"Preflighting" Your C-Dory

[Casey]

...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

[rogerbum]

This is a good list. I won't add much the boat inspection list but I will suggest that the "pre-flight" should also include ALL the safety gear AND an introduction to the safety equipment on the boat and how to use it if there are guests on board.

Whenever I have guests on my boat, I make sure they know:
1) How to use the life vests - I make them wear them and I have self inflating vests for each of them.
2) Where any additional flotation devices are located.
3) How to use the throwable and the heaving line that I have in the cockpit.
4) Where the fire extinguishers are located and how to use them (check the pressure in each at this point in time).
5) How to use the radio - how to contact the coast guard, what information to provide and in what order (problem, location, description of vessel).
6) How to use the GPS to get the location.
7) How to steer, use the throttle and cut power to the engines.
8 ) Where the first aid kit is located.
9) Where the flare gun and air horn is located.
10) Where the ladder is stored and how to deploy it. As part of that, we have a brief discussion about how to retrieve a MOB. BTW - I keep the ladder out and available in the cockpit. It's something I want ready access to. I DON"T want it under the rear seat or in the V-berth with other stuff on top of it. The water is very cold out here and I want people out of it ASAP if they fall in.

If I fall out or have a heart attack, I want them to be able to help me and/or return safely on their own (but preferably help me first if possible).

Practicing the safety pre-flight in the driveway is a good time to check all the safety gear and I"d add that you your list.

[matt_unique]

Great posts gentlemen.
The beauty of our C-Dory's is the fact that it's pretty easy to see most all our systems without performing surgery. To your point, you don't need to be a mechanic to see if a bolt is loose, if something is leaking, or if a wire connection is green and corroded. Turn the key and engine does not start? It could be as simple as a single black wire that was corroded and became disconnected from a ground.

The lists above are excellent. My only addition relates to shore power and trailering. When you plug in your shore power turn all sounds off, close the door to the cabin, and listen-look-and smell. Listen for any arcing, look for any sparks or corroded connections, and get down close to your AC panel and see if you can small anything burning. These simple steps can reveal A LOT.

In terms of trailering I like to feel the hubs whenever I stop for a break or arrive at my destination. Hot hubs indicate sticking brakes or bearings in need of lube (or replacement).


When I arrive for a day trip on Napoleon I will check to ensure the fire extinguisher is charged, I check oil and do a visual inspection of the engine under the cowling, I immediately look for a good cooling stream once fired up, and I then check to see the charge indicator on the panel. My checklist will vary a bit based on what I'm doing for the day. With time I inspect other things of course. When returning from a dive I will look over the hull for example.

[Casey]

Hub Heat - good point. I have specially calibrated fingertips that read:

COOL...

Warm...

Hot!

OUCH!

On the first trip home from the Three River's Marine (52 miles away...) I towed about fifteen miles and checked the four hub's. Three were Cool/Warm, and one said: Ouch! Hmmm.... (that's my generic term for: Better Think About This).

I was able to get home, but knew something was up with the RR hub assembly. The shop guy's checked it over and found that all bearings and seals were in good condition, but the RR brake caliper wasn't retracting properly, thus creating "Ouch!" heat. Ignored/towed long enough and it could create enough heat to warp the hub assembly, and even ignite the tire on the rim (ask any trucker about tire fires caused by brake problems). Would be a spectacular way to torch your Dory!

Best,
Casey[/i]

[Lil Rascal]

How about calling it a Pre-Float. )

Scott

[Will-C]

Casey,
I would make sure all safety equipment is to snuff, coasties don't like moldy life perservers and out of date flares. Make sure your electronics have all the latest free software updates. Also make sure Insurance and towing policies up to date, with phone numbers to call, owners card, safety certificates, nexus cards all in a spot where everyone knows and can find them should John Law come calling. If your towing with a Toyota make sure you have the latest floormats and thottle assemblies. Double check the brakes not just on your Toyota but were the brake lines go into the wheel cylinders or brake calipers on your boat trailer, right where they change from rubber to steel they can rot out. I usually cover that area and the wrench fitting with marine grease to hold back corrosion. I take chap stick and give it a spin in all my female canvas snaps, if I had bulbs in my trailer or on my boat nav lights I'd coat the bottom brass parts and contacts with vasaline so I could get them out before corrosion set in, diaelectric grease works there also. Also make sure to claim the federal Gumint as a dependent on your tax returns this year.Just my 2 cents.
D.D>

[Larry H]

Here's one for the pre-float list.

Check around your compass or fluxgate compass sender.

Look for any metal, or magnetic objects. Avoid carrying magnetic screwdrivers or small magnets onboard. Watch where the VHF mic is placed. Do you have a pair of binoculars with a built in compass? That compass has a magnet so don't stow the binocs near the steering compass.

If you have recently changed or added speakers, motors, pumps , GPS units, VHF radios or wiring under the dash or near the fluxgate sender your compass could be off.

Watch the compass while turning on and off all equipment and switches. Did the compass move? Could be a problem. Better to find out before getting lost in the fog!

[ghone]

All great posts. It goes without saying that it's better to catch what's wrong dockside than at sea.
I always do much the same check, all major components in a counter clockwise check while on the trailer in a walkaround. Just this week I launched and during my post start check I noticed only a dribble of water coming out the cooling outlet, I watched about 20 seconds or so ready to shut down but it soon became normal. Then I checked my fuel tank selector and selected a tank! Duh having left it in off. We treat boating much like we treat flying. New this year is a two place intercom our aviation headsets plug into. In the 19 engine sound is louder than I thought it would be "no back bulkhead" so last summer we took our flying headsets on long trips. A boat birthday present recently was a 2 place Flightcom intercom for flying we can plug into so
Brenda and I can chat as we c dory along. We'll look like the fuzz as we go by. See you out there. George

[Susan E]

pre check cabin heat. fire up wallace in driveway... check worked 3 times (so he says).

under way getting dark march in the northwest ify so it's cold. wallace doesn't fire.. as expected.

best solution. use as an ANCHOR!! ooops what a shame forgot to tie a rope to it.

realist solution
when hubby is at work remove from boat and take to haz waste community dump station. get out credit card and hand to hubby after he has screamed WTF a few times (cause he forgot her dad taught her how to rebuild and engine so this was an easy job) and tell him to go get an espar cabin heater.

[1TUBERIDER]

I always check to make sure the plug is in the hole before I launch.

Besides that I do my checkoff on the trailer at home.