at the dock

Departure Checklist – Closing Up The Boat

/ Ben Starling / Leave a comment

 After a few productive and enjoyable training days with the new cruising crew, I had the Can Opener draft a ‘to do’ guide for closing up the boat for a short time after a training weekend. 

This is to make sure we do everything necessary to take care the boat before leaving it at the dock.

The team we’re training with is a stickler for boat care and a dehumidifier is used whenever we’re not aboard to make sure it stays dry and mildew-free. We live in a rather damp country…


Here’s the Can Opener’s list:


 

DEPARTURE CHECKLIST
at end of a short passage 

Seacocks
  • Close seacock valve – toilet outflow
  • Close seacock valve – seawater for toilet inflow
  • Close seacock valve – seawater for engine cooling inflow
  • Ensure seacock valve still open – galley sink outflow (for dehumidifier)
  
Electricity
  • Ensure fuse is on for dehumidifier
  • Ensure onshore electricity is hooked up (for dehumidifier)
  • Ensure onshore electrical extension cord is secure – wrapped once around electric box on dock and once more around nearby cleat
  • Turn off electricity to service system
  • Turn off all white circuit breaker switches by nav station

 
Cabin

  • Close and lock all hatches – bow (1), saloon (1), loo (1) and stern ports (2)
  • Tidy and stow everything
  • Clean all glass and silver surfaces
  • Hoover floors
  • Clean loo and under sole in loo
  • Put ‘conditioner’ in loo
  • Set up dehumidifier – plugged in? yellow hose into sink? dehumidifier turned on?
  • Leave all interior cabin doors open for ventilation
  • Turn up cushions and mattresses for ventilation
  • Close curtains to reduce interior sun damage
  • Put GPS cover on at nav station

 
Galley

  • Sort and store dry goods in galley cupboards
  • Remove all perishable foods from boat
  • Do dishes
  • Clean sink and silver surfaces
  • Wipe down all counters
  • Wipe inside refrigerator
  • Leave refrigerator door open for ventilation
  • Confirm propane gas switch in galley above sink is turned off
  • DOUBLE CHECK that propane gas tank is turned off by helm!

 
Deck & Dock

  • Coil all lines
  • Confirm all sails secure
  • Confirm that all dock lines are secure and halyards not slapping against the mast
  • Confirm fenders are in right place and doing a good job
  • Bring in life ring and life sling and store them inside cabin
  • Replace plastic covers on instruments
  • Remove engine start keys and place on berth in stern cabin
  • Raise dodger
  • Tie sail tie around the furled jib
  • Loosen genoa halyard
  • Loosen both backstays
  • Hose saltwater off deck and exterior surfaces (make sure all hatches are closed first!)
  • Lock up boat!

 
Admin

  • Make a LIST of what groceries and supplies need to be bought for next time
  • Marine Office – return boat keys
  • Marine Office – return shower block keys
  • Other Marine Office business?
  • Other planning-for-next-time business?
When we’ve tested this list a bit and made sure there are no more important adds, I’ll have my First Mate adapt it for an ‘Arrival at the Boat’ check list.
Do you have a departure check list? Any suggestions for things-to-do to add to this one?
 
–Captain Cat 
(transcribed by the Can Opener)

Next: Arrival Checklist – Opening Up The Boat