Article by Tor Pinney                                                                                                                           Back to Outfitting Checklist List

                  

THE CAPTAIN'S OFFSHORE PREP LIST
© 2011 Tor Pinney All Rights Reserved

Adapted from my book, “Ready for Sea! – How to
Outfit the Modern Cruising Sailboat” (Sheridan House)

 

When a yacht captain is preparing to take a vessel offshore, he needs to inspect the boat in detail, literally from masthead to keel and stem to stern. There is much to check, and it would be easy to overlook some ostensibly minor features. Most professional captains use some sort of check list, conducting what amounts to a mini marine survey of the boat, her gear and her inventory. The skipper heading out in his own boat will be wise to similarly go over everything before departure, no matter how familiar he thinks he is with his vessel.

The following is a list I've developed and used for many years when preparing a sailboat, particularly an unfamiliar one, for a blue water passage. It may prove useful to you, but should not be considered complete for every vessel and every crew on every voyage. It is ultimately each captain’s responsibility to determine that his vessel is ready for sea.

The Yacht

• LOA __________

• LOD __________

• Beam __________

• Draft __________

• Masthead height above water __________

• Displacement __________

• Water capacity __________

• Fuel capacity __________

• Engine's fuel consumption rate __________

• Engine hours __________    Generator hours __________

• Age of standing rigging __________

• Radio call sign __________________________________

General

• Review vessel operation and idiosyncrasies with owner and/or last operator

• Inventory/inspect/test all equipment, gear and supplies aboard, noting where stowed

• Locate keys (& spares) and/or combinations for all locks

Business / Officialdom

• Vessel’s documentation or registration certificate (plus color photocopies of same)

• Written, notarized authorization from owner naming the captain

• Passports for captain and crewmembers (plus photocopies of same)

• Visas for captain and crewmembers if required for foreign ports to be visited

• International Vaccinations Card, current, for captain and crewmembers if required by ports to be visited

• Radio station licenses

• Proof of insurance and insurance company and/or agent contact information

• Next of kin or emergency contact information for each crewmember

• Owner/vessel credit and/or debit cards

• Cash including small denominations

Captain’s Personal Kit

• Clothing, layered for temperature extremes

• Foul weather gear

• Survival suit in cold climates

• Safety harness

• Rigging knife & blade sharpener

• Deck shoes or white-soled sneakers; sea boots in cold climates

• Ample UV skin protection cream, 50 SPF

• Personal medications, if any; enough for at least twice the length of intended passage

• Toiletries kit (incl. seasick remedy) & bath towel

• Bedding, according to climate

• Alarm clock

• Egg timer

• Eyeglasses (and spares), if applicable

• Sunglasses, UV, polarized

• Hat(s) with sun visor

• Bathing suit

• Swim goggles or facemask

• Whistle

• Personal waterproof flashlight with spare batteries, charger and bulb

• Captain's log book

• Clipboard & paper

• Passport

• International Vaccinations Card, current, if required by ports to be visited

• Driver's license

• PADI certification card

• Credit/debit cards, and cash

• Camera, spare batteries & charger

• Personal reading material

• Navigation tools:
  __ Sextant (plus spare if no GPS)
  __ Chronometer and/or quartz crystal watches, set to WWV time signal
  __ Stopwatch
  __ Sight Reduction Tables & current Nautical Almanac
  __ Star finder
  __ Dividers
  __ Parallel rules
  __ Pens, pencils & sharpener
  __ Calculator

Rigging

• Inspect all standing rigging, deck to masthead: clevis pins, cotter pins, swages, chain plates, ground connections

• Inspect all running rigging to masthead; replace or switch end-for-end as necessary

• Inspect all sails, repair/reinforce/replace as necessary

• Inspect/operate all roller furling gear

• Bend on storm sails & sheets

• Hoist/secure radar reflector

• Check boson's chair

• Check/install tell tales and/or masthead wind indicator

• Check flags: national ensign, Q-flag, and courtesy flag(s) for intended foreign ports

• Check boom vang and/or rig a preventer

Deck

• Check winch handles (3 or more, 1 in holster at mainmast)

• Check ground tackle, minimum 2 bow anchors made up with chain & rode

• Windlass: locate manual & check operation

• Autopilot: locate manual & check operation

• Windvane: locate manual & check operation

• Check or make compass deviation card

• Check fit of wood covers for any large windows

• Locate/check covers for all dorade vents

• Check seal of anchor chain deck pipes; enhance with Plasticine clay or rope caulk as needed

• Check water-tightness of decks, hatches & ports with dockside water hose from various angles

• Lash or stow dinghy

• Check/fill kerosene hurricane lamp

• Operate deck spotlight

• Check sail ties

• Check lashing lines

• Check dock lines (6 minimum) & fenders (4 minimum)

• Check/secure boat hook

• Check fishing/trolling tackle & lures, pole net

• Check rain catcher or devise one (reversed mainsail cover, etc.)

• Check buckets (2) with strong handles & lanyards

• Fill/secure spare water jugs

• Fill/secure spare fuel jugs

• Inspect sea anchor and/or drogue

• Locate/attach snatch blocks for running rigging

• Check for 1/4-in. shock cord with (plastic) hooks

• Check deck brush, scrub brushes & mildly abrasive cleaner

• Check keys for all deck caps

• Check long garden hose & nozzle

• Check clothes pins

Mechanical

• Check engine:
  __ locate operation and service manuals
  __ check oil and transmission fluid
  __ check belt tension
  __ inspect/clean fuel filters
  __ check for non-siphon exhaust loop

• Run engine:
  __ check raw water flow
  __ check alternator output
  __ check gauge readings
  __ run in all gears

• Check generator:
  __ locate operation and service manuals
  __ check oil and belt tension
  __ check non-siphon exhaust

• Run generator:
  __ check raw water flow
  __ check alternator output
  __ check gauge readings
  __ run under load

• Check engine spares:
  __ engine oil
  __ transmission fluid
  __ oil filters
  __ fuel filters
  __ belts
  __ impeller

• Check/adjust stuffing box; requires 2 wrenches that fit! Repack if necessary

• Inspect entire steering system for wear & cable tension; clear loose equipment from cable runs (or check/fill hydraulic steering reservoir and air charge)

• Locate/test emergency tiller

• Confirm some means of locking prop shaft under sail

Hull

• Fill fuel tanks & spare fuel jugs

• Fill water tanks and spare water jugs

• Sketch locations of all thru-hulls and manually operate (shut & open) each

• Lash a fitted, labeled wood plug by each thru-hull, inboard

• Clean bilges, including limber holes and bilge pump strainers

• Locate and operate all pumps, running clean water into bilges as necessary

• Check all hoses and clamps (double-clamps below waterline)

• Locate/check anti-siphon loops & valves in bilge pumps, toilet discharge hoses, etc

• Check all hatch seals & lockdowns and companionway (lockable) washboards

• Check/replace shaft zinc(s) for longer voyages

• Clean boat's bottom just prior to departure, especially propeller

Interior

• Check/test/ cabin heater, if applicable, and top off fuel

• Check bedding for each crewmember, clean and adequate for the climate

• Rig lee cloths for all bunks

• Operate AM/FM radio/CD player & CD’s

• Check first aid kit & manual

• Check seasick pills supply, plenty for everyone

• Locate whisk broom & dust pan

• Check/operate gimbaled stove with pot retainers

• Check spare stove fuel or full propane tank

• Inventory food storage containers, zip-lock & normal plastic bags, assorted sizes

• Inventory pots, pans, dishes, bowls, thermos

• Inventory cooking and eating utensils

• Inventory emergency candles and/or kerosene lights

Electrical

• Check shore power cord and plug adapters

• Check ship’s batteries for clean connections, fluid level, ability to hold charge, and secure mounting; Check cells with hydrometer

• Check dockside battery charger operation

• Check/operate alternative energy sources: solar, wind, hydro

• Check/operate electrical panel

• Verify fuses for everything

• Check all lights masthead, running, spreader, foredeck, spot, interior, etc.

• Check spare bulb inventory

• Check several waterproof flashlights with spare batteries and bulbs

• Check means of charging laptops, cameras, etc.

Navigation

• Captain's log / ship’s log

• Check paper charts and/or electronic chart hardcopy printouts for entire voyage, including all potential ports of call, emergency or otherwise, en route

• Cruising Guides for all regions en route

• Reed’s Nautical Almanac for region(s) to be sailed

• Check regional pilot chart for month/season of intended passage

• Locate manuals for and test VHF, SSB, GPS, EPIRB, radar, weatherfax, and all other electronics on board

• Check calculator

• Ensure means of receiving time signals (other than GPS)

• Check barometer for accuracy, re-calibrate as necessary

• Check depth sounder and/or handheld lead line

• Check 7x50 binoculars

• Check horns, air and manual

• Radio Aids To Navigation

• Light Lists

• Tide & Current Tables

• Worldwide Marine Weather Broadcasts

• Check ship’s non-electronic navigation tools:
  __ Basic celestial navigation instruction book
  __ Sextant
  __ Chronometer and/or quartz crystal watches, set to WWV time signal
  __ Stopwatch
  __ Sight Reduction Tables & current Nautical Almanac
  __ Star finder
  __ Dividers
  __ Parallel rules
  __ Pens, pencils, sharpener & plain white paper

Safety

• Check for Coast Guard requirements: life preservers, horn, bell, whistle, flame arrester, venting, up-to-date fire extinguishers, flares & distress signals, oil pollution sign

• Check/prepare man overboard equipment: Life Sling or horseshoe ring with whistle, strobe, man overboard flag; also last chance trip line (see separate article)

• Inspect all safety harnesses, 1 per crew minimum, each with personal waterproof (strobe) light and whistle attached

• Inspect all PFD's, 1 per crew minimum

• Check life raft for current inspection certificate, good weather seal and secure mounting

• Pack an abandon ship survival kit (see separate list)

• Rig side deck jack lines for safety harnesses

• Review man overboard procedure with crew

• Review abandon ship procedure with crew

• File a sail plan and E.T.A. with someone ashore

Basic Tool Kit

• Pliers

• Needle nose pliers

• Channel locks

• Vice grips

• Screw drivers, wedge and Philips head; small, medium, & large

• Adjustable wrenches

• Wrenches to fit stuffing box

• Box wrenches, US & metric

• Socket set, US & metric

• Allen wrenches

• Hack saw with spare blades

• Breaker bar

• Multi-range multi-tester

• Electrical wire, at least 12g & 14g

• Electrical wire crimper/stripper & assorted terminals

• Cable cutter

• Hammers, a medium claw and a short-handled sledge

• Cold chisel

• Nails & wood screws

• Cordless drill, hand drill, drill bits

• Wood saw

• Fish fillet knife & sharper

• Fish cleaning board

• Non magnetic screwdriver (to adjust compass)

• All-purpose grease

• WD-40 & PB Blaster spray oils

• Tape: Duct, masking, electrical, Teflon & clear

• Stainless steel bailing wire

• Funnels

Damage Control Kit

• Sail repair kit: palms, needles, twine, sail cloth, rip-stop tape, splicing fid

• Spare shackles

• Spare turnbuckles (2)

• Spare rigging wire, cable clamps and terminals

• Free cutting brass and/or stainless steel: flat, bar, rod, and square stock

• Aluminum: angle, flat stock, pipe (up to 1 1/2-inch X the length of a spreader)

• Copper tubing and pipe

• Soft stainless steel or monel seizing wire

• Scrap automobile rubber inner tubes

• Nylon webbing straps

• Split connecting chain links

• Scrap wood: 2 x 4's, assorted plywood, plugs, bongs, blocks, etc.

• Scrap Linoleum: 1/8” or 3/16”

• Assorted screws, bolts, nuts, washers, cotter & clevis pins

• Cordless drill, bits & charger

• Assorted hose clamps

• Tubes of 5200 Fast Cure and 4200 Fast Cure adhesive sealants

• Underwater epoxy

• Epoxy resin with catalyst

• Fiberglass mat, woven roven

• Crash pad water activated fiberglass repair fabric

• Stern (packing) gland packing material

Provisions (see separate lists)

• Food, galley equipment

• Cleaning/cosmetic maintenance materials

• Chemicals/Solvents

Miscellaneous

• Fire: plenty of matches & lighters

• Paper towels and toilet paper

• See the book, “Ready for Sea! – How to Outfit the Modern Cruising Sailboat” (Sheridan House) for additional lists:

• Bare Essentials

• Basic Equipment

• Ship’s Tool Kit

• Chemicals to Carry

• Sails & Canvas

• Spare Parts Kit

• Navigation Tools

• Abandon Ship Survival Kit

• Documents & Officialdom

• Navigation Books & Charts

~ End ~

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