Pre sailing checklist

[MacGyver]

So by working at a marina, I see and hear a lot of things. And by my very nature as a person, I am very thorough, and continually think about all sorts of different things even when they don't pertain to me.

A couple of weeks ago, when we went on the boat, I ran through a list in my head, like I always do. I figure this kind of action has to be normal because to me...... it is. About a week ago a storm rolled through nearly taking down a mast on a Catalina 25 due to the headsail being improperly secured. The guy had jury rigged the sail so that it could not be taken down, leaving the Jib halyard free to use, and the wind had shook the improperly secured rig so much that a upper shroud depinned, and the rest of them were so loose they were moments from letting go.

Yesterday, A sailor with a Beneteau Oceanis 36 caught me to bend my ear about some issues on his boat. He has a ton of water in the bilge and no clue why. He doesn't even know how long it has been there. If you are reading this and know of the boat style, you would know how nice the interior is....... why wouldn't one check his boat?

So this has prompted me to list how I check my boat prior to leaving the dock, everytime. If I am on it everyday like during CLR, the checkover is minus a few steps, only concentrating on the rigging, but please keep in mind that I watch the rigging constantly.

Here goes:
Check the bilge. Also a once over of the interior primarily looking for water or cracks, etc.
Then we clean what is needed of the exterior, then remove all the covers.
The engine is put down into the water. Gas hooked up and primed. Dont start yet.
Arrange the interior and place normally needed items within reach, like life jackets....etc.

I then shift gears to the rigging, checking for the pins and such, making sure circlips are in place, and cotterkeys to lock the turnbuckles down, test how the rigging feels to me when pushed. I look at the mast pin, the boom connection.
I then check my running rigging, making sure the knots look good, the shackle pins holding the sheaves on are in good shape.

I start the engine and allow it to run.

I then check the sails, especially the main, checking the battens for the most part and to make sure it is still secure.

At this point, I am ready. Having been satisfied that all is in working order, I remove 2 of the 4 lines keeping the boat at its slip. The port spring line and the port bow line are left at the dock. My Starboard spring and stern line are one in the same, so it is wound up and kept in a custom keeper I made, and the Starboard Bow line is kept similarly at the bow. I can dock anywhere with just those 2 lines, and if I need towed, those lines will provide the needed extension.

We are now free to enjoy the day.
With my wife, and barring any necessary cleaning, we are away from the dock in about 5 to 10 minutes, and return putting the boat away in about half that time. We both know what to do. When by myself, I probably add 5 to 10 minutes.

So what is it that you do?

Mac

[brackish]

As I approach the boat walking down the pier, I look at the waterline to determine it is still at the same place.  I generally don't check the bilge, on this boat as I've never had a drop of water in there unless I put it there on purpose to check the pumps.  I don't have an inboard with the potential stuffing box problems.

I unlock the boat, stow the drop boards, and stow any gear on board that I'm bringing to the boat.

Turn the battery switch to both.  This means I open the cockpit hatch and at times I then chase out and destroy the domicile of whatever foolish wasps have attempted to become live aboards.

Remove the motor cover, lower the motor and set the tilt to vertical.

Remove the tiller and mainsail cover.  Stow them in the other cockpit locker and see above for wasp eradication.

Hook up the main halyard and disconnect the halyard standoff cord that keeps them from slapping the mast.

disconnect the boom from the pigtail, put up the colors.

shake out the coiled mainsheet and the furler line.

If I'm by myself, hook up the tiller pilot set it on standby.

Put the kill switch key in the motor, open the gas tank vent and check the fill level, choke, squeeze bulb once, set the throttle to start and pull.  It almost always only takes two pulls to start when cold, I NEVER, EVER disconnect the gas line or run it dry. Stays connected and pressured 24/7/365.

All my shrouds and stay turnbuckles are taped over those no slip split rings so I just glance at them to see if the tape is good.

Turn the AC main switch off and remove and coil the shore power cord.

turn on the Instrument, tiller pilot, Cabin breakers, and turn on the VHF.  The appropriate lighting breakers if at night.

Put my auto inflate PFD on.

Remove the bumpers and cleat them to the dock.  Remove the spring line, and then the bow and stern line, step on the boat and back her out.

20 minutes if I'm by myself.  A little less if I have crew.

[relamb]

I go over all this stuff in my head, but I'm more tempted to make a checklist for guests and crew.  Where are the life jackets?  Where are the safety tethers?  How to start the engine.  How to kill the engine.  How to use the radio.  etc etc etc.  I'm thinking a three ring binder organized with all this info.   But another important thing is an info sheet for new or first time guests.  What to bring, what not to bring.  I can email it to them  beforehand.  I don't mind tennis shoes on the boat, but not if you've just walked through the parking lot and stepped in somebody's oil leak.  Bringing beer is good, but if you bring a washtub filled with ice there's just no room in the cockpit.   Lets stick with cans that can be crushed and not glass bottles.   I've had people go out for a two hour sail and bring a weeks worth of luggage.  I don't get seasick, so I always forget about drammamine, and a couple of times that's been an issue.  I need to make a up a one page sheet with guest instructions.
If anybody has one, please share!

[Bob23]

Aall of this is very helpful and I've incorporated most of the above into my pre sail checklist. One item glares at me: A few years ago upon the fall haul-out, while getting ready to lower the mast, we discovered the circlip for the clevis pin holding the CDI furler to the stainless steel fitting on the bowsprit was missing. I had no idea how long I sailed with that clip gone but the worse case scenario of course was a dismasting. It could have fallen out 10 minutes prior or been gone for a month. Only the pressure of the forestay on the clevis pin held it in place. I now check every rigging point everytime I sail. I probably should wrap all the turnbuckles with tape but I like to visually see everything.
Bob23

[Tim Gardner]

Here's a checklist for Trailer Sailors that may be useful:

[Awfeith]

Re: checklist, I learned a hard lesson last week. Sailing back from Caledesi Island in the hurricane pass channel, I head a metal grinding noise. Not knowing what happen, I lost steering control and did a 360. I thought I lost the steering chain. My first response was to go forward and deploy the anchor. I get to the pulpit, and low and behold the anchor was gone! The chain lock was not dogged down, a power boat wake set the anchor off the roller. By the time I got there 50 feet of chain and 200 ft of rode was out. I now have the CQR bunged down and I check the anchor lock down every time we go out. To say the least is was quite embarrassing!