Skipper's 'top ten' checklist for safer sailing

by John Jamieson on 6 Dec 2014 When we taught the intense 12-week Professional Mariner Program at the Chapman School of Seamanship, top priority the first week was to get each student into a mindset where they inspected a boat from stem to stern before casting off and after they tied up. Note the dual inspections. Bookends if you will. Before sailing; after sailing. Every time.

This includes after anchoring and the next time you weigh anchor. I cannot emphasize how critical this is. You inspect your boat before you get underway and after you tie up. Why? More boats sink tied up alongside a pier or in a slip than underway

But I just checked the boat yesterday!

Today is a new day. A small part could have vibrated loose that might not have been apparent until after you returned from sailing. Your boat vibrates and flexes when you sail, even in flat water. And all of the bolts, screws, and fittings aboard will vibrate and flex as your boat heels, rolls, pitches and yaws.

Make these ten items your first stop when you step aboard any boat, power or sail. Develop your own checklist, but be sure to transfer these 'top ten' to the head of the line. Realize that these ten items are just to get you started. Use a checklist for a more thorough item-by-item check.

Captain John's Skipper Tip:

The post-sail check might not include carriage requirement inspections (i.e. flare kit checks). But it should include any system or fitting that has the potential to cause flooding, fire, or boat loss (i.e. sea cocks, shaft seals, docking or anchor lines for chafe protection).

1. Fire Extinguishers

Fire on a boat means big trouble. Check marine fire extinguisher locations and gauge charges. Recharge any extinguisher where the dial points into the red sector. Point out the location of each portable fire extinguisher to your crew.

Remove dry powder extinguishers from their brackets once each sailing season. Invert them and shake the powder; it tends to cake near the bottom. Then reinstall them in their brackets. Now you know your extinguishers will serve you well in case of an emergency.

2. Flare Kits

All items in your emergency flare kit have two stamped dates: a manufactured date (earlier) and expiration date (later). If they're expired, keep the old ones, but you must replace them with new ones. Flares save lives, so keep them accessible and ready to use in an instant.

3. Stuffing Box

The stuffing box (also called a packing gland) wraps around the propeller shaft where it exits the hull to keep the water out. Marine insurance companies claim that more boats sink from excessive leaks in this area than from any other cause. And boats with these problems sink at the dock, mooring or at anchor---not underway.

Get your flashlight and shine it onto the packing and lock nuts. Water lubricates the packing, so you should see a drop or two every minute.

Excessive leaks indicate worn or missing packing. Address this right away before you cast off.

4. Bilges and Engine Drip Pan

Check the forward and aft bilge for excess water. Look for leaks around keel bolts or transducer through-hulls. Expect a normal accumulation of about 1' of bilge water from condensation.

Look under the engine in the drip pan. If you see water, dip your fingers in and rub them together. Clear, oily water indicates a fresh water coolant problem. But it could also signal a stuffing box leak. When you fire up the engine, keep an eye on the stuffing box for too much leakage.

5. Engine Fuel Shutoff

Make sure you know the location of the fuel supply shutoff valve. In an emergency, you need to turn this off to stop fuel flow to your small diesel engine. Trace the fuel line between the fuel tank and primary (first)fuel filter. Test the valve to make sure you can turn it off and on with moderate pressure.

6. Marine Seacocks

The second most frequent cause of boat losses are seacocks with frozen handles or blown hoses. Every seacock aboard must have a handle that works and can close the valve to the sea. Test each handle in the shut off (90 degrees to the hose) and open (in line to the hose) position. A gentle tap frees up most handles, frozen from corrosion.

Lash a tapered, soft-wood plug to the base of each seacock. In an emergency, drive the tapered end into the top tail-piece of the seacock to plug a leak.

7. Head Valves

Another boat sinker. The head seacock often stays open underway. With a defective valve, this could cause the commode to fill and overflow. Make it a habit to shut off both valve and seacock after every use to prevent this problem.

8. Port, Hatch and Cowl Closures

Do the opening ports and hatches secure all the way? In a squall, spray or rainstorm, you must button her up below. Do you know where the cowl vent cover is? A dry cabin pumps up crew morale, second only to a hot meal!

9. Marine Bilge Pumps

Use the highest capacity mechanical type bilge pump available. All cruising sailboats need additional 'works-every-time' manual type bilge pumps in the cockpit. Keep the handle in the sink or mount it in the cockpit.

Portable hand pumps are effective with a three foot or longer hose on the intake and exhaust side. You need that length to reach down into deep bilges and empty the water out through a port or into the cockpit. Make sure you have a bailing bucket or two aboard, too. They've kept more than one boat afloat when other methods failed.

10. Battery Covers and Tie Downs

Most cruising boats have two batteries, one to start the engine and one for general (house) electronics. Larger power vessels have battery banks that provide extra power for cranking large diesel engines and amp hungry appliances.

Each battery must have a cover and a strong tie down to prevent movement when you heel, roll or pitch. Test the cables for tight contact to the battery terminals. Now you know they'll give you juice when you ask for it.

Follow these easy 'top ten' sailing tips before you cast off and after you return from sailing. This will give you more confidence and peace of mind--wherever in the world you choose to sail or cruise!

John Jamieson (Captain John) with 25+ years of experience shows you the no-nonsense cruising skills you need for safer sailing worldwide. Visit his website at www.skippertips.com. Sign up for his Free, highly popular weekly 'Captain John's Sailing Tip-of-the-Week'. Discover how you can gain instant access to 1000+ sailing articles, sailing skills videos, sailing tips newsletters and Free sailing topic e-Books!