...yea, I know "preflight" is generally a term used to describe the walk-around inspection pilots do before they go flying, but it has application to boating as well. We may not do it every time we go out; but an occasional, even cursory, inspection can be helpful; as I learned recently. (See my recent "South Florida Loop" thread for details.)
My purpose here is to encourage other's to share their thoughts and ideas regarding the non-technical inspections we all could/should do with our boats, on a regular basis.
"Preflighting" is actually a simple, but organized way of inspecting something that is usually beyond our technical or mechanical abilities, but its purpose is to make us aware of our equipment, its overall condition, and any obvious shortcomings that just 'ain't right (sorry about the technical term).
Like pilots, establish a routine. Walk around your boat while she's on the trailer. Get used to starting at a particular location (ie the swimstep...) and proceed clockwise or counterclockwise around the whole boat. Look at things from top-to-bottom, and include the trailer. You're not really looking at the technical/mechanical/cosmetic items; you're looking for items that stand-out like loose nuts or bolts, fittings, cleats, badly worn winch straps, gouges in the hull or rubrail where you "kissed" the dock the last time you were out, any loose wires, or other items that you hadn't noticed previously. Are those docklines still serviceable,and the cleats secure?
Look at your trailer tires, the tread, are they weather checking?. Is the wear reasonably even(?) or is it uneven (if so, you better check your tandem axle trailer for level). Hmmm..."I need to put some lube on those winch gears sometime soon."
Look at your bowrail. Besides needing to have the surface rust cleaned-up; I hadn't noticed that hairline crack in the base on the port side. Might not have held the strain next time I climbed aboard while beaching camping at Powell ... or when I leaned over to inspect the depth of a shallow water route. When was the last time you actually pulled out all your anchor line and inspected the anchor, chain, and rode...and the knot securing all that expensive ground tackle inside the anchor locker? Hmmm...I didn't realize the line was cut that badly in one place - or the obvious crack in one link of the chain. Remember the old adage about the weakest link? ...it's True, and better to learn about that weak link now, at home, than anchored-out somewhere in a 'Blow in the middle of the night.
Are all the windows and glass intact? Hmmm...there's a small hole in the screen. Better patch that before our summer trip to the North Country!
Working your way on around the boat you notice some rust peeking out from beneath a couple of deck fittings. You might opt to merely clean-up the rust so it looks better, but you know something else is going on there, and probably deserves to be cleaned and rebedded. Yea, it's a hassle, but necessary.
As you get back to the engine ... all that stuff is pretty daunting "...and I'm not a mechanic..." so the inclination is to just leave it to the mechanic the next time the boat's in the shop for servicing. Not! Occasionally remove the engine cover; do you know how? Is the rubber seal in decent condition and keeping the motor dry? ...look at all the magical stuff in there! Simply amazing. I have no idea how all this stuff works - but look(!) there's a loose wire...bet that's not right. Maybe that's why I'm not getting a reading on my amp meter! Fixed (God, am I proud of myself!) Hmmm...look at the corrosion in that one location; I wonder if something's leaking (...I'll have to watch that). Probably time to respray some CorrosionBlock on the engine anyway. Oh gee's, look at the RUST on that engine cable (I wonder if that's the shift or the throttle cable?); looks pretty weakened and maybe about to break...glad I found it Now rather than while offshore somewhere. ...glad I bothered to remove that plastic sleeve and look at it; that rusty area was hidden but was gross! Tilt the motor UP and look underneath at all the neat-o stuff. ...gee's I better be more attentive to the underside, when I wash down and flush the engine; some of those parts still have salt on them!
All that engine-stuff is just confusing, but I can clearly see where the oil filter's dribbling and making a mess. Ugh. At the very least I can snug-it-up to stop the dribble (and clean it up with a couple paper towels). And while the cover is off, look at those belts and hoses. You might not be able to replace them, or even know what they're for, but if you see one that's rubbing or vibrating against a metal part and you might see it rubbing a groove into the hose; better to see it and get it fixed than wait for it to begin leaking water, oil, or gas all over the engine.
You get the idea.... Look and Learn details about your vessel.
Now try going over the inside (the galley, the battery's, the electrical panel, the water tank fittings, etc) and see what you find. Ah Hah ... I Knew my Leatherman tool was in here Somewhere!!!
Now try doing the same stuff at night, with a good flashlight...(the one that need's new battery's). You'll be amazed how shining a light (at night) focusses your attention and highlights areas that were hidden in shade during your daytime inspection.
How often should you do this sort of thing? That's up to you. It's tedious, and it's time consuming, but it Will help you get to know your vessel. Pilots do a preflight before each day's flight operations (atleast they're supposed-to). But aircraft are a special situation; when things go bad, they go bad Very Quickly, and emergency landings are very stressful even when they're successful.... You probably don't have to do an inspection like this every time you go out, but once a year or every 100 hours might be a good idea!
At the very least, go out and spend a couple hours getting reacquainted with your Girl; it's Springtime, and it can be fun!
Ok...enough from me; now it's your turn. Please share ideas, and experiences in this regard - so we can all Learn.
Best,
Casey
My purpose here is to encourage other's to share their thoughts and ideas regarding the non-technical inspections we all could/should do with our boats, on a regular basis.
"Preflighting" is actually a simple, but organized way of inspecting something that is usually beyond our technical or mechanical abilities, but its purpose is to make us aware of our equipment, its overall condition, and any obvious shortcomings that just 'ain't right (sorry about the technical term).
Like pilots, establish a routine. Walk around your boat while she's on the trailer. Get used to starting at a particular location (ie the swimstep...) and proceed clockwise or counterclockwise around the whole boat. Look at things from top-to-bottom, and include the trailer. You're not really looking at the technical/mechanical/cosmetic items; you're looking for items that stand-out like loose nuts or bolts, fittings, cleats, badly worn winch straps, gouges in the hull or rubrail where you "kissed" the dock the last time you were out, any loose wires, or other items that you hadn't noticed previously. Are those docklines still serviceable,and the cleats secure?
Look at your trailer tires, the tread, are they weather checking?. Is the wear reasonably even(?) or is it uneven (if so, you better check your tandem axle trailer for level). Hmmm..."I need to put some lube on those winch gears sometime soon."
Look at your bowrail. Besides needing to have the surface rust cleaned-up; I hadn't noticed that hairline crack in the base on the port side. Might not have held the strain next time I climbed aboard while beaching camping at Powell ... or when I leaned over to inspect the depth of a shallow water route. When was the last time you actually pulled out all your anchor line and inspected the anchor, chain, and rode...and the knot securing all that expensive ground tackle inside the anchor locker? Hmmm...I didn't realize the line was cut that badly in one place - or the obvious crack in one link of the chain. Remember the old adage about the weakest link? ...it's True, and better to learn about that weak link now, at home, than anchored-out somewhere in a 'Blow in the middle of the night.
Are all the windows and glass intact? Hmmm...there's a small hole in the screen. Better patch that before our summer trip to the North Country!
Working your way on around the boat you notice some rust peeking out from beneath a couple of deck fittings. You might opt to merely clean-up the rust so it looks better, but you know something else is going on there, and probably deserves to be cleaned and rebedded. Yea, it's a hassle, but necessary.
As you get back to the engine ... all that stuff is pretty daunting "...and I'm not a mechanic..." so the inclination is to just leave it to the mechanic the next time the boat's in the shop for servicing. Not! Occasionally remove the engine cover; do you know how? Is the rubber seal in decent condition and keeping the motor dry? ...look at all the magical stuff in there! Simply amazing. I have no idea how all this stuff works - but look(!) there's a loose wire...bet that's not right. Maybe that's why I'm not getting a reading on my amp meter! Fixed (God, am I proud of myself!) Hmmm...look at the corrosion in that one location; I wonder if something's leaking (...I'll have to watch that). Probably time to respray some CorrosionBlock on the engine anyway. Oh gee's, look at the RUST on that engine cable (I wonder if that's the shift or the throttle cable?); looks pretty weakened and maybe about to break...glad I found it Now rather than while offshore somewhere. ...glad I bothered to remove that plastic sleeve and look at it; that rusty area was hidden but was gross! Tilt the motor UP and look underneath at all the neat-o stuff. ...gee's I better be more attentive to the underside, when I wash down and flush the engine; some of those parts still have salt on them!
All that engine-stuff is just confusing, but I can clearly see where the oil filter's dribbling and making a mess. Ugh. At the very least I can snug-it-up to stop the dribble (and clean it up with a couple paper towels). And while the cover is off, look at those belts and hoses. You might not be able to replace them, or even know what they're for, but if you see one that's rubbing or vibrating against a metal part and you might see it rubbing a groove into the hose; better to see it and get it fixed than wait for it to begin leaking water, oil, or gas all over the engine.
You get the idea.... Look and Learn details about your vessel.
Now try going over the inside (the galley, the battery's, the electrical panel, the water tank fittings, etc) and see what you find. Ah Hah ... I Knew my Leatherman tool was in here Somewhere!!!
Now try doing the same stuff at night, with a good flashlight...(the one that need's new battery's). You'll be amazed how shining a light (at night) focusses your attention and highlights areas that were hidden in shade during your daytime inspection.
How often should you do this sort of thing? That's up to you. It's tedious, and it's time consuming, but it Will help you get to know your vessel. Pilots do a preflight before each day's flight operations (atleast they're supposed-to). But aircraft are a special situation; when things go bad, they go bad Very Quickly, and emergency landings are very stressful even when they're successful.... You probably don't have to do an inspection like this every time you go out, but once a year or every 100 hours might be a good idea!
At the very least, go out and spend a couple hours getting reacquainted with your Girl; it's Springtime, and it can be fun!
Ok...enough from me; now it's your turn. Please share ideas, and experiences in this regard - so we can all Learn.
Best,
Casey
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