Checklist at the slip

[Irie308]

Hey All, I've been going through and reading up on the older posts on here and I came across a checklist for those who trailer their boats. Does anyone have a checklist for those who dock their boats at a slip. As a newbie I want to make sure we are maintaining our boat based on best practices. We are new to boating and are liking it very much however we would like to learn from others to ensure we reduce our mistakes.

For example: people who trailer flush their engines after use in saltwater what do you do if its at a slip?

 

[Molson]

Here is a list, off the top of my head. (note: I'm in fresh water)
Departing:
Arrive at boat, admire it.
Turn blower on
Roll up/remove curtains
Stow anything below that needs to be stowed
Start engines
Turn off shore power, remove cords (Stow if taking them)
Check gauges
Untie bow and stern line, leaving midships spring line
when ready, untie spring and depart dock.
When out of marina stow fenders and secure dock lines.

Reverse the list when returning.

 

[GrandMaster]

people who trailer flush their engines after use in saltwater what do you do if its at a slip?

Put $15 in the bank for your new exhaust manifold fund... :grin:

 

[moparlvr4406]

I would add that I walk the fingers on both sides all the way to the bow
right before departure to look for debris ...and admire the boat :grin:

 

[SloBurn]

Freshwater slip here, too. 1. Uncover boat 2. Turn on blower 3.Load supplies-stock cooler with beer. 4. Start engine 5. Check oil pressure 6. Turn off blower 7. Untie lines 8. Open beer 9. Pull out of slip 10. Go to Sandbar to finish beer.

 

[trit21]

Wow, so far not one of your check your oil levels, trans fluid levels, coolant levels, bilge for any leaks or smell of gas, visual inspection inside bilge and ER or even if water if flowing from exhaust after you start engines/gen prior to departure. Seems like a very incomplete list.

 

[moparlvr4406]

Freshwater slip here, too. 1. Uncover boat 2. Turn on blower 3.Load supplies-stock cooler with beer. 4. Start engine 5. Check oil pressure 6. Turn off blower 7. Untie lines 8. Open beer 9. Pull out of slip 10. Go to Sandbar to finish beer.

???
Should you not leave the blower on at anything under cruise speed ?? and maybe even then ??

 

[Molson]

Wow, so far not one of your check your oil levels, trans fluid levels, coolant levels, bilge for any leaks or smell of gas, visual inspection inside bilge and ER or even if water if flowing from exhaust after you start engines/gen prior to departure. Seems like a very incomplete list.

I don't check fluids every time I go out, but again I'm at the boat several times a week, and I check those things while I have nothing else to do. My blower is a monster and if there were gas fumes in the eng bay, I'd know it by smelling the gale force winds coming out the blower vent. How, pray tell, shall I check for water flowing from my exhausts when they are tucked in under a 36' swim platform? Oh, and I also do not have transmissions, coolant, or a generator.

 

[Mikemapva]

Here's one that I had developed a couple of years ago. I don't do every step each time depending who I have on board.

-Put all items necessary from car on boat
-Visually inspect exterior of boat
-Take down canvas and stow
-Put PFD’s in accessible area and let everyone on board know where they are
-Give quick safety briefing
-Open engine cover and look for leaks
-Check oil
-Install all electronics and turn on VHF radio
-Remove and stow all fenders
-Make sure all lines for use at an anchorage are accessible
-Disconnect shore power and turn on battery
-Turn off battery charger/inverter
-Turn on blower and run for 5 minutes
-Start motor and let idle for a couple minutes until temperature is at least 130
-Turn on GPS while warming up
-Make sure all passengers are in place and untie lines
-Assign 1 person to man boat hook for use during exit

 

[Irie308]

I tend to leave the blower on as long as the motor is running. Is this not needed?

 

[moparlvr4406]

I tend to leave the blower on as long as the motor is running. Is this not needed?

as do I...
about 4 minutes before ...all the time during run and sometimes up to 10 minutes after as Qjets tend to boil on a hotsoak.