Do you worry about leaving your boat unattended? Do you close ALL through hull seacocks before you leave? Is any electric heat source left on, along with perhaps the fridge and bilge pump? Cover the deck with a tarp or canvas cover? What about sails and canvas – is everything removed and stowed below or do you leave things ready for the next sail? Does it concern you when you hear about theft, or unattended boats sinking or catching fire? Express your fears here, then vote in the Quick Quiz on the home page. (Discussion topic and quiz by Trevor MacLachlan)
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No worries
Boats on the hook. Put on a chafe guard. Close ALL seacocks. Turn everything off. Auto-Bilge pump is wired to the battery. Halyards snugged to shrouds. Sails are all furled. Beyond my control... look forward to next weekend.
Boats on the hook. Put on a chafe guard. Close ALL seacocks. Turn everything off. Auto-Bilge pump is wired to the battery. Halyards snugged to shrouds. Sails are all furled. Beyond my control... look forward to next weekend.
What ,Me Worry?
Being at a public marina with security and always someone on the dock most of the time I don't worry about theft,and because the boat is berthed bow in it makes it difficult for a stranger to sail boats get on (I think) I only shut my engine sea cock early and late in the season when I'm not using or on the boat every day , but after May I'm at the boat every day and I'm not concerned. As for the electric I'm plugged in and I leave the main breaker off at the dock and when I arrive at the boat I'll turn it on and turn it off when I leave,if after a weekend on the hook I'll leave the power on for a couple of days to bring the batterys up. The only concern I have before leaving the dock is that my jib furling is secured because the boat is directly into the prevailing SW winds and I've seen a few jibs in the marina get unwound from there furlings while at the dock in fact one weekend a few docks away there was one boat with his sail completly out and flapping and know one on the dock knew what to do, so after and hour I went just aboard and furled the jib before it got damaged. I would never leave a heater unattended
Being at a public marina with security and always someone on the dock most of the time I don't worry about theft,and because the boat is berthed bow in it makes it difficult for a stranger to sail boats get on (I think) I only shut my engine sea cock early and late in the season when I'm not using or on the boat every day , but after May I'm at the boat every day and I'm not concerned. As for the electric I'm plugged in and I leave the main breaker off at the dock and when I arrive at the boat I'll turn it on and turn it off when I leave,if after a weekend on the hook I'll leave the power on for a couple of days to bring the batterys up. The only concern I have before leaving the dock is that my jib furling is secured because the boat is directly into the prevailing SW winds and I've seen a few jibs in the marina get unwound from there furlings while at the dock in fact one weekend a few docks away there was one boat with his sail completly out and flapping and know one on the dock knew what to do, so after and hour I went just aboard and furled the jib before it got damaged. I would never leave a heater unattended
Close all the seacocks
Easy to do on my Hunter and gives me peace of mind being that I'm on a can and there's nobody around to check on the boat when I'm gone.
Easy to do on my Hunter and gives me peace of mind being that I'm on a can and there's nobody around to check on the boat when I'm gone.
Mostly, no.
Do you worry about leaving your boat unattended? No Do you close ALL through hull seacocks before you leave? No Is any electric heat source left on, along with perhaps the fridge and bilge pump? Bilge pump only Cover the deck with a tarp or canvas cover? No What about sails and canvas – is everything removed and stowed below or do you leave things ready for the next sail? Only the genny is below deck Does it concern you when you hear about theft, or unattended boats sinking or catching fire? Always
Do you worry about leaving your boat unattended? No Do you close ALL through hull seacocks before you leave? No Is any electric heat source left on, along with perhaps the fridge and bilge pump? Bilge pump only Cover the deck with a tarp or canvas cover? No What about sails and canvas – is everything removed and stowed below or do you leave things ready for the next sail? Only the genny is below deck Does it concern you when you hear about theft, or unattended boats sinking or catching fire? Always
No worries
My sails stay on all the time. The jib is roller furled and the main is flaked and covered. I do take off the main sheet but that is just to keep it out of the weather. The boat is never plugged in because my solar cell is enough to keep things topped off but I do switch off the battery master just in case I forgot to turn off a light or something, i don't want a dead battery. My marina doesn't really have a theft problem but I do lock the boat. The best insurance to not losing everything, though, is insurance. I really like my boat but it is 100% insured. If there is a fire, sinking, or theft I'll just have to go get a new one. While shopping around can be a pain in the ass I have no real financial burden.
My sails stay on all the time. The jib is roller furled and the main is flaked and covered. I do take off the main sheet but that is just to keep it out of the weather. The boat is never plugged in because my solar cell is enough to keep things topped off but I do switch off the battery master just in case I forgot to turn off a light or something, i don't want a dead battery. My marina doesn't really have a theft problem but I do lock the boat. The best insurance to not losing everything, though, is insurance. I really like my boat but it is 100% insured. If there is a fire, sinking, or theft I'll just have to go get a new one. While shopping around can be a pain in the ass I have no real financial burden.
I worry a little since I live an hour away from the boat
Every time I leave the boat I close all the seacocks, shut off all the electrical stuff except the bilge pump which is hardwired to the battery. I unplug any appliances and disconnect the shore power cable at the dock (also flipping the breakers to off). I also shut off the fuel to the diesel. I check the bilge for any signs of water, check the stuffing box, check the depth finder transducer and the knotmeter paddle wheel thru-hull for any signs of leakage. I disconnect the fuel line to my outboard and bring the fuel tank home with me. The main sail is held in place with bungees with the little balls on the ends and is also under a cover. The jib is roller furling and I double check that the lines are secured. If the forecasts call for heavy winds while I'm away I use a few the little bungees around the jib as insurance. I also double check that the docklines are secured. All ports and hatches are closed and locked. Last but not least the wheel gets a bungee on either side attached to a cleat to keep the rudder from moving. It makes my wife crazy waiting for me to do all this stuff
Manny
Every time I leave the boat I close all the seacocks, shut off all the electrical stuff except the bilge pump which is hardwired to the battery. I unplug any appliances and disconnect the shore power cable at the dock (also flipping the breakers to off). I also shut off the fuel to the diesel. I check the bilge for any signs of water, check the stuffing box, check the depth finder transducer and the knotmeter paddle wheel thru-hull for any signs of leakage. I disconnect the fuel line to my outboard and bring the fuel tank home with me. The main sail is held in place with bungees with the little balls on the ends and is also under a cover. The jib is roller furling and I double check that the lines are secured. If the forecasts call for heavy winds while I'm away I use a few the little bungees around the jib as insurance. I also double check that the docklines are secured. All ports and hatches are closed and locked. Last but not least the wheel gets a bungee on either side attached to a cleat to keep the rudder from moving. It makes my wife crazy waiting for me to do all this stuff
Manny
I have changed
I have changed my habits somewhat. Used to leave things on most of the time. Boat is docked 30' from the back steps. Then I had a little fan catch fire. Luckily I was home, and got it out before much more than smoke damage. But I don't do that any more. I do now have a couple of 100 watt light bulbs burning. Keeps things a little drier inside when the boat is closed up. But not much danger of them causing a fire. Bilge pump wired direct to house bank, and battery switch off. But I do not close sea cocks. By the way, thanks to whom ever posted up a while ago about mounting a couple of garage lights on a piece of plank. The two 100 watt bulbs certainly make a difference inside the boat, as far as moisture and mildew are concerned.
I have changed my habits somewhat. Used to leave things on most of the time. Boat is docked 30' from the back steps. Then I had a little fan catch fire. Luckily I was home, and got it out before much more than smoke damage. But I don't do that any more. I do now have a couple of 100 watt light bulbs burning. Keeps things a little drier inside when the boat is closed up. But not much danger of them causing a fire. Bilge pump wired direct to house bank, and battery switch off. But I do not close sea cocks. By the way, thanks to whom ever posted up a while ago about mounting a couple of garage lights on a piece of plank. The two 100 watt bulbs certainly make a difference inside the boat, as far as moisture and mildew are concerned.
No worries except when a hurricaine comes
Half the police dept have their boats at my marina it's always patrolled. Leave the engine sea cock open, battery charger on, and bildge bump on automatic. had the engine sea cock closed one time forgot and burned the impellor. A hurricaine warning, the sails, bimini and dodger all come down. Sea cocks are closed, double lines set to the dock, and an anchor set well off the boat in case the lines give way. The marina is in a Hurricaine hole, so far so good.
Half the police dept have their boats at my marina it's always patrolled. Leave the engine sea cock open, battery charger on, and bildge bump on automatic. had the engine sea cock closed one time forgot and burned the impellor. A hurricaine warning, the sails, bimini and dodger all come down. Sea cocks are closed, double lines set to the dock, and an anchor set well off the boat in case the lines give way. The marina is in a Hurricaine hole, so far so good.
No worries here.
My marina is gated, the parking lot is gated and there are people on watch around the clock. I've forgotten my keys in the ignition a few times with no issues. Of course, you have to bend over and look under the bridgedeck to see them....
My marina is gated, the parking lot is gated and there are people on watch around the clock. I've forgotten my keys in the ignition a few times with no issues. Of course, you have to bend over and look under the bridgedeck to see them....
Worrying more these days.
Ladylove used to be 90 minutes away. And up on her secure cradle from November through March. Now she is in the water and twelve hours away. And after a visit there last week new cause for worry. I noticed she seemed low in the bow. I pulled the hatch where the head thru-hull lives and the bilge is always dry. It was up to the bottom of the too high limber hole! Shortening the story I found the forward chain locker to be completely full of water!! The only reason the water did not come into the v-berth was a small hole near the top of the frame for wiring. That hole let the water trickle into the next locker and then through more wiring holes to that bilge location mentioned above. Those lockers had never had a drop before. Culprit? A clogged drain in the anchor locker. That locker filled to the point where the water ran down the hawse pipe and into the chain locker. All the rain from the time I left her in October I suppose. And I neglected to check those lockers when passing through in January. And, of course, a bilge check in the normal location gives no hint of the problem. Now even with all electric off and all seacocks closed I have new cause for worry.
Ladylove used to be 90 minutes away. And up on her secure cradle from November through March. Now she is in the water and twelve hours away. And after a visit there last week new cause for worry. I noticed she seemed low in the bow. I pulled the hatch where the head thru-hull lives and the bilge is always dry. It was up to the bottom of the too high limber hole! Shortening the story I found the forward chain locker to be completely full of water!! The only reason the water did not come into the v-berth was a small hole near the top of the frame for wiring. That hole let the water trickle into the next locker and then through more wiring holes to that bilge location mentioned above. Those lockers had never had a drop before. Culprit? A clogged drain in the anchor locker. That locker filled to the point where the water ran down the hawse pipe and into the chain locker. All the rain from the time I left her in October I suppose. And I neglected to check those lockers when passing through in January. And, of course, a bilge check in the normal location gives no hint of the problem. Now even with all electric off and all seacocks closed I have new cause for worry.
I'm worried when ...
1. leave boat on anchor 2. leave shorepower on when I'm away 3. there's bad weather and dock lines are wore 4. people fishing on marina pontoon (not suppose to but they still do...) 5. unaccompanied visitors to pontoon (esp. those from China. They often don't have respect for private property) 6. when there's a termite boat berthing in same pontoon
1. leave boat on anchor 2. leave shorepower on when I'm away 3. there's bad weather and dock lines are wore 4. people fishing on marina pontoon (not suppose to but they still do...) 5. unaccompanied visitors to pontoon (esp. those from China. They often don't have respect for private property) 6. when there's a termite boat berthing in same pontoon
Ah! Sailor's Paranoia!
My boat is kept at a secure marina during the season. In addition to card-key entry, attendants stroll the docks and report any "problems." If such problems become evident - the office calls the owner. I think this makes the "extra" cost of marina dockage worth it. In addition - I always disconnect shore power when leaving the boat. When I think we're about to get "socked" with inclement weather - I also double-up on lines. Bill on STARGAZER
My boat is kept at a secure marina during the season. In addition to card-key entry, attendants stroll the docks and report any "problems." If such problems become evident - the office calls the owner. I think this makes the "extra" cost of marina dockage worth it. In addition - I always disconnect shore power when leaving the boat. When I think we're about to get "socked" with inclement weather - I also double-up on lines. Bill on STARGAZER
I can't close all seacocks
Two of them are cockpit drains. Close them and the cockpit will flood into the cabin. I close both toilet seacocks, the galley sink and the AC intake. Left open are the engine and generator, two cockpit drains and everything above the water line. The engine and generator cocks are closed in the off season, but they are difficult to get to so they don't get closed every weekend. I guess it's a chance I'm willing to take.
Two of them are cockpit drains. Close them and the cockpit will flood into the cabin. I close both toilet seacocks, the galley sink and the AC intake. Left open are the engine and generator, two cockpit drains and everything above the water line. The engine and generator cocks are closed in the off season, but they are difficult to get to so they don't get closed every weekend. I guess it's a chance I'm willing to take.
Final results
Final results for the Quick Quiz ending March 23, 2008: When putting the boat to bed, I do the following: 48% Make sure everything electrical is turned off and close ALL seacocks 25% Make sure everything electrical is turned off 17% Park the boat in my backyard on its trailer 16% Throw a couple fenders over the side and call it a day
Final results for the Quick Quiz ending March 23, 2008: When putting the boat to bed, I do the following: 48% Make sure everything electrical is turned off and close ALL seacocks 25% Make sure everything electrical is turned off 17% Park the boat in my backyard on its trailer 16% Throw a couple fenders over the side and call it a day
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