Greetings fellow mariners,
For those of you who decided to take yourselves off the water for winter, pooped her in the boatyard and tucked her up for the winter as I see many owners do, I thought it timely to offer some thoughts on getting your pride and joy ready as the new season begins.
Why am I doing this? A bit of background;
The latest figures available on RNLI call outs is 2022
The RNLI was launched to 1,007 vessels with machinery or equipment problems, including engine failure, with 591 being motorboats and 411 being sailing yachts.
Total RNLI launches: In 2022 - 9,312. our 2 local RNLI stations each reported that the mechanical failures were easily preventable with maintenance as the common solution. For those that argue 10.8% is a very small percentage of call outs, consider this, every volunteer crew member is being put at risk because a vessel wasn't maintained. I could go on but I think you get the message.
Engine bay and Hull fittings
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Belts and drive wheels - If you decided to slacken or remove belts and to protect drive wheels, now’s the time to refit them correctly. Replace worn or frayed belts. Stern gland and shaft seals -Inspect and repack with grease if appropriate. Note, there are many types so make sure you know what is fitted and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Impeller - Impeller faults are a common cause of engine overheating and failure. Consider a preventative replacement as it may well have deformed if not removed or been used over winter. Gearbox - Check the gearbox/outdrive oil and replace if it looks cloudy or milky. Check that forward and reverse can be selected and all control cables function correctly. Coolant - Top up or fill the freshwater cooling system if it was drained and add antifreeze. Antifreeze is an excellent corrosion inhibitor and water pump lubricant. While you are at it, check all hoses to ensure they have not hardened or cracked and that clips are tight. Engine oil - Check and change if not done at lay-up. Filters - Oil and fuel filters should be replaced if not done at lay-up. Think about carrying spares. If you blocked the air intake with an oily rag to prevent rusting, remove it and refit a new air filter. Anodes - Inspect anodes if possible and replace if less than half is left. Sea cocks - Work sea cocks to ensure you can open and close them, lubricate if necessary. Make sure hoses are clamped and serviceable. Ensure bilge pumps work as intended Prop guard and rope cutters (if fitted) - are they serviceable. |
Safety equipment
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Lifejacket service - Ensure that your lifejacket is serviced according to the manufacturer’s instructions and by an approved service agent. Liferaft service - If you own your life raft - Ensure that your liferaft is serviced according to the manufacturer’s instructions and by an approved service agent. Servicing can be expensive, but it is a false economy to compromise on this and some of the equipment contained within a liferaft has a limited life expectancy If your life raft is hired make sure it is in date for servicing. Torch batteries - best to buy new rather than replace with some that have been tucked up in the drawer for a while. It is also worthwhile checking spare torch lamps are ok as well. Alarms tested and batteries replaced Distress signalling equipment - is your flare pack in date, is it dry? If not, time to replace. If you have to replace, don't forget to ask if the seller will take your out of date flares in the exchange. Fire extinguishers - in date? If not get them serviced. Is the fire blanket as you left it? First aid supplies - in date? Never use out of date medications. return to pharmacy, let the pharmacy dispose of them for you. Electronic flares - If you have gone down the EVDS (Electronic Visual Distress Signals) route - change the batteries with new rather than those from your battery store that may have been there for quite some time. Emergency steering (for wheeled steered vessels) - when did you last rig and test it? If it has been a while - set it up and make sure you remember how to do it. Equipment to deal with water ingress - Bucket with a strong lanyard (collapsable buckets are not recommended for this purpose), bungs, wedges, ram clams etc. Emergency VHF Ariel for fixed VHF SART / AIS Sart - change the batteries with new rather than those from your battery store that may have been there for quite some time. AIS if fitted - does it work EPIRB - (406MHz is preferred) - change batteries - for those of you not sure if you need one - an EPIRB could mean the difference between surviving an incident at sea and losing your life. This could be because you are in a communications “hole” or because your boat has lost its VHF communications (through for example losing the VHF antenna e.g. in a dismasting, electrical failure or sinking); you don’t necessarily need to be hundreds of miles off shore and miles away from other vessels to be thankful of an EPIRB. Sea anchor/ Drogue - also known as a parachute anchor, Used to stop a boat's drift and keep it facing into the wind and waves, allowing the boat to "ride" the waves more comfortably. while a drogue, deployed from the stern, slows the boat and maintains a steady heading downwind |
Electrics
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Engine batteries - top up electrolyte and fully charge.
Check nav lights are secure and working - where are the spare lamps
Chart plotter and radio - check they work - where are the spare fuses?
Kill cord and spare - check for integrity, does the safety system work?
Waterproof torch and spare batteries - does it work - replace the batteries with new.
Searchlight - does it work - replace the batteries with new.
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Upper deck
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Clean and grease winches, check pawls and springs. Where fitted, check chain plates and standing rigging to ensure there are no broken strands and that turnbuckles are tight. Make sure cockpit drains are clear.
Anchor and cable / Warp - Is the anchor cable and warp secured to the vessel, is it still marked as you remember is it fit for purpose?
Winch / windlass handle - does it work?
Boarding ladder - fit and test it.
Mooring lines - Open the lay, check for rot and broken fibres. replace as necessary.
Fenders - check the lines for damage.
Tow rope - Open the lay, check for rot and broken fibres, replace as necessary.
Radar reflector mounted correctly and secure.
Tender (if you have one), inflate, fit the engine make sure it all works.
Spare fuel in appropriate storage, Is it old fuel? Petrol (E10) is hydroscopic, consider replacing.
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Below deck
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Fresh water systems - Inspect pipework, filters and drains and refill the system taking care to remove airlocks. If you left water in the tank assume it is now no longer safe to use, drain tank, clean, flush then refill with fresh water consider adding a mild chlorine solution. Carbon Monoxide detector - `Test - Is it in date? Do the batteries need changing? Grab bag - For those of you who have grab bags check it, for those of you not convinced you need one - consider it. Prepare a list of the things to fill the grab bag with. The goal should be to ensure you are rescued alive having spent the shortest possible time in the liferaft. The order of priority is therefore: Items that will help you to ensure you plight is known and assist with your location Your liferaft should have a whole pile of resources in it, check its contents list then consider what else you need - rather than want for the grab bag - extra flares; cyalume sticks; inflatable radar reflector; life-saving signals (SOLAS 2) card; repair kit; bailer; sponges; safety knife; TPA's / survival bags; signalling mirror; GPS; EPIRB / PLB; SART; waterproof handheld VHF and spare batteries; waterproof torch with spare batteries and bulb; second sea anchor / drogue; tin opener; first aid kit and sun protection; food; seasickness tablets, polythene bags and method for sealing them; strobe light; medical supplies for pre-existing medical conditions; spare spectacles; wet note book with pencil and a spare; powerful (mouth operated) whistle (I love the fox 40); water (or hand operated desalinator and containers for the water) top tip, if the bottles are only 3/4 filled they will float; warm clothing including hat and gloves; wet wipes; clock / watch; compass; charts; ships papers and insurance documents; vital personal items such as passports, house keys, mobile phones; money and credit cards. possibly consider a solar charged power bank. This list is not exhaustive, don't get carried away. The size of the waterproof grab bag will determine what goes in. |
Navigation equipment
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Charts
Chart plotter
Radar if fitted does it work, is it calibrated to your preferences?
Relevant publications to the area(s) you will be operating in (Almanac, tide tables, pilot books etc.)
Navigation instruments
Hand bearing compass
Fixed steering compass (don't forget the deviation card)
Logbook
Accurate clock or watch
Binoculars
Echo sounder
Log
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This long, long list of getting her ready for your first trip is not exhaustive. I am hoping it does give you an idea of what you should be doing to get yourself going.
Have a great season.