An essential pre-departure boating checklist
Ensuring safety and peace of mind before setting sail.
They say that to be prepared is half the victory, and the same is true for hitting the water in your boat. While experienced boaters probably know most of the below points, it’s always handy and safe to refamiliarise yourself with the important pre-trip preparation that needs to take place before you push off. Taking the time to tick off this pre-departure checklist will ensure a stress-free and enjoyable day out on the water.
Before you even start doing all the necessary checks of your vessel, the first thing to do is ensure you have an appropriate licence to command a boat in the area you wish to explore. After this, you should check for weather warnings, waves, tides, winds and whatever else may affect your boat and the area you’re heading to. When your trip’s viability has been established, it’s best to let someone know your plans — where you’re going and when you’ll return — just in case you find yourself in a sticky situation.
Once you’re on the boat, ensure that your EPIRB (emergency position indicating radio beacon) is registered, charged and receiving signal. Make sure bungs are in and bilges are empty, and that you’ve got your bailer bucket on board and the bilge pump is functioning.
Any emergency gear should be easily accessible, with flares, fire extinguishers and inflatable life jackets services and up to date. All crew members should know where these items are and be able to access them if needed.
And remember that children should always wear a life jacket no matter their swimming capabilities. You should also make sure you’ve packed a first aid kit as getting help while out on the water can be delayed.
Check that you have enough fuel — one-third of the tank dedicated for heading out, one-third for returning and a third in reserve (you never know how the conditions will affect your journey). It’s also important to know and stay within your loading limits as overloading the boat can have catastrophic consequences.
Complete systems check to make sure that electrical equipment is functioning — lights, radio and so on. Check that your mooring lines and anchor chains are free of damage. Ensure steering systems are functioning correctly and check that the propeller and prop nut and pin are in good condition.
Now you’re almost ready to go, however, it’s important to check you have packed sufficient warm clothing, sun protection and wet weather gear. Lastly, don’t forget to pack plenty of drinking water and food.
Ensuring you’ve checked off all the above can take a little bit of extra time, however, the peace of mind from knowing you’ve done everything you can to ensure your safety and the safety of those onboard is priceless.
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