safety FIRST
As Suggested by Past Commander Bob Krieg, St. Clair Shores Sail & Power Squadron / America’s Boating Club
Before launching your boat, be ready! I put together this checklist to put you in the right mind of boating safety. This may not be everything you need to do; every boat is a little different. I could write at least a page on each of these items, but this is the short of it. If you are not able or do not understand these items, please make some phone calls, or go online to ϔind help. – Bob Krieg
A Spring Launch Must-Do List Before Uncovering Your Boat If you have not taken a boating class, do so. To ϐind a schedule of in-person and online classes, go to www.americasboatingclub.org
Get out all those manuals. Refresh your mind. Find
out what materials are needed for a spring startup (oils, spark plugs, impellers and so on). Review how to turn on your GPS and the rest of those things on the helm.
Make sure registration and insurance are up to date. After the Boat is Uncovered Walk around your boat and check for any damage
from the trailer or the cradle. Look for cracks, chips, dry rot that could be a problem later. Check out the trailer tires, lights, crank and cable.
Inside Your Boat Charge up your batteries. Have them checked with a voltmeter. Make sure the cables are clean and tight.
Turn on your navigation and anchor lights. Check all interior lighting.
Check all wiring for discoloring and tightness. A boat has a lot of wires that could cause a ϐire. Make sure you also check your shore power cord.
Check blowers, horns, bilge pumps, wipers. Check out all hoses and tanks (fuel, water, exhaust,
Check all the thru-hull ϐittings. They may need to be
reseated or replaced (water intakes, transducers, trim tabs, etc).
venting) for leaks, cracks, stiffness, ageing. All water hoses below the water line should have two hose clamps along with all fuel hoses above and below the water line. Make sure all hand valves operate freely.
Check the out drive or outboard. Change the oil,
Change the engine oil every season. Look for water
check the impeller (water pump), hydraulic hoses, the boot (large hose connected to the outdrive and transom). Clean off all those sharp zebra mussels – it is easier to clean them off in the spring when they are dead. Check the props for bending or chipping.
in the oil when changed (light in color or separated).
Check all ϐluids – power steering, power trim, lifts. Change out or clean all ϐilters and strainers (fuel,
Inboard engines - Check the props, shafts and struts
oil, fresh water and sea water). The air ϐilter (ϐlame arrester) for the engines should be cleaned a few times a year.
Check the anodes/zincs. They are sacriϐiced metals
PUT IN THE DRAIN PLUG IN THE BOTTOM OR
Wash and wax your boat. Besides looking good, it
Check all sailboat rigging for wear and tightness.
for wear.
that can be replaced.
will last longer and have better resale.
26 the shores
BACK OF THE BOAT.
