Departure Check List

STIHLBOLTS

STIHLBOLTS

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TECHNICAL Contributor
Oct 3, 2006
1,985
Panama City Beach Fl/ South Ga
Boat Info
2004 - 220 Sundeck
Engines
5.0L w/Bravo 3 Drive
Boat - Things to check.

1. Make sure the bilge plug is in. Tighten with wrench.
2. Make sure Keys are in boat.
3. Make sure battery is fully charged and working.
4. Check radio. (Don't be one of those goobers that does a "Radio check Channel 16")...
5. Make sure insurance card both regular insurance and towing insurance like Sea Tow or BoatUS. registration card on board and in dry place.
6. Drive is up prior to travel.
7. Bimini is laid down or secured.
8. Check the Life Preservers - Are they in good shape and are there enough on the boat for the people on board. Make sure whistles are on each one.
9. Check your flares. Make sure they are in date.
10. Check your first aide kit. If you don't have one, get one..

Trailer - Things to check.

1. Check Tire pressure on trailer.
2. Check Lights on trailer.
3. Check Brake Fluid on trailer.
4. Check for License plate on trailer. (Yea, sometimes they go missing and duh....we never even thought to look.) :smt017
5. Check your safety chains. Make sure properly attached and crossed. If you have a lock for the tounge make sure it's secure.

Trailer / Truck - Things to have with you.

1. Can of "Fix a Flat"
2. Small tool box
3. Spare tire for trailer
4. Extra bulbs for lights
5. Trailer jack.
6. Road side flares or reflective triangles.

Truck things to check.

1. Tire pressure - Make sure it's what it calls for.
2. Tow ball. Make sure it is properly tightened. Remove and check it several times a year. Don't assume that because you put it on in the spring it has not come loose.
3. Electrical wire harness.
4. Got your trailer registration in the truck?

Return trip: Putting everything away for next time.

Boat:
1. Remove bilge plug.
2. Lower drive so bellows are vertical.
3. Flush motor. (Run motor with water until reaches operating temps)
4. Wash boat down. Dry off.
5. Open all hatches to allow to dry.



Trailer:
1. Unhook and secure chains.
2. Place light plug adaptor in safe place.
3. Chock wheels.
4.



Truck:

1. Wash truck.


What else do we need to check?
 
Boat prior to pulling out of garage:

Drive is up in trailer position
Bimini top is down (don't even want to explain)
 
Richard great post but I think you need to edit and move some of the items under trailer to boat

5. Check the Life Preservers - Are they in good shape and are there enough on the boat for the people on board. Make sure whistles are on each one.
6. Check your flares. Make sure they are in date.
7. Check your first aide kit. If you don't have one, get one..
Click to expand...

Add under trailer,
Make sure lock and chain is off trailer wheels before moving it :smt021 :smt021 :smt021 Don't ask just glade it was the empty jet ski trailer and not the Sundeck Trailer :smt100
 
I got a flat once while trailering my 18 laguna......there are a few things that would have saved that day......a can of fix a flat, a spare for the trailer (with air) AND a jack to get the trailer up......I went the easy route and put a can of fix a flat in the trunk....

A few other things I always carried were two 12" long pieces of 2 X 6........Needed them sometimes to get up some curbs without bottoming out the trailer. And you can never have enough bungees......there's always something that needs to be secured....Oh...and make sure the transom tie down's are secured for the road and removed before backing into the water....I also disconnect the light harness from the trailer when backing into the water.......
 
How about checking that you have enough fuel, oil and coolant?
 
Yup, would much rather find the problem in the driveway than at the ramp...
 
A few times the kids (they are easier to blame) would leave the radio on or an interior light... :smt101

A little story... (drain plug)

Came in from an outing on a Saturday afternoon, we knew we were going back out on Sunday after church. Saturday we left everything as is when we got home. Sunday get to the ramp, while floating the boat off and tieing up to the dock, I hear a steady stream of water... I hop in the boat, open the hatch and water is pouring in... :smt017
Get the boat back on the trailer and the drain plug is gone... :huh:
I had another so not a big deal...

Get back home from a great day on the water. I'm greeted by my father-in-law, who proceeds to tell me that I forgot to take the drain plug out yesterday, so he removed it... :smt021

After a calm and polite... :smt014 don't ever touch anything on the boat... :smt018 taught me to look EVERY time!
 
You might also add, if you have never owned a boat before, make sure you know all the ins and outs of the boat before you set off. We took the boat out for the first time yesterday, and I asked several times if I needed to do anything to start the boat. I was told no. It will start right up. Well it didnt. We had to pull the boat out of the water, and met a guy from the dealor down the road at a different launch ramp. The small thing they never told me was about the button to push so you can give it gas without it being in gear. I was a little ticked, but we got on the water and had a great time. Now I read something about flushing the engine out. How do I do this, and should it be done after every trip to the lake?
 
SeaRay Sport you may want to make another posting about helpful information for a new boat owner and any questions that you may have. One piece of advise I think that is always offered to a new boat owner asking questions is you should read, re-read, and re-read your owners manuals that came with your boat. It will help to explain alot of the questions that a new boat owner will face. Like how to start, maintain, use, etc. Second I would suggest that you search CSR for topics and read and learn as much as you can on the board, third ask plenty of questions (best idea is to start a topic because not everyone will see questions buried in another posting) and you should be good to go.

Example if you do a search for flushing you will find alot of information. Flushing is mainly for salt water boaters to get the salt out of the engine to properly maintain the engine.

Sorry to hear about your trouble with starting the boat. I can not locate the posting but I made a posting the other day about it for someone that had I think a 200 sport. For us when we take the boat out for the first time on the weekend and it has not been started in a while. We usually have to use the neutral switch. First I try to crank without it. Second I hit the neutral switch and push the throttle to full throttle then right back to neutral and turn the switch. If it does not crank I do it again. Have never had to pump more than twice. Once you crank for the first time that weekend usually do not have to do it again just turn key and it will crank right up.

Again though I would get very familiar with boat manuals that came with your boat. It will explain most of the new boat information that you are looking for but if you have a question about anything you read just post a topic and one of the people that have experience or have run into the same thing as you will respond with a posting about it.

Two of the questions that I asked when I first joined SRO (which is no longer available) first one was about launching and reloading; the second was tips for docking and beaching. Both were the two things that made me nervous and every one went out of their way to make me comfortable with it.

When you ask a question there is a good chance that someone else out there has the same question but has not asked. Everyone is here to help!!! :thumbsup:
 
First Born said:
Boat prior to pulling out of garage:

Drive is up in trailer position
Bimini top is down (don't even want to explain)
Click to expand...

Garage door is open. :smt043
Chazaroo
 
Boat things to check (prior to tailoring):

- turn battery power to 'off' and/or lock the swivel on the capt's seat.

(Long story about the seat swiveling while in-transit and the trim cycling to the full down position). Thanks again to skeg guard for saving me the cost of a new lower unit!
 
Our dealer told us we didn't need to flush the engine on our 185 Sport and we never have - we wash it down after each run - we are in salt water so we do it very carefully. Our manual told us HOW to flush but we were told several times there was no need. Should I go give our dealer and the mechanics a piece of my mind?
 
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