Preseason Inspection List

I got the following list of items to check before you start boating this season from my rep at Bristol Insurance. If you can think of things to add please don't hesitate. Thanks to Fred Kempe of Bristol Insurance Group for providing this list.


Preseason Inspection Guide

Batteries
· Fluid level correct?
· Batteries age or condition suggests its time for a replacement?
· Batteries secured against movement.
· Batteries in proper boxes with covers.
· Supply of distilled water on board to refill batteries as needed.

Plumbing
· Check through hull for free operation, corrosion.
· Through hulls double clamped below water line, and elsewhere where possible
· Bilge pumps, confirm operation of float switches.
· Manual bilge pumps checked for operation.
· Sump pumps checked for clean strainer and float switch.
Review fresh water system for leaks and confirm operation of fixtures and pump.
· Confirm operation of head, holding tank, discharge pump and pump out fittings.

Engine Room and Bilges
· Free of debris that may interfere and clog bilge pumps.
· Oil clean up material in place or at the ready.
· Free of water and oil.
· tools, spare parts and other material secured.
· Sea strainer(s) cleaned, and spare service parts on board.
· Stuffing boxes tightened, spray shield if needed is installed.

Machinery
· Fluids changed and at correct levels.
· Replacement fluids in inventory for topping off as needed.
· Steering system check. If hydraulic, check fluid level and pressure.
· Engine exhaust system double clamped, hoses checked.
· Hoses and cables free from chafe damage.
· Stuffing box checked for proper adjustment, and spray deflector as needed.
· Check accessory drive belts for correct tension and if replacement is needed.
· Spare belts and hoses on board?
· Are alarm systems, overheating, low oil pressure, etc., operational?
· Engine Instruments working and reading correctly?
· Inspect exhaust system for any leaks or restrictions.
· Confirm operation of any bilge blowers.
· Spare parts and tools required.

Electrical AC
· Are GFCI units installed in heads, galley, and exterior or other wet areas?
· Operational checks made to ensure proper operation of galley equipment, water heaters, space heating, refrigerator, and battery charger.
· Check shore power cords for any signs of damage, or overheating.
Make sure fittings and receptacles are in good order, and that AC adapters are on board as needed.

Electrical DC
· Using load tester, check battery condition.
· Terminals tight and clean.
· DC switch panel labeled and all switches working?
· All navigation lights, anchor, and instrument lights in working order?
· All circuits and all equipment protected by circuit breakers of fuses.

Anchor/Ground Tackle
· Anchor rode/chain markers.
· Second Anchor and proper chain and rode.
· Dock lines, spring lines, and spares.
· Confirm anchor windlass operation.
· Anchor shackles wired.

General Safety and Miscellaneous.
· Are up-to-date charts and tide information onboard?
· Radio check for VHF units.
· Operational check for depth sounder(s), GPS units, Radar and Chart Plotters.
· Owners manuals for all vessel systems on board.
· Spare batteries for units that require same.
· Spare keys.
· Propane storage within ABYC standards.
· Proper number of PFDs, and are they located where accessible in an emergency?
· Distress signals of proper type and number within current date.
· Life Sling or similar means of retrieving a MOB.
· Life lines and railing in good condition.
· First Aid kit on board and do you know how to use it?

Tenders.
· Spare parts for motor. (spark plugs, shear pins, etc.)
· Kill switch, keys, and a spare.
· Oars, paddles, cushions.
· Pump, patch repair kit, extra drain plug.
· Fuel in proper container, and safely stowed.
· Grease and lube moving parts, and check lower unit oil.

Great list. The only things that come to mind are fire extinguishers, present, charged and secured; and horns. I like to keep one of those canned air horns at the helm

Great list. FYI on the distilled water - not only do I carry a gal but also a dispenser - because inevitably as I'm filling a cell a boat goes by , creating a wake and I spill water over the batteries. And if you're looking for an inexpensive one try a condiment dispenser from the Kitchen utensil aisle at walmart.

Registration documents current. If documented, certificate is current. Insurance papers current. Operating manuals for electronics, a/c, genny and engines. keys in a a safe secure place. Cleaning supplies in galley and head fresh. Paper supplies for head and galley on board and stored. Clean bedding on beds. Foul weather gear stowed. Clothes iron stowed. Satellite radio and weather service activated. Potable water system chemicals on board. Clean detailing rags, detailing soap, 303, small supply of wax, fresh mops, brushes and a clean bucket. Plastic hose nozzle. Clean white hose for drinking water. Dop kits in the head for captain and crew. Spare change of clean clothes for captain and admiral.

No mention of making sure the fridge's are running, cold and fully stocked? Man you guys are all business, all the time. I just don't see how anyone could get through that entire checklist without a couple beers....sheesh.

It's fun to see others re-check routines especially at the boat ramps on holiday weekends.

Does it sink?....... or ...... Does it float?

Stee6043 said:

No mention of making sure the fridge's are running, cold and fully stocked? Man you guys are all business, all the time. I just don't see how anyone could get through that entire checklist without a couple beers....sheesh.

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Those we take for granted, kind of like having PFD's on board.

Great thread. Thanks Mike et al.

Great thread, thanks for starting it.

I am sure anything that is missing, will get added by members here.

This is great for the seasonal boaters, list of what to go through when starting the season.

What about a list for year around boaters? I think of the concept of checking fire detectors when the time changes in the fall.

What if we broke this down into sections, which a person who is year around could do some piece of the list every quarter or month or 6 months? Make the list into smaller chunks that don't take as much time.

Some of these items (in my opinion) need to be done every time the boat is operated. For example:

Engine Room and Bilges
· Free of debris that may interfere and clog bilge pumps.
· Oil clean up material in place or at the ready.
· Free of water and oil.
· tools, spare parts and other material secured

I have my trip checks before starting a cruise, then my daily checks each day, and then my leave the boat checks when I am parking the boat and flying out.

The "leave the boat checks" I was not always diligent on - learned in the last year that those are extremely important since we park the boat and go to the airport (as opposed to living 20 miles away from boat where it is easy to go back and forth).

Uhh.....I disagree with most of this list.

Everyone knows, that tows, after you put your props on and the batteries in, you go directly to the launch. Test there.....
...and while you're holding everyone else up, be sure to yell at your wife when she gets back from the restroom, because it's her fault the boat won't start or is starting to fill up with water.

Great idea needs to be made into a pdf with check boxes that we can print out and make annual copies of

Once you finish all of that: Don’t forget the gin...........

JVM225 said:

Once you finish all of that: Don’t forget the gin...........

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And limes.

Havana Shamrock said:

Great idea needs to be made into a pdf with check boxes that we can print out and make annual copies of

Click to expand...

See attached. I can continue to update with additional thoughts.

yobub, you da man. Thanks so much for taking the time to create that for us. It's now saved on my laptop.

That’s a great document. Thank you!

Very handy thanks

We created a boat as left list. It helps. Some one on this tread suggest take a picture of your electrical panel as left.