"Be Prepared" is another way of saying "leave nothing to chance." Before we take off for our two-month cruise every summer, we make sure both the crew and the boat are truly ready to go. The goal is to lessen the odds that whatever can go wrong, will go wrong, because putting things in order before we leave the dock is much easier than dealing with problems at sea.
Our cruising holidays consist of two weeks at Christmas, 10 days in March when we typically "shake down" the boat in search of any potential problems leading up to our big two month summer cruise which begins at the end of June.
This spring, for example, we discovered two problems that needed attention. One of our portable GPS "pucks" was not working. We also discovered that our outboard motor would not run smoothly on marine gas. Ultimately, it seemed to prefer fuel from the car's gas station. Go figure.
RICK LEBLANCSea Foam and its tender, Catch-Up.
Obviously, everyone's list of preparations and inspections will be different, as will the problems you identify. What is important is that you have a list, that you make your checks and that you fix or replace anything that may give you trouble. In the end, you will have more confidence in your boat – and more fun on the water.
KNOW YOUR BOAT
Because we live on-board we have a ready pulse on the condition of our boat and hands-on knowledge of the condition of our equipment. For example, we recently encountered an issue when our bilge pump kept firing. We thought it might be the result of rain water getting into the hull from the lazarette hatch, but it turned out that one of the fittings on the hot water tank was broken. We caught it and fixed it.
After owning the Sea Foam for three years, we are still working on making changes and additions that we want for maximum comfort and performance. Throughout the year we make working lists of projects that need attention and equipment that we want to purchase or replace.
My husband Rick checks the engine routinely, both at the dock and underway. It's prudent to keep a comprehensive list of spares, and to have the parts on board that you need to make repairs (see links). But each captain's list will be different, based on their level of skill and the type of cruising they do.
For example, Rick feels that that some parts would be impossible to replace or repair while underway, and he insists that many of the jobs are too big to be done without a proper mechanic. While we have our share of spares, he feels some parts take up too much space or are too expensive to have lying around.
We stow oil and fuel filters in a plastic bucket in one of our forward hatches, and we have a full stock of replacement belts. We don't carry replacement hoses, but have the means to repair them until they can be replaced. Our air filter was recently replaced and we were able to run without it until we could secure a new part.
We also have a raw water pump kit and a spare starter motor assembly, and we carry a spare alternator after experiencing difficulty in the middle of the Strait of Georgia on our way to the Gulf Islands last spring. Lucky for us we were traveling with friends and they towed us the last four miles to a safe anchorage until we could limp to a nearby community and buy a new alternator. Now, the old one is acting as our spare.
SPARE PARTS
But an injector pump kit, which is on many lists as a must-have, is something we don't carry.
CAROL-ANN GIRODAYCapt. Rick does an engine check.
"I wouldn't take one of those babies apart," Rick says. "And at $1,000, it's too expensive to have as a spare."
I found a check list on the internet and asked Rick more questions.
What about piston rings?
"A job for a heavy duty mechanic!"
How about injectors, honey?
"Injectors don't suddenly breakdown, there's plenty of warning and time to replace them when we get back from our trip."
High-pressure injection lines?
"No, unlikely to break, and they have to be bent to fit."
Engine gasket set? "No, ridiculous, shore job again."
O-Ring Kit? "Yes for that one. We do have a collection of O-rings."
Roll of gasket material? "Yes, we have a tub of Form-a-Gasket. I have the gaskets for the spare parts we have."
Packing for the shaft? "No, no big deal if it leaks. It can be repaired when you get back home."
Hose clamps? "Yep, got a bunch."
Fuel Line? "No, but a good idea to have. Put that on the list, dear."
Lubricating oil and grease? Penetrating oil? Engine oil? Hydraulic fluid?
"Got it."
You get the idea.
BILGE PUMPS AND SAFETY GEAR
Many boaters check the operation of their bilge pump in both the manual and automatic modes. Rick has disabled the off mode on our bilge pumps so they are always on automatic. He also just installed a back-up bilge pump because he believes we should have two, each with independent plumbing. He installed this secondary pump with the float switch higher than the position of the first pump. It will only come on when the other one fails or if it is overcome.
We have a Northern Lights diesel 5KW generator and before we take off, the oil and fuel filters are changed and the raw water strainer is cleaned out. Because we are scuba divers, we also have to maintain our breathing air compressor. It has an electric motor and we carry spare belts and change the outlet air filter.
We have a box of spare items for scuba diving as well, a spare snorkel and mask, various weights, buckles, and straps. Because we fish and trap shell fish we have to be sure to have a fishing license. That usually costs us close to $100, including a salmon tag that lasts from April 1 to March 31.
We bring three 20-pound propane tanks, one for our barbeque and one for the stove. The third one is the spare. All three are filled before we take off. One tank for the galley lasts almost three months, even if we're cooking everyday.
As for safety equipment, we have all required health and safety items onboard when we cruise, such as first aid kits, medicines for common ailments, lifejackets and fire extinguishers. This year we replaced two of our existing fire extinguishers with new ones that were larger. The old extinguishers were on the boat when we purchased it, so we were not sure of their age. It could be that they were as old as the boat – 14 years. We figured better safe than sorry. I had never used a fire extinguisher before, so I practiced using the old one.
TENDER AND TOYS
Mark WeirCarol-Ann and Rick Waving on the bow of Sea Foam.
In our twelve foot inflatable tender (RIB) we carry a first aid kit; a small fire extinguisher; and a dry bag with extra clothes, flares, matches, a few granola bars and water. For our outboard motor we have spare spark plugs, injector cleaner, fuel and motor oil. We also carry an inflatable repair kit. Our tender has a radio and portable GPS/chart plotter, allowing us to call for help if the need arises. It might sound like overkill, but we use our tender to travel some distances away from our boat when we dive and explore. It is not just a "rubber ducky" that takes us only from ship-to-shore. We tow our tender, so we also regularly check the tow lines for any signs of chaffing or wear.
We enjoy kayaking as well and have two 12-foot kayaks strapped to our pilothouse roof. We use a hand-held VHF radio when we are out in these boats and waterproof cases for our camera equipment. These boats also carry first aid kits, flares, matches, food and water, as well as lights for paddling after dark and dry clothes in case of mishaps out on the water. We carry walkie-talkies to communicate with each other while we paddle as well.
Of course, there are a myriad of things that need to be checked to keep make sure that everything in the galley, the head and the pilothouse runs smoothly.
We keep our fresh water tanks full throughout the winter months in case our dock lines freeze up, which happens periodically. Once the threat of freezing has passed, we treat the system for algae and make sure everything is working. We also make sure the house batteries are charged and filled with distilled water to the proper levels. We have three battery chargers for our small-battery needs around the boat, such as batteries for our dive lights, walkie-talkies, cameras, hand-held spotlight and flashlights. These all have to be checked and found in working order as well.
Because fog can develop unexpectedly on many of the waterways in our cruising neighborhood, we also check that our radar is working before setting off.
Then there are the flags. Each year we replace our torn and faded flags with colorful new ones. We change our burgee and our large Canadian flag at the stern of our boat. We fly several "kite" flags off our antennas, usually two fish. I carry spares because, invariably, a strong breeze takes one out to sea every year. When at dock or anchor we also fly the signal flags for "splice the main brace."
If anyone knows what those flags signify, come on over. Let the cruising fun begin.
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Carol-Ann Giroday and Rick LeBlanc live aboard Sea Foam, a 40-foot Eagle Pilothouse Trawler based on the Fraser River in Canada. Carol-Ann is a teacher and Rick is an engineer. Their work has appeared in magazines such as Sea, PassageMaker and Power Cruising.