Boat is launched

[S Lightly Salty]

Finally finished everything on Monday and gave the yard the go ahead to launch. (Its a working mans marina, nothing fancy but they are super knowledgeable and accommodating). Boat is in its slip as of this evening. As a new guy on the block to this size boat, what is your rundown process of hooking everything up dockside and getting things in order?

 

[bobeast]

When leaving the boat:

1) crank down fridge
2) Turn OFF unused boat breakers (microwave, vacu-flush, stove, water heater, etc.)
3) Turn OFF shore water and/or fresh water pump
4) Open bilge and inspect for leaks
5) Inspect dock lines / fenders

When arriving at the boat:

1) Inspect dock lines / fenders
2) Turn on shore water and/or fresh water pump
3) Open bilge and inspect for leaks
4) Turn on used boat breakers (microwave, vacu-flush, stove, water heater, etc.)
5) crank up fridge

I dial down (increase temp) the fridge when I leave the boat to minimize how often I need to defrost it. No need to keep it cranking (making frost) when I'm away from the boat and/or the fridge is empty.

It helps to have two sets of dock lines/fenders, two power cords, and two water hoses. One set remains at the slip. The other set stays on the boat in case I over-night at a guest dock somewhere.

NEVER leave shore water or your fresh water pump on when you are away from the boat.

I always leave shore power connected when I leave the boat to insure the batteries are maintained and the bilge pumps always have juice.

 

[JVM225]

I’ll add that I usually turn the battery switches off when I leave the boat for the night.
My reasoning: The bilge pumps run with the switches off because they’re wired to.
If you leave the battery switches on and the charger fails for any reason and something other than the bilge pumps were to run down the batteries you could have a problem.
It’s a stretch for sure, but since I have no need for anything other than the bilge pumps to have 12 volt power when I’m not at the boat, I don’t see any reason to risk it.
The other thing I never do is leave a hose connected to the dockside inlet when I’m not at the boat, that way I never have to remember if I turned the water off.
In fact, I almost never use the dockside inlet at all. Instead, I get my fresh water from the tank and refill the tank all the time. I like the idea of always keeping the water in the tank as fresh as possible.

 

[S Lightly Salty]

When leaving the boat:

1) crank down fridge
2) Turn OFF unused boat breakers (microwave, vacu-flush, stove, water heater, etc.)
3) Turn OFF shore water and/or fresh water pump
4) Open bilge and inspect for leaks
5) Inspect dock lines / fenders

When arriving at the boat:

1) Inspect dock lines / fenders
2) Turn on shore water and/or fresh water pump
3) Open bilge and inspect for leaks
4) Turn on used boat breakers (microwave, vacu-flush, stove, water heater, etc.)
5) crank up fridge

I dial down (increase temp) the fridge when I leave the boat to minimize how often I need to defrost it. No need to keep it cranking (making frost) when I'm away from the boat and/or the fridge is empty.

It helps to have two sets of dock lines/fenders, two power cords, and two water hoses. One set remains at the slip. The other set stays on the boat in case I over-night at a guest dock somewhere.

NEVER leave shore water or your fresh water pump on when you are away from the boat.

I always leave shore power connected when I leave the boat to insure the batteries are maintained and the bilge pumps always have juice.

Thank you

 

[S Lightly Salty]

I’ll add that I usually turn the battery switches off when I leave the boat for the night.
My reasoning: The bilge pumps run with the switches off because they’re wired to.
If you leave the battery switches on and the charger fails for any reason and something other than the bilge pumps were to run down the batteries you could have a problem.
It’s a stretch for sure, but since I have no need for anything other than the bilge pumps to have 12 volt power when I’m not at the boat, I don’t see any reason to risk it.
The other thing I never do is leave a hose connected to the dockside inlet when I’m not at the boat, that way I never have to remember if I turned the water off.
In fact, I almost never use the dockside inlet at all. Instead, I get my fresh water from the tank and refill the tank all the time. I like the idea of always keeping the water in the tank as fresh as possible.

Thank you