Your Springtime Safety Checklist

by Dick Werner
 

We’re all waiting with great anticipation for Old Man Winter to go away down the path, and to welcome springtime’s arrival with bursting buds in our gardens and lush, fast-growing grass calling out to our lawnmowers. But, more important for us, is watching the nearby rivers clear themselves of their muddy winter murk and the gorgeous lakes returning to their proper levels allowing us to safely put in our boats.
 

Prior to launching our beautiful pieces of mahogany in our favorite rivers or lakes, consciously or unconsciously we do the obvious safety checks that we’ve done every spring.
Of course we make sure that the garboard drain plug is tightly screwed in the hull so we will not embarrassingly have our boat sink at the launch site. We also made sure that the battery water level is OK and that it is fully charged. How embarrassing to have a dock full of admirers waiting to hear the deep roar of the engine and after two or three weak attempts of the engine to turn over... suddenly nothing. In addition, we have neatly stowed away the life preservers so anyone in an emergency who might need them could not find them if their life depended on it. We definitely remembered to throw the four or five lines in the boat; even though they’re a little frayed, they have been reliable for the last 15 years or so. The fire extinguishers should still be good because I’ve never had to use them since they’ve been in the boat, although somebody did mention that often times they will lose their pressure after several years and should be checked annually.
 

These are just a few examples of the things that for safety sake we need to check. I mentioned just a few because there are quite a number of safety items we need to check prior to our first spring cruise. We can’t expect everything to still work and be as reliable as it was the year before. Things just seem to happen in an unfavorable way while our boats are sitting in storage for the winter. Also, some items are just not meant to last forever and they occasionally need to be replaced.
 

The following is a checklist that will work well with runabouts and cover most, but not all, of the big cruisers.
 

First of all, I have assumed that you properly stored your boat in a covered area to protect it from the winter elements. If you leave a cover on your boat make sure that it is raised up enough to provide for good circulation of air. Stagnant air and moisture do funny things to bottom planks and frames.
 

Hull:
1. Check for hull abrasion, gouges or cracks in the hull side planks. Repair where needed.
2. Check all screws, bolts, and other fittings for looseness.
3. Check shaft, strut and prop for looseness, alignment, dings, and pitting.
4. Check stuffing boxes on the shaft and rudder. Repack if necessary.
5. Touch-up and replace antifouling paint.
Engine compartment:
1. Clean up any old oil that is on the bilge floor.
2. Inspect fuel lines and vent hoses for softness, brittleness or cracking.
3. Inspect fuel tanks, fuel pumps, and filters for leaks.
4. Inspect cooling hoses for leaks, stiffness, and cracks.
5. Does the bilge blower work?
6. Do the bilge pumps work? Is the automatic pump switch free of debris?
7. Check and clean the backfire flame arrester.
Electrical:
1. Do the running lights work? Make sure you have spare bulbs.
2. Is there a backup flashlight on board in case of electrical failure?
3. Does the horn work?
4. Inspect all wiring for wear and chafe. Check terminals for corrosion.
5. Test all gauges for operability.
6. Clean the battery cable connections.
Miscellaneous:
1. Is there a flare kit on board? Check the expiration date and replace if necessary.
2. Check fire extinguishers and recharge if necessary.
3. Inspect dock and anchor lines. Rope is cheap and your boat is expensive. Frequently replace them.
4. Do you have a tow rope? You or a fellow boater may need it sometime.
5. Replace those old life preservers and float cushions. Do not keep them on board for their antique value; you may have to use them sometime. The Coast Guard requires an additional throwable floatation device if your boat is more than 16 feet long.
6. How old are the supplies in the first aid kit?
7. Have a toolbox with sufficient hand tools to make necessary repairs. Carry some spare parts.
8. Have some ability to communicate with shore for help, whether it be a cell phone or marine radio.
Trailer:
1. Inspect tires for lack of proper tread or cracks in the sidewalls. Check air pressure.
2. Inspect bearings and repack as necessary because they often will be dry after going in and out of the water from the prior summer.
3. Test the tail lights.
4. Check the brakes.
5. Are the safety chains long enough so they can be crisscrossed under the coupler when the trailer is attached to the towing vehicle?
 

This safety check list should be as important and probably more so than putting those last couple of coats of varnish on the hull sides and decks. Let’s have fun in our treasured boats this summer and relax knowing that we have done everything possible to prevent a disaster on board, or if something does happen, we are prepared.
I want to thank Hagerty Insurance for providing some of the material for this article. Hagerty wants to remind us that all ACBS members receive a 10% discount on their policy from them.