Good checklist

Good list & I Suggest adding "Disconect Shore Power" , "Crew Briefing", "Passage Plan", and "Weather Forecast"
Not sure that warming the engine prior to casting off is a good idea. An engine needs to work if it is not going to glaze the bores and all this idling whilst in marinas and locks is reesulting in lots of choking smoke and premature engine death
 
Halo said:
Not sure that warming the engine prior to casting off is a good idea. An engine needs to work if it is not going to glaze the bores
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Does that apply to petrol engines, though? The OP mentions a bilge blower, so I assume his is a smallish petrol motorboat on a trailer, similar to my mate's 18' Picton.

Pete
 
Check Lists are good for certain stuff. They can also limit the ability to think if relied upon to keep all in order. Don't rely on the check list so much that one day you end up in a snafu because something wasn't on the checklist.
 
I'm surprised by all the "seacocks open/gas on" stuff on peoples lists!

Whilst I'll always have the engine seacock on under way so I can start the engine in an emergency, there's far more chance of something moving in a locker and fracturing a gas pipe, or someone accidentally falling against the cooker, or toilet etc. I make sure that mine are all "off" unless actually being used...gas on, boil kettle, gas off. Sounds a bit anal I know but I'd rather not take chances with gas or below waterline seacocks. And IMHO if the seacocks/gas taps are not very easily visible/accessible so that using them like that is in no way a hassle, they are in the wrong place!
 
It's no wonder so many boats never get out of the marina - by the time you've run through some of the lists it will be time to come back... ;)

I think you can break it down to the essentials like opening engine seacock, switching on the electrics etc. which must be done before setting off, some can come under routine maintenance if they've been checked recently they probably don't need checking before every trip and others like opening toilet seacocks and turning the gas on only need to be done when you want to use them which may not even be until you arrive. Passage planning weather forecasts etc. I would do before even going down to the boat.
 
I find a checklist very useful, especially singlehanding as it can be a little awkward if something is forgotte, at least until the boat is settled on course. Als a great thng to hand to crew to make sure everyone joins in. The arrival checklist generally means that you do not remember the nav lights are still on as sup your second pint, or worse still arrive home.


Casting off checklist


• Shore power disconnected
• Turn off cabin lights
• Gas off
• Dinghy secured
• Outboard on transom
• All hatches secured
• Table, doors and presses secured
• Heads and sink seacocks closed
• All loose items stowed
• Winch handles in cockpit
• Binoculars in cockpit
• VHF on ch 83 (local Coastguard) tri- watch
• Instruments on
• Chart plotter in cockpit, route or go to entered
• Lifejackets on
• Safety harness in cockpit
• Mainsail ready
• Liferaft ready
• Engine oil checked, bilge checked
• Engine cooling water flowing ok
• Plan for casting off

Arrival checklist



• Fill in log
• Mainsail cover on
• Genoa cover on
• Shore power connected
• Lifejackets stowed
• Safety harness stowed
• Binoculars stowed
• Winch handles stowed
• Heads and sink seacocks closed
• Galley sink seacock closed
• Nav lights off
• Instruments covers on
• Compass cover on
• Chart plotter stowed in cabin
• Boom secured
• Boat hook secured
• All switches off
• Battery switches off
• Fridge off
 
Iain C said:
if the seacocks/gas taps are not very easily visible/accessible so that using them like that is in no way a hassle, they are in the wrong place!
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Indeed - but sometimes they are in the wrong place :)

On the old boat, the heads seacocks are under the battery boxes, inside the battery locker, which is really not terribly helpful.

Pete
 
BlowingOldBoots said:
Check Lists are good for certain stuff. They can also limit the ability to think if relied upon to keep all in order. Don't rely on the check list so much that one day you end up in a snafu because something wasn't on the checklist.
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I agree but the main reason for a check list is as a memory jogger.. If it was something you did everyday a check list wouldn't be needed but since I am not lucky enough to "play" everyday I would rather have a reference so I don't forget something important..
 
BlowingOldBoots said:
Check Lists are good for certain stuff. They can also limit the ability to think if relied upon to keep all in order. Don't rely on the check list so much that one day you end up in a snafu because something wasn't on the checklist.
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And possibly even more importantly don't rely on someone elses - in this thread a number contradict each other - it has to be specific to your boat and your requirements.
 
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