To accompany Capt. Art Pine's three-part Safety Series in SpinSheet, here are 20 questions to ask yourself before you get under way in your boat:
Like airplane pilots, many experienced boaters make up their own pre-underway checklist, containing equipment they should locate, inspect, and even try out before leaving the dock. Doing this not only ensures that what you need is onboard and working, but it also gives you a chance to show your crewmembers and passengers where you keep your emergency gear, such as fire-extinguishers and VHF radios, is and how to use it. Be sure to make a personalized your list that fits your boat.
1. Risk assessment: Should you be making this trip with your current boat, crew, and passengers?
2. Look over the entire boat and make sure she’s in trim, with no obvious problems.
3. Check the bilges and pump out excess water.
4. Batteries: Are they providing the designated voltage?
5. Fire extinguishers: Are charged they charged and properly mounted?
6. Fuel level: Do you have enough to get out and back with plenty of reserve?
7. Oil: Do you have the proper amount? Any sign of leakage?
8. Ventilation: If you have an inboard gasoline engine, run your ventilator system for at least four minutes before starting the engine.
9. Engine: Does it start easily? Is it working properly?
10. Compass and chartplotter: Are they working properly?
11. Impellers: Are your engine cooling systems and bilge-pumps working?
12. Navigation lights: Are they working properly?
13. Distress signal kit: Flares, whistle, horn, etc. Readily accessible?
14. VHF-FM marine radio: Is it working? Do you have a backup?
15. Life jackets: Do you have enough? Proper sizes? Good condition? Is everyone wearing one? Are they readily accessible?
16. First aid kit: Is it up to date? Easy to find?
17. Charts: Do you have proper nautical charts for where you’re going?
18. Float plan: Have you filed one?
19. Weather: Check the forecast one more time.
20. Briefing: Have you briefed your crew and passengers on what you expect of them and what to do in case of any emergency?
