Updated from postings this week. Feel free to add your own... ENGINE Run diesels 85% of capacity to clear mixing elbow. Push the kill choke back down, to restart later. Check the oil level monthly, while cold. Use a white stick to read transmission level. When 40s, use hairdryer to warm up thru air horn. Don’t put gasoline into the diesel tank. Think. Don’t overfill fuel tank, an environmental mess. Make sure fuel-sending unit is bolted, could leak. Carry box of spare parts for engine and rigging. PROP Don’t go in reverse while dragging the dinghy. Don’t go forward of the mooring line until clear. Secure lines so they don’t go in water and foul prop. Apply barnacle barrier paint exclusively for props. Hire a diver to clean the prop monthly or quarterly. CLEANING Amonia in Windex crazes smoked plastic windows. Discourage guests w/ black soles from moving around. HEAD Re-pipe to a gallon jug to flush with fresh water. (Seawater cooks in the lines during the week.) ELECTRICAL Running water heater & A/C can fry the 110 line. Open the panel to see corrosion that fries wires. Check both ends of shore cord as tight, no corrosion. Shut down DC & AC before leaving. Unplug shore power cord before leaving the dock. Recharge overnight only, in case of lightning. DOCKING Deploy big guests to gunwales to fend off piers. Learn to back into a slip, in case of an emergency. Learn to attach the springline first. Never let anyone jump off while boat is still moving. Never drape the dock lines over the life lines. Never walk backward on dock holding the hose. SAFETY Remove car keys, cell phone, jewelry to cabin. Don’t let the crew lean against the lifelines. Teach Collision Course to avoid side-slipping to buoys. Never grab a mooring ball by hand, use boathook. Practice MOB drill by tossing a can and heaving to. Cut excess lines to reduce the danger of tripping. When practical, pass port-to-port & hold your course. Raise tugboats on Channel 13 to give your heading. Always wear a PFD, and harness/tether if solo. Test the batteries on hand-held gear. Beware POOF when lighting propane stove or grill. Do not drive a boat drunk, or let anyone else. Don’t fall asleep while on autopilot. Don’t tweak thru-hull fittings, unless on dry land. Don’t go out in the fog, it’s for professionals only. Don’t pee over the side, but leeward if you must. SAIL PLAN Reef early. If it’s already windy, reef at the dock. Use spinnaker sheets as a poor man’s whisker pole. Hank the jib by tying clew to lifeline, to ease raising. Scrub slime on bottom monthly to restore hull speed. PROTOCOL Record name of boat & owners of folks you meet. Wave politely to all neighbors and passing boats. Don’t give air horn to drunk-wanna-be-funny guy. Don’t give wheel to drunk-wanna-be-funny guy. Don’t stare at bikini girls who are in front of wife. Always thank the crew for a job well done. COMFORT Ask guests if they want ginger or wrist bands. Use camping mattresses, better on your back. Have plenty of water on board, keep crew hydrated. When in doubt, buy bigger and newer sailboat. SEASICK Avoid greasy foods, sweet drinks before and after. Ginger snap cookies and real ginger ale, not soda pop. Keep your eye on the horizon, which remains steady. Guide the victim to leeward side, just in case...
Lessons Learned (cont.)
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some disagreements
Hello, I think most of the lessons learned are good. However, I disagree with some of them: *Check the oil level monthly, while cold. <- I would check more often than that, especially if your engine uses a little oil. *When 40s, use hairdryer to warm up thru air horn. <- If your engine has glow plugs (and they work) you don't need to do this. And, without a 110V AC source, how are you going to power a hairdryer? *Running water heater & A/C can fry the 110 line. <- If your boat wiring is up to spec, this will not a problem. If not, maybe you should upgrade the wiring? *Deploy big guests to gunwales to fend off piers. <- Not for me. I want my guests inside the cockpit where they are safe. I would rather damage my boat than a guest. Barry
Hello, I think most of the lessons learned are good. However, I disagree with some of them: *Check the oil level monthly, while cold. <- I would check more often than that, especially if your engine uses a little oil. *When 40s, use hairdryer to warm up thru air horn. <- If your engine has glow plugs (and they work) you don't need to do this. And, without a 110V AC source, how are you going to power a hairdryer? *Running water heater & A/C can fry the 110 line. <- If your boat wiring is up to spec, this will not a problem. If not, maybe you should upgrade the wiring? *Deploy big guests to gunwales to fend off piers. <- Not for me. I want my guests inside the cockpit where they are safe. I would rather damage my boat than a guest. Barry
Lessons learned
Concur with most. Very good thoughts and lessons. I have one question and one to offer. I got a "white soles only please" sign right where you step aboard. Small and made of "boat name" sticker. Amazing how many guests notice it and either ask or take off shoes. Also, first mate and I have docking down. We also want all in the cockpit out of the way unless I have tasked them. Finally, why not drape the docklines over the lifelines? That works great for us in most situations. Just make sure the setup doesnt snag a stanchon. Also keeps someone from having to be outside the lifelines when docking. Just a quick grab once your on the dock. And mine arent long enough to foul anything should they wind up dragging. Nice job though
Concur with most. Very good thoughts and lessons. I have one question and one to offer. I got a "white soles only please" sign right where you step aboard. Small and made of "boat name" sticker. Amazing how many guests notice it and either ask or take off shoes. Also, first mate and I have docking down. We also want all in the cockpit out of the way unless I have tasked them. Finally, why not drape the docklines over the lifelines? That works great for us in most situations. Just make sure the setup doesnt snag a stanchon. Also keeps someone from having to be outside the lifelines when docking. Just a quick grab once your on the dock. And mine arent long enough to foul anything should they wind up dragging. Nice job though
Lessons
Deadline said, "ELECTRICAL Shut down DC & AC before leaving. Unplug shore power cord before leaving the dock. Recharge overnight only, in case of lightning." On my boat, I leave the DC power on, it powers the on board 12v refrigerator and the bilge pump. I also leave the AC on, it powers the battery charger which charges the batteries to operate the refrigeration and bilge pump. I'm on season number 11 doing it this way, no problems yet.
Deadline said, "ELECTRICAL Shut down DC & AC before leaving. Unplug shore power cord before leaving the dock. Recharge overnight only, in case of lightning." On my boat, I leave the DC power on, it powers the on board 12v refrigerator and the bilge pump. I also leave the AC on, it powers the battery charger which charges the batteries to operate the refrigeration and bilge pump. I'm on season number 11 doing it this way, no problems yet.
Responses
I have a couple of observations, but mostly agree with other posts. Check the oil monthly I must disagree with. I know that most engines in decent condition don't use any if much oil. Mine never uses any between changes. But I check it every time I use the boat, before start up. You can never tell when something such as a leak may occur. No big deal, but sure makes me feel more secure. Unplug the shore power before leaving the boat. My shore power stays on, all the time. Keeps the batteries charged, the bilge pump working, and a small fan running which helps keep any musty odors to a minimum. I would worry much more about a leak and the bilge pump not taking care of it than I do about an electrical fire. You hear many more people asking about water leaks than you do electrical problems.
I have a couple of observations, but mostly agree with other posts. Check the oil monthly I must disagree with. I know that most engines in decent condition don't use any if much oil. Mine never uses any between changes. But I check it every time I use the boat, before start up. You can never tell when something such as a leak may occur. No big deal, but sure makes me feel more secure. Unplug the shore power before leaving the boat. My shore power stays on, all the time. Keeps the batteries charged, the bilge pump working, and a small fan running which helps keep any musty odors to a minimum. I would worry much more about a leak and the bilge pump not taking care of it than I do about an electrical fire. You hear many more people asking about water leaks than you do electrical problems.
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