turn off all stopcocks
Place big sign over dash to remind to open them
Check the dingy has the plug removed and there is a clear flow so that rain water doesn’t accumulate also protect dingy from sun...but have drain holes in the cover so it doesn’t accumulate rain water
Turn off all 12 v devices....in my case the fridge is the main one....that way if someone disconnects your shore power your batteries won’t go flat
Replace all seawater in toilet with fresh water
Clean fridge and toilet using lots of Lysol and other products so that there is no unpleasant smell to return to
If going for a long while, secure all lines to withstand a storm and put out extra fenders
Cover windows if possible....the sun is a real killer to anything and everything inside
Don’t leave anything tempting in plain view such as the outboard for the dingy
Take home your to do list so you can have fun buying stuff and at the same time have something to fret over

 

[Gustywinds]

Thank you all, I shall make mine up as a combination of these.
Just one other question:

Is there an easy way of converting these lift and twist catches to key locks?
I have quite a lot of valuable bits in there and although I’m not worried for the imminent break, in the longer term it would be nice to have better security
I could fit a separate lock but that means drilling holes or some sort of remote solenoid system but that leaves it vulnerable to battery failure