
Hourly Checks when sailing or motoring
Hourly Checks
Get into the habit of carrying out these checks and both yourself, your crew and your boat will be safer:
Fill in log book
Filling in the log book can seem an unnecessary chore but having a record of courses and positions is valuable if you have an electrical or electronic failure. You can also see weather trends.
Engine compartment
A regular check in the engine compartment can detect any leaks or problems before they get serious.
Weather forecast
Update the weather forecast at regular intervals if you can.
Course and position
Check both the course you are steering and the course being followed on the plotter and adjust if necessary.
Double checking
Try to check your position by visual means or with the echo sounder if you are within sight of land to confirm that the GPS is working satisfactorily.
Fuel
If you are running under power check the fuel being used and the fuel remaining to ensure that you are not consuming more than expected.
Crew OK?
Check that the crew are all OK and in good shape. Look for any signs of seasickness.
From the new app for iPhone & Android:
Dag Pike’s Boating Checklists
About the author:
Dag Pike began his career as a merchant captain, went on to test lifeboats, and took up fast boat navigation, winning a string of trophies for powerboat races around the world, including navigating Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic Challenger on the record-breaking fastest Atlantic crossing by powerboat.
VHF DSC radio – how best to communicate at sea
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Dag Pike’s Boat Survey
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Stern gear maintenance
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Boating emergency – how to broadcast a MAYDAY emergency call
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