Are you a forgetful trailersailor? Don’t fret. Here’s the list to end all checklists
Issue 38 : Sept/Oct 2004
I pride myself in mentally warehousing innumerable, disjointed facts and recalling them at will. My wife says my brain is becoming a compendium of useless information, such as the name of the Lone Ranger’s nephew’s horse, for example. When it comes to some aspects of my sailboat, however, I don’t rely on my memory. I use checklists. This way I ensure that everything that needs to be done is done. As a trailersailor, I have the responsibilities of launching and retrieval as well as taking care of the trailer and the tow vehicle. Checklists make life a lot easier.
The following checklists have been developed over time and address a variety of sailing-related tasks. They are by no means complete, owing to the fact that not all boats, trailers, and sailing grounds are the same. Besides, each skipper has his or her own way of doing things. So use these checklists as a guide and massage them into your own personalized version.
While it’s always a good idea to check the tow vehicle, boat trailer, and sailboat just minutes before leaving, some things should be done the day before departure. Then if a deficiency is found, there is time to take corrective action. In any event, double-checking never hurts. The pre-departure checklists will help you to ensure the safety and security of your towing rig and minimize any on-the-road problems.
When towing a sailboat and trailer, be sensitive to any unusual sounds or handling characteristics that you may encounter. Should something alert you, pull over to the side of the road, stop immediately, and check it out. Make periodic on-the-road checks of your towing rig at hourly intervals. The on-the-road checklist highlights major items that can potentially cause you problems while traveling if they are not periodically addressed and maintained.
Do everything you can to ready your craft for launching before moving to the launch ramp. Especially with a sailboat, you have some work that needs to be done before you’re ready to launch. There’s no point in holding up others while you accomplish it. The pre-launch checklist will help you address those activities.
Launching ramps come in all degrees of slope and condition. Look your intended ramp over carefully before you back down. Also familiarize yourself with the launching checklist. Remember that your tow vehicle isn’t waterproof.
Whether you sail from a trailer, slip, or mooring, it’s prudent to conduct a pre-sail check. While the pre-sail checklist is by no means complete, the four items it does contain are routinely neglected and should be considered each time you set out.
Before you set sail, familiarize your guests with your boat and its safety equipment. The degree of detail necessary depends on several factors, including each guest’s sailing experience and familiarity with your boat as well as on the length of the cruise. Use the guest-briefing checklist and the outboard-motor-training checklist when dealing with guests or new crewmembers.
Before leaving your sailboat at its slip or mooring, go over those post-sail items that will help to ensure that your boat will be safe and secure in your absence.
Retrieval is basically the inverse of launching. Use the retrieval checklist in this process. Remember that pulling a boat and trailer up a wet ramp, especially if it’s steep, is almost always harder than backing down the ramp. Therefore, once the boat’s bow is secured to the trailer, use low gear and gently apply the gas.
When the sailing season’s over, it’s time to store your sailboat. At no time is there a greater opportunity to prevent problems than at layup. By using a checklist, you can just about guarantee that your spring commissioning will go more smoothly.
Look at your winter layup checklist from last year. You’ll need to undo some of those items during spring commissioning.
No matter how comprehensive the checklist, if you don’t actually use it, the chances are that something will be missed. While sailing is not rocket science, it is analogous to flying. Pilots use checklists all the time to ensure a safe and efficient flight. Why not adapt and benefit from this low-tech, yet almost foolproof, technique?
By the way, the Lone Ranger’s nephew’s horse’s name was Victor.
Trailer pre-departure checklist:
- Tire pressure
- Wheel-bearing grease
- Lugnut tightness
- Spare-tire pressure
- Ball greased
- Trailer-to-tow-vehicle connection solid
- Coupler locked
- Electrical connection made
- Break-away cable, if equipped with
- brakes
- Trailer-brake, turn-signal, and running lights working
- Safety chains attached and crossed
- Tongue jack up and locked
- Boat secured at bow
- Winch locked
- Boat tiedowns secure
- Centerboard down and resting on cross-member
- Rigging, boom, and mast secured
- All gear aboard properly stowed
- Motor removed or secured for towing
- Rudder removed or secured for trailering
- License plate on and registration valid
Tow vehicle pre-departure checklist:
- Fluid levels
- Engine oil
- Transmission
- Battery electrolyte
- Power steering
- Brake fluid
- Radiator
- Windshield washer
- Condition of radiator hoses and cap
- Battery terminals corrosion-free and tight
- Fan-belt tension and condition
- Air filter
- Tire pressure and condition
- Heavy-duty flasher
- Brake, turn signal, running lights
- Fuel level
- Ball matches trailer hitch
Emergency trailering equipment checklist:
- Trailer jack
- Lug wrench for trailer lugnuts
- Trailer spare tire
- Spare pair of wheel bearings
- Wheel-bearing grease
- Tire-pressure gauge
- Wheel chocks
- Spare light bulbs
- Spare fuses
- Duct tape
- Spare line and tiedowns
- Assortment of tools
- Flashlight
- Breakdown triangles/flares
On-the-road checklist:
- Wheel-bearing temperature
- Slacked-off lug bolts
- Tire pressure
- Brake, turn signal, and running lights
- Security of boat tiedowns
- Security of rigging, boom, and mast
Pre-launch checklist:
- Check for overhead obstructions
- Remove and store travel cover
- Undo all tiedowns, except winch/bow connection
- Install drain plug
- Step the mast
- Attach boom
- Bend on sails and secure (do not hoist)
- Check to see that nothing protrudes from the boat to snag on the trailer frame
- Rudder off or in the up position
- Centerboard up all the way and pendant made fast
- Motor up
- Unplug tow-vehicle-to-trailer electrical connection
- Attach launch lines to bow and stern
- Attach fenders
- Assure all gear is aboard and secured
Launching checklist:
- Man the launch lines
- Slowly back down the ramp
- Chock wheels of the tow vehicle
- Stay in tow vehicle with foot on brake, engine on, ready to pull forward (if needed to launch, set parking brake, engine off, transmission in “park,” if automatic; “first,” if manual)
- Launch boat
- Tie off boat to dock
- Pull tow vehicle and trailer to parking area
Pre-sail checklist:
- Obtain a weather report
- File a float plan. If the sail is going to be more than a few hours, a float plan should be filed with the nearest harbor authority (not USCG), yacht club, friend, or relative. If trailering, leave a copy under the windshield of your tow vehicle.
- Check the bilge for water
- Turn battery switch to “on” position
Guest-briefing checklist:
- Point out life jackets’ location and fit each guest
- Operation of engine
- Sail handling
- How to operate radio
- Location and operation of fire extinguisher(s)
- Location of first-aid kit
- Location of signaling equipment
- Crew-overboard procedures
- Operation of head
- Operation of stove
- Potable water system’s operation, capacity, and conservation
- Location of electrical switches
- Operation of battery switch
- Anchoring techniques
- Stowage
- Sleeping arrangements
- Safety harness
- Watch schedule
- Familiarize with checklists
Outboard motor operation checklist:
Starting:
- Moor boat securely
- Fuel tank full
- Fuel line connected properly to both tank and motor
- Fuel tank vent open
- Gearshift in “neutral” position
- Turn throttle to “start” position
- If electric start, battery fully charged
- Pump primer bulb until firm
- Pull out choke
- Slowly pull starter cord until resistance is felt, then pull starter cord in short swift motion, OR
- If electric start, turn battery switch to “on” position and turn key to engage starter
- Once engine engages, push choke in. (If engine does not start, see trouble-shooting section of your engine manual)
- Check for cooling-water discharge. (If no discharge, turn off engine and check for fouled water intake)
- Set throttle to “idle” position
Stopping:
- Gearshift in “neutral” position
- Turn throttle to “idle” position
- Push engine stop/kill button or if electric start, turn key “off” (if no button, pull choke all the way out)
Post-sail checklist:
- Turn off all electrical equipment except bilge pump, which should be wired directly to the battery
- Turn battery switch to “off” position
- Stow all gear
- Remove and stow or cover all sails
- Secure halyards/running rigging
- Secure tiller
- Remove all trash for proper disposal
- Remove all perishable foodstuffs
- Secure all hatches and portlights
- Make a list of items that need to be brought on board or attended to
- Double-check all the dock/mooring lines
- Wash the deck and cockpit Lock the boat
Retrieval checklist:
- Attach and man the launch lines
- Raise the centerboard and secure it
- Remove or raise the rudder into trailering position
- Raise outboard motor
- Connect winch cable to towing eye on boat
- Pull/float boat onto the trailer
- Lock winch, securing the boat to the trailer
- Pull up ramp to the parking area
- Lower centerboard
- Remove and stow sails
- Lower mast and secure it, along with boom and rigging, for travel
- Remove or secure outboard motor for trailering
- Secure all loose items
- Remove drain plug
- Secure boat fore and aft
- Replace boat cover
- Plug in tow vehicle to trailer electrical connection
Layup checklist:
Belowdecks:
- Remove sails, bedding, cushions, and spare cordage (clean, repair, dry and store in warm dry location)
- Remove electronics
- Remove flashlights and equipment with dry-cell batteries
- Remove all foodstuffs
- Drain potable water system or charge it with non-toxic antifreeze
- Leave all cupboards and storage bins open
- Remove all traces of water from the bilge
- Clean and grease all seacocks and leave open
- Remove and service Porta Pottis or flush, disinfect, and drain all heads
- Clean, disinfect, and dry all surfaces (inside and out of storage areas also)
Topside:
- Inspect and clean all standing rigging (repair or renew as required)
- Store loose shackles, swivels, clevis pins, etc., in a sealed container (prior to storage, spray them with light oil or dry lubricant)
- Inspect and clean mast and boom (clean and lubricate all luff grooves, channels for slugs, and sheave boxes. Repair as required)
- Check all fittings for tightness, corrosion, and operation
- Inspect, clean, and repair all sails (after dry, loosely flake and store in warm dry location)
- Remove all running rigging
- Inspect, repair, and replace running rigging as required
- Wash and dry all running rigging before storage
- Clean and service all winches
Battery:
- Top off electrolyte with distilled water
- Clean battery terminals of any corrosion
- Charge battery fully
- During storage, periodically charge battery (better yet, float charge)
Trailer:
- Inspect and repack wheel bearings
- Block up trailer frame, taking weight off tires and springs
- Cover tires to protect from sun’s ultraviolet rays
Outboard motor:
- Follow manufacturer’s layup procedures
- Empty all gasoline from auxiliary tank and store dry
Spring commissioning checklist:
- Lubricate seacocks
- Close all seacocks that were opened in the fall
- Inspect all hoses and hose clamps
- Inspect fire extinguisher(s)
- Inspect flares and check expiration date
- Inspect bilge pump and float switch
- Drain and flush potable water system if laid up with non-toxic antifreeze; if laid up dry, flush with baking soda and water to freshen
- Check electrolyte and charge levels of battery before reinstalling.
Thank you to Sailrite Enterprises, Inc., for providing free access to back issues of Good Old Boat through intellectual property rights. Sailrite.com
