Things you should have checked

When dried out alongside a quay and have lead the main halyard ashore remember to undo before setting off.
 
Another one of mine.

in a tidal area remember not to have a knot in the end of the line you are so confidently slipping off the pontoon cleat from the cockpit.

(it all turned very horrible when the knot jammed under the cleat. we were 10ft off the pontoon)

:-)
 
When testing a (new to me) British Seagull in a 50 gallon fresh water butt at the boatyard .... check the fuel tank nuts are tight first.
Took forever to bail it out and tip to recover my nuts!
 
When coming alongside and you want the line to the pontoon shorter make sure you say "Shorter", not "Tighter".
Otherwise the boat drifts away creating a big gap but the figure of eight is wound very tightly on the cleat.
 
When a foreigner, (in this case Brazilian) also wants a comfort break he thinks you are talking about a snooze for 30 minutes. In the meantime you're bursting because they haven't relieved you from the wheel and you were kind enough to let them go first.
 
Remember to ask if any crew have a tendency to get sea sick. Crew member went down to turn the instruments on as we were leaving the lock, by the time he got back up he was green within 20 seconds of us being in the Thames!!
 
Make sure after the winter lay up that you haven't refitted your tiller at 90 degrees to the rudder :o it took a few seconds to realize it was not the the back eddy from our jetty that was the problem !!!

Pete
 
Remember that when you parked th car on the slipway to decant into the tender, that this was supposedly temporary parking, not intended to block the slipway for the weekend.
 
pete said:
Make sure after the winter lay up that you haven't refitted your tiller at 90 degrees to the rudder :o it took a few seconds to realize it was not the the back eddy from our jetty that was the problem !!!

Pete
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Ah!
SO nearly did that this week. Actually had the tiller on and all nuts tight when a "wee thought" occured to me - just as I was getting into the dinghy; having put all tools away and closed-up the boat.

Next year that's another "ooops" I shan't make!
 
Remembered another one.

Do check your hearing. "I haven't got the boat keys" sounds rather similar to "I have got the boat keys"

Oh how we laughed on the 3 hour round trip back to get them and come back to the boat.
 
jac said:
Remembered another one.

Do check your hearing. "I haven't got the boat keys" sounds rather similar to "I have got the boat keys"

Oh how we laughed on the 3 hour round trip back to get them and come back to the boat.
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I am so stupid & forgetful i have to have the boat keys on the car key ring with a spare set of boat keys with the HM
 
I made a check-list to be pasted up in the car before driving home;

Keel up and locked

Sheets off

Boom cover on secure

Rudder up secure and lashed amidships

gas off

electrics off

bung out of dinghy

painter and rowlocks, oars off dinghy

Dinghy and trolley padlocked

Phew !

Andy
 
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prv said:
You must have an unusually secure boat if a three hour drive is easier than breaking in :)

Pete
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It was a while ago - the worse thing was we did have keys in the Marina Office. We remembered as we came back! Actually was closer to 2 1/2 hour drive but we discovered the error as we arrived at Shamrock Quay so hadn't even got out of the car. When you add up the time to break in and repair we figured the drive was quicker and less hassle
 
When taking your trailerable very first boat for its very very first launch check you are not going to arrive at the slipway car park at midday on a sunny May Bank Holiday Saturday (remember those?)

Same day, when you have requested a tractor launch, try to be back at the boat before the tractor arrives moments later.
Same day, check you know which way to wind the jockey wheel to achieved the desired result.
Same day, make sure you know what you should have rigged prior to requesting tractor launch. I was told some ropes and fenders might be a good idea.
Same day, entering the water (by a pontoon fortunately) is not the time to realise you have not looked at the outboard since you bought the boat and don't have a clue how to start it. The instructions were clearly printed on the top but I completely blanked them.
Same day, if you have to move the boat around the dock with lines look like you meant to do it that way all the time.
Same day, if you have to throw a line across the channel to a finger pontoon, try not to throw it so hard you nearly knock you wife in.

There after some very nice people we were berthed beside swarmed over the boat, generally sorted it and pored a very large glass of wine for us.

When going to remind yourself where your mooring is, (We didn't use it last year) do check the outboard will start (it wouldn't) and you have the required complement of two oars, one and a half oars makes trying to go somewhere a lot more interesting.
 
davidpbo said:
When taking your trailerable very first boat for its very very first launch check you are not going to arrive at the slipway car park at midday on a sunny May Bank Holiday Saturday (remember those?)

Same day, when you have requested a tractor launch, try to be back at the boat before the tractor arrives moments later.
Same day, check you know which way to wind the jockey wheel to achieved the desired result.
Same day, make sure you know what you should have rigged prior to requesting tractor launch. I was told some ropes and fenders might be a good idea.
Same day, entering the water (by a pontoon fortunately) is not the time to realise you have not looked at the outboard since you bought the boat and don't have a clue how to start it. The instructions were clearly printed on the top but I completely blanked them.
Same day, if you have to move the boat around the dock with lines look like you meant to do it that way all the time.
Same day, if you have to throw a line across the channel to a finger pontoon, try not to throw it so hard you nearly knock you wife in. There after some very nice people we were berthed beside swarmed over the boat, generally sorted it and pored a very large glass of wine for us.

When going to remind yourself where your mooring is, (We didn't use it last year) do check the outboard will start (it wouldn't) and you have the required complement of two oars, one and a half oars makes trying to go somewhere a lot more interesting.
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I think THAT is the most important thing to carry-out when doing all things boaty which we are, of course, all competent in doing...........................
 
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