subject: Provisioning Your New Trawler or Motor Yacht [print this page] Provisioning Your New Trawler or Motor Yacht
You recently got that new trawler or motor yacht and you are eager to get her underway to move her home. You are running around for what feels like weeks getting everything ready. Food, drinks, clothing, the list goes on and on. What if you forget something?
To aid you to recollect everything, here is a simple check list with just about all you will need to get underway.
Navigation - Be certain to have paper charts on your vessel and that you know how to read them; you never know when your chart plotter will elect to give up on you.
Maptech Chart Kit
Dozier's Waterway Guide
Set of binoculars
Current flare kit
First aid kit
Suitable dock lines
Correct fenders
Laptop with air card
Handheld VHF
Flashlight
Mechanical - It is crucial to have spare parts on board. They may be tough (if not impossible) to find on your cruise home. You might be anchored out in the middle of nowhere and require a replacement component.
Biobore diesel fuel additive
Deck fill key to open fuel/water fill ports
Bridle if chain rode
25 foot dock line
2 stainless shackles (1 spare)
2 pair of pliers (1 spare)
Bleach to disinfect water tanks, 1 tsp/10 gallons water
Mask and flippers
Fuel filters
Spare impellors for engines
Extra bilge pump
Spare bilge pump float switch
Spare fresh water pump
Spare air conditioning water pump
Oil absorbent pads
Rags
Tools - sockets, wrenches, screw drivers
Lubricants, WD-40, Corrosion Block
Engine oil
Coolant
Propane if boat so equipped
Lighter
Fill fuel tanks
Outboard gasoline
Outboard 2-cycle oil if needed
Muriatic acid if heads use salt water to flush
Provisions - Be sure to get enough to last the entire cruise home; you don't know if you will have access to a supermarket, especially if you are in the Bahamas.
Food
Beverages
Alcoholic beverages if so desired
Cups
Glasses
Pots and pans
Silverware
Dish soap
Garbage bags
Galley towels
Napkins/paper towels
Bath towels
Linens
Bath soap
Toilet tissue
Fill water tanks
Coffee pot/coffee
Personal Items - Pack more than you think you will need. You don't know if you will get wet because of an unexpected storm.
Clothing
Deck shoes
Hats
Sun shades
Rain coat
Money for tipping dock help
Camera
You now must discover a place to stow everything so it will not mess up your yacht or fall if you happen to be in rough water. You also need to check all systems to make certain they are working suitably and that all engines have proper fluid amounts. Then you need to plan your journey home which means sitting down with charts and computing how far to travel each day. Dozier's Waterway Guide is a super help in locating marinas and things to do in the local area. You may also choose to anchor out on the journey home. Be sure your generator is running well and that its fluids are full as well. It will be time to get a good night's rest in preparation for your first day underway in your new boat.
The captain will run the vessel and his first mate will assist with navigation and line handling. The first mate should study the paper charts while the captain focuses on the chart plotter. It is imperative to have paper charts on your vessel; electronics without doubt will break down at some point in time.
When pulling into a marina for the evening, dock hands will help you with your lines and electrical connections. It is customary to tip a minimum of $5.00 per dock hand for their assistance.
After a brief period of time, you will become used to the way your boat runs and feels. Docking will also come naturally after some practice. Your trawler or motor yacht will become so familiar to you that the slightest weird noise or odor will alert you to a problem.
