Posted by: travadmin on Feb 08, 2003 – 09:09 PM
boating Long range trips require rigid discipline in finding and correcting problems that might only be irritating on a one day boat trip, but will ruin a long planned vacation trip to the Bahamas. The following list was compiled from various sources and is used by many experienced boaters.
Boat Checklist
- Electrical system: Do all switches work? Horn, cabin, dash, cockpit and deck lights? Are navigational lights working properly? Is the battery fluid level okay?
- Do bilge pumps work, for both manual and automatic operation?
- Is the spares kit restocked? Fuel and oil filters, spark plugs, belts, light bulbs, fuses, voltmeter, tools, hydraulic and engine oil, and spare props if you have them.
- Check safety gear: life vests, flares and meteors that are in date, fire extinguishers, and EPIRBs and life raft if you have them.
- Fishing tackle: Take everything you need. Selection is poor , and bait is also scarce. Make sure a heavy cutter is on board for cutting fish hooks and lure cable in case a crew member is hooked or a quick release is necessary.
- Electronics: Check VHF radio, fish finder, radar, navigation gear, and antennas.
- Ground tackle: check anchor, rode and line. When loaded for the trip, can you access the anchor in an emergency? In many situations, quick anchor deployment can mean the difference between losing and saving the boat.
- Plan stowage for accessibility of crossing items, snacks, etc. Try and secure all stowage to keep it from moving during the crossing, especially in the cockpit. Balance the load to avoid listing, or plowing.
- Take the boat weight limit seriously. Five foot seas are not the same as your backyard lake. An overloaded boat is dangerous in bad seas, and even more dangerous when dead in the water.
- Charts and guides. Are they handy? Can you read them in sea spray or rain? Did you write those waypoints down?