OFFSHORE CHECKLIST

Peace of Mind

• Have the boat surveyed. Hauled out, hull inspected and bottom painted.
• Rudder checked. Rudder fittings checked.
  
• Steering cables & pulleys inspected.
  
• Zincs checked.
  
• Thu-hull fittings inspected.
  
• Engine shaft, prop etc. inspected.
  
• Batteries checked out.
  
• Masthead, spreaders & rigging thoroughly inspected.
  
• Ship's main compass checked and adjusted for deviation by a qualified person.

Building Blocks of Free & Independent Mobility

• Certified life raft (preferable a Givens)
  
• Class B EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon).
  
• Emerson suit.
  
• Self steering: don't put out to sea without a good wind vane!
  
• PARA-TECH Sea Anchor.
  
• Delta Drogue.
  
• Cockpit dodger (a must for cruising).
  
• Loran, Satnav or GPS .

Sail Inventory

• Heavy (6 oz. minimum) cruising mains'l near new.
  
• Heavy working jib.
  
• No. 1 & 2 Genoas.
  
• Storm jib, near new.
  
• Drifter/Spinnaker
  
• All Sails: stitching, reef points & raffling systems checked by a sail maker.
• All running rigging, blocks and winches inspected and refurbished if necessary.

Safety First!

• VHF radio.
  
• Life jackets & safety harnesses for all.
  
• Whistles for the crew (make them wear it around their necks like dog tags).
  
• Man O'r board flag, life ring or horse shoe.
  
• Approved fire extinguishers in working order.
  
• Flare gun and assorted flares.
  
• Marker dye.
  
• Horn.
  
• Signal mirror.
  
• Hand held strobes.
  
• Running lights, spreader lights, navigation lights and masthead strobe checked.
  
• Assorted flashlights and spare batteries.
  
• Pumps, bailers and buckets.
  
• Dinghy, tender and paddles.
  
• Boat hook.
  
• Heaving line.
  
• Boarding ladder.
• PARA-TECH BOAT BRAKES.

Ground Tackle: "Oversize, Oversize, Oversize".

• Ships reserve/storm anchor (preferably a genuine oversize CQR plow).
  
• Ship's working bow anchor (preferably Danforth Hi-tensile).
  
• Ship's stern anchor.
  
• Lunch hook.
  
• Adequate lengths of high test anchor chain.
  
• All told have at least 600' of nylon anchor rode for various anchoring applications.
  
• Related hardware (oversize mooring, swivels, shackles etc).

First Aid

• Prescriptions/medications etc.
  
• Bandages and bandaids.
  
• Eyewash.
  
• Compress.
  
• Inhalant.
  
• Antacids & laxatives.
  
• Antiseptic cream & spray.
  
• Codeine.
  
• Aspirin.
  
• Dramamine.
  
• Vaseline.
  
• Chapstick.
  
• Sunscreen.
  
• Water purification tablets.
  
• Insect repellent.
  
• Nail clippers, scissors & tweezers.
  
• Dental floss.
  
• Oil of cloves.
  
• Emergency dental kit.
  
• Spare prescription glasses

High Priority Items

• Wet suit & diving weights.
  
• Mask. Snorkel, fins and spare straps.
  
• 2 alarm clocks.
  
• Binoculars.
  
• Foul weather gear.
  
• Sailing boots.
  
• Assorted parkas, jackets, gloves and thick wool sweaters.
  
• Hammocks to keep clothes high & dry.

More Electronics

• Hand-held VHF (invaluable in rescue situations)
  
• Depth Sounder (might help you locate your position by comparing readings with depths shown in the chart).
  
• Radio direction finder (worth its weight in gold when it comes to homing in on a single station but don't rely too heavily on your RDF alone when it comes to "getting fixes").

Navigation

• Ship's main compass.
  
• Ship's backup compass.
  
• Hand bearing compass.
  
• Sextant.
  
• Quartz watches.
  
• Short wave receiver (to set the watches by, tune to WWV 5,10,15 and 20 Megahertz for the time ticks).
  
• Nautical almanac.
  
• Reduction tables.
  
• Parallel rulers.
  
• Pens. Pencils & erasers.
  
• Ship's log, note books and jotting paper.
  
• Triangle, protractor etc.
  
• Coast Pilot (domestic).
  
• Sailing directions (foreign).
  
• Pilot charts (shipping lanes and a great deal of other very useful information on pilot charts).
  
• Tides, tables, etc.

Tools, Tools, Tools

• Assorted screwdrivers, wrenches and pliers.
  
• Large vise grips (cam action will cut through ¼" wire in 5 tries).
  
• Small vise grips.
  
• Wire cutters.
  
• Spanners.
  
• Sparkplug wrench & gapper.
  
• Allen wrenches.
  
• Scratch owl.
  
• Files, chisels and hammers.
  
• Axe & crow bar.
  
• Wood saw, hacksaw and blades.
  
• Hand drill and bits.
  
• Rope clamps (2 will do the job of one nircopress).
  
• One large C-clamp.
  
• Nuts, bolts & nails.Glass cloth epoxy resin & resin.
  
• Assorted glues.
  
• Lacquer thinner.
  
• WD 40.
  
• Silicone caulk.
  
• Lots of duct tape.
  
• S.Steel wool.
  
• Industrial razor blades.

Marine Items

• Barometer.
  
• Anemometer.
  
• Radar reflector.
  
• Masthead feather (shows you which way the wind's blowing).
  
• Bosun's chair (better yet, maststeps).
  
• Spare winch handles.
  
• Spare turnbuckles.
  
• Assorted snaphooks, SS shackles & fasteners.
  
• SS cotter pins (never use cotter rings).
  
• SS seizing wire.
  
• Hose clamps.
  
• Rigging knife & stone.
  
• Sial repair kit.
  
• Dacron straps.
  
• Assorted lines, cables, webbing shock chord, Velcro.
  
• Emergency underwater epoxy.
  
• Flags.

Engine

• Crankcase/2 cycle and gear oils.
  
• Grease.
  
• Plugs.
  
• Spare filler cap wrench.
  
• Sheer pins.
  
• Spare prop.
  
• Spare parts.
  
• Filters, gaskets.
  
• Diesel additives etc.

Miscellaneous

• Rods, reels, hooks, lures, weights, gaff.
  
• Three prong grappling hook (also good for retrieving lost anchor lines).
  
• Camera and lots of film.
  
• Hats & spare sun glasses.
  
• Blankest etc.
  
• Tarps and shades.
  
• Sandwich, zip lock and garbage bags.
  
• Plastic wrap.
  
• Aluminum foil (wrap some around a fender, hoist it up on a halyard and you've got an emergency radar reflector).
  
• Drinking straws. Waterproof matches & lighters.
  
• Candles & clothes pins.
  
• Towels.
  
• Paper towels.
  
• Toilet items.
  
• Toothpaste & brush.
  
• Sea soap (else use liquid detergents).
  
• Can openers. Large Scissors. Propane, kerosene & alcohol for the stove. Several stainless steel Thermos jars.
  
• At least one gallon of fresh water per person per day.