Its spring - finally -- and many of us are just back on the water after what seems like an endless winter. Regardless of whether you are lucky enough to sail all year round, or have a shorter season, now may be the time to do a safety inventory of you and your boat. When was the last time you checked your inflatable PFDs? Are the arming kits still ok? Ever tried to inflate one and put it on in the water? Do you have an adequately sized PFD for everyone who may be on your boat? How about your first aid kit? What's expiration date on that old tube of antiseptic in there? Are the bandaids still useful or are they dried out from being stored year after year? Think about all the devices aboard that use batteries. How are they doing or is it time for replacements? And then there is your air horn, emergency flares, and your fire extinguishers.... The list goes on. How do you keep up with the need to check and replace safety items on your boat? If you have a good system, share it with us here and then take the quick quiz on the homepage. (The last discussion topic and quiz by Warren Milberg)
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- Jan 22, 2008
- 519
Spring comissioning & fall decomissionig checklist
I have a binder aboard the boat which among other things has spring and fall checklists including checking batteries, radios, flashlights etc. I also have a variety of procedures listed. One of the checklists is particularly helpful when setting out with new crew. It goes through the whole process of leaving the dock and raising sail, but mostly it keeps the crew occupied reading the checklist instead of distracting me with questions or conversation while I am trying to get through the list of things I need to do. Another checklist is an instrument approach to the harbour, with GPS waypoints, compass headings, light marks etc.
I have a binder aboard the boat which among other things has spring and fall checklists including checking batteries, radios, flashlights etc. I also have a variety of procedures listed. One of the checklists is particularly helpful when setting out with new crew. It goes through the whole process of leaving the dock and raising sail, but mostly it keeps the crew occupied reading the checklist instead of distracting me with questions or conversation while I am trying to get through the list of things I need to do. Another checklist is an instrument approach to the harbour, with GPS waypoints, compass headings, light marks etc.
We lost a sailor on our lake on Saturday.
He was seasoned on this lake for over 20 years. His body has still not been recovered. He tacked in about 28 knots of wind and was knocked down and washed over board in 50 degree water. be safe! What ever it takes. keep your crew safe, the young ones count on you! r.w.landau
He was seasoned on this lake for over 20 years. His body has still not been recovered. He tacked in about 28 knots of wind and was knocked down and washed over board in 50 degree water. be safe! What ever it takes. keep your crew safe, the young ones count on you! r.w.landau
Races
Several of the offshore races I do have serious inspections or spot checks. I find these are an excellent tool to keep yourself on top of the gear. Additionally, I take my inflatable vests and waist packs home to check out. I once found a cartridge had been pierced and had a slow leak that had no exterior evidence. Rick D.
Several of the offshore races I do have serious inspections or spot checks. I find these are an excellent tool to keep yourself on top of the gear. Additionally, I take my inflatable vests and waist packs home to check out. I once found a cartridge had been pierced and had a slow leak that had no exterior evidence. Rick D.
WE check periodically
We are lucky enough to sail year-around in Alabama, so we don't have an end-of-season / beginning-of-season checklist. We do have a check list for when we leave the dock, which includes fuel levels, battery levels, PFD's, radio check, etc. When we go off for a weekend trip we check first-aid supplies, dry/warm clothing, etc. I believe that safety-checking is a continuous process, and should be done every time you take the boat out. Operating in a safe manner is more important than having the correct gear and equipment on board.
We are lucky enough to sail year-around in Alabama, so we don't have an end-of-season / beginning-of-season checklist. We do have a check list for when we leave the dock, which includes fuel levels, battery levels, PFD's, radio check, etc. When we go off for a weekend trip we check first-aid supplies, dry/warm clothing, etc. I believe that safety-checking is a continuous process, and should be done every time you take the boat out. Operating in a safe manner is more important than having the correct gear and equipment on board.
No Sweat.
We enjoy having guests on our Hunter 336 and every time we leave the dock with our new sailors, I conduct a safety meeting. It can get a little lumpy sometimes in Ventura, so we offer Dramamine or the little wrist button sea sick things (sorry, can't think of their name) and show where the first aid kit is. We show where the flares and air horn are, offer and explain the operation of our pfds and explain the throwable life ring. It helps our guests to know that safety is an issue on our boat and I feel, makes our guests more comfortable.
We enjoy having guests on our Hunter 336 and every time we leave the dock with our new sailors, I conduct a safety meeting. It can get a little lumpy sometimes in Ventura, so we offer Dramamine or the little wrist button sea sick things (sorry, can't think of their name) and show where the first aid kit is. We show where the flares and air horn are, offer and explain the operation of our pfds and explain the throwable life ring. It helps our guests to know that safety is an issue on our boat and I feel, makes our guests more comfortable.
Final results
Final results for the Quick Quiz ending May 28, 2007: I check and replace saftey items on my boat: 64% Regularly 26% Now and then 06% When something fails 03% I'm going to do it now!
Final results for the Quick Quiz ending May 28, 2007: I check and replace saftey items on my boat: 64% Regularly 26% Now and then 06% When something fails 03% I'm going to do it now!
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