Boat trip checklist

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boat trip checklist

prepare

• check weather including marine weather
• check tides
• plot routes on OpenCPN or navigation app of your choice. OpenCPN is a phone app. It is opensource but may cost $5-10. Set it up by downloading charts for state you are going to. Use it in conjunction with the chartplotter/fishfinder on the boat, setting that for the zoomed in view and the phone to see a zoomed out view. the boat device also reads the actual depth and the water temperature.
• check/charge battery
• uncover and clean boat, there is a little vac in the kitchen that works to pick up oak tree debris.
• check for life jackets and paddle
• load cushions, stick them under the seats for trailing
• add lures to tackle box
• add some tools emergency tools from the shop into the tackle box and put it in the boat
• put in plugs
• check gas
• inspect trailer
• put in the ball hitch
• remove the right trailer wheel chock and position the front of the trailer about 3-4 feet from the edge of the driveway ( so the right trailer wheel doesn't hit the tree on your way out)
• install the ball hitch to the car (it is kept on the trailer near the spare tire)
• back in and connect to trailer
• make sure trailer support is folded and secured by bungee. Insert the pin into the holder. The spring is broken so you need to hook one end of the bungee to the pin handle and then wrap around the support and hook to the frame.
• make sure cotter pin is in ball latch
• twist chains so they don't hit the road and attach
• connect wiring
• put impact driver (charged) in car. It should have 2 impact sockets inside, one for the lug nuts and one to raise and lower the scissor jack (under the floor of the luggage area)
• remove chocks under wheels
• check engine is sitting in its travelling support
• check charplotter/fishfinder is there
• check key is in side holding area
• check whistle is in side holding area
• add fishing poles, cooler, dry-bag (chairs and umbrellas)
• make sure everybody has warm clothes
• make sure you have enough water
• make sure nothing looks like it can blow out of the boat
• look behind you every once in a while so you know where you will eventually will head back to

driving

• get gas if you need it
• check for things about to blow out of the boat
• keep looking for smooth spinning trailer wheels in mirrors
• swing wide on turns so trailer wheels don't go over curbs
• if driving the Tuscon, save ~4 miles of EV by running in sport mode. The electric motor is better at backing up the driveway

at ramp

• pull up in a semicircle, so the boat is heading straight toward the ramp
• uncover bimini to and raise. put the cover in the car
• raise motor and fold in the travelling support then lower a little
• untie the boat tiedown at the license plate side. extend it up along the other side towards the front, tying it to the trailer frame
• check that the front and back plugs are in
• load the boat with stuff
• back trailer down until the bottom roller is ~6in underwater
• undo the chain holding the boat
• release and undo the winch hook. Don't let the winch strap hit the salt water
• don't have the bumpers out, they hit the trailer guides
• ease the boat down, holding the front line, careful to toss it over the trailer lights

running

• make sure the motor is down
• pump the bulb on the gas line
• put up the idle lever
• turn the key while pushing in (to choke)
• push the choke in again if it seems to be about to die
• done let it idle too high
• push the idle arm all the way down
• turn on the dashboard power button (right side(the running lights switch is on the left)). Press the power button on the chartplotter/fishfinder. Press enter to agree. this should be set up to lay down a track of your journey that you can follow home. Set tracking to true on your phone app as well.
• shift like you mean it, don't delay between gears, hold up the red thing in the handle as you shift
• ask people to sit in places that keep the boat balanced

returning to ramp

• if tide is low, visually check that the trailer tires aren't going to fall off a cliff. If the bottom of the ramp is sketchy have someone guide you.
• lower the trailer until the bottom roller is about 6" underwater
• release the winch lock. Pull it out a little so it is easy to hook to the boat but don't let the strap hit salt water (it rots the winch). The winch strap should be under the front top roller.
• holding on to the boat's front dock line float the boat into position then pull it up as far as you can with just the dock line. Then pull out the winch strap enough to hook it to the boat and crank it in the rest of the way.

before leaving the ramp

• lower the bimini and re-cover
• put engine on travelling support
• pull the plugs
• retie the boat hold down strap to the trailer
• inspect the hitch
• take the key out and tuck it into the side
• snap the seats down
• make sure what remains in the boat isn't going to blow out

returning to parley vale

• come in from Rockview side
• pull up all the way to the #8 Parley Vale sign
• be slow and careful, don't feel bad about pausing, pulling forward and trying again multiple times.
• don't hit the house
• ideally, the back left trailer tire is aligned with the porch support post and about 4 ft away
• chock that wheel
• put down the trailer front support, making sure the pin is in the hole (the spring is broken)
• crank it up but if it doesn't come of the ball easily you may need to shove the boat back or put the car up an inch. Don't force it
• disconnect the chains and wires
• push the front of the trailer a bit toward the tree and chock the other wheel
• crank the trailer up enough so the water can drain in the boat.
• remove the tackle box, take out the tools that might be in it and put them on the workbench. Put the tackle box in the boat shed
• remove fishing poles, umbrellas and chairs
• clean up inside the boat a little.
• you can leave the cushions and life jackets
• re-cover the boat with the blue tarp

if in salt water

• put the earmuffs(hanging in shed) on the engine water intake, turn on the hose and run the engine for a few minutes. When you are done, say out loud 'sorry for the noise, done now'
• thoroughly spray all parts of the trailer. Spray the outside of the hull, and the woodwork (except the dashboard)
• spray down fishing gear and umbrellas. Leave umbrellas out to dry.
• spray the underside of the vehicle so the car doesn't rot