Getting Ready For Summer
It’s never too early to start thinking about those summer days and being back out on the water again. But just like a car, it’s a good idea to keep on top of the service schedules for your boat and all the gear onboard. The difference is that there’s a lot more gear to keep up-to-date on your boat – and it’s much more vital that you do so. Since it’s easy to forget some of these things, here’s a handy checklist that you can pull out so you know how to be ship-shape for summer.
ENGINE MAINTENANCE, FUEL AND BATTERIES
If your boat has been laid up over winter, now’s the moment to check it over before you head back out. It’s the perfect time to service your engine so, whether you do the service yourself or need a marine mechanic, remember not to leave this until the last minute.
. That way if something is amiss you will have time to fix it properly before heading out.
Use the Winter as a time to upskill your knowledge of your engine. Whether it is an outboard or an inboard, you can take a short 1-day course with Coastguard Boating Education in a classroom near you or via a Home Study option.
The state of the fuel you have onboard is often overlooked. If you haven’t taken the boat out for a while it’s possible the fuel has gone stale (oxidised, meaning it doesn’t burn as well). Petrol only really has a shelf life of around 3-4 months in a tank, up to a year with a stabiliser additive. Diesel can suffer from “diesel bug”, bacteria that can grow in the fuel and create a black gunge that will play havoc with filters and the fuel system. So, make sure you drain any stale fuel – it’s better to mix it back in with the fuel in your car or to dispose of it appropriately, rather than causing problems with your boat motor out on the water. Remember, around 6% of Coastguard callouts annually are related to fuel problems which seems pretty high give that it’s an easy one to check!
And while you’re sorting the fuel out, it’s also a good time to check the batteries – just turning the engine over when you’re about to head out isn’t enough, as your battery might not have enough juice after a day of fishing and using the electronics on board to start up again later. Consider getting the battery professionally checked and serviced, so your day on the water isn’t ruined before it starts!
LIFEJACKETS
Like wearing a seatbelt in a moving car, wearing a lifejacket is a no-brainer when you’re out on the water. But wearing one that is damaged is a false sense of security – it might not help you when you need it.
No matter what sort of lifejacket you have, whether it’s a foam life jacket or a self-inflatable one, you need to remember that a lifejacket won’t last forever! Like anything exposed to salt water and UV rays, sooner or later it’ll need replacing. The good thing is that you can extend the life of your lifejacket with these simple checks.
- Store it in a dry place and check regularly for tears and sun damage
- Check the straps and buckles are still working and strong and that the crotch strap is still attached. Saltwater and UV rays can break down even plastic and webbing over time.
An inflatable lifejacket is comfortable and slim-fitting but needs more care than a regular foam lifejacket to make sure it inflates when you need it to. So ensure that you self-service all your lifejackets onboard. A quick checklist is below:
- Manually inflate it using the oral inflation tube, and leave it overnight to ensure it holds air. If it deflates, take it in for a service or get a new lifejacket.
- Check the CO2 cylinder is screwed in correctly and check for any corrosion. Corrosion can mean that the CO2 cylinder no longer holds gas, or that the firing mechanism is also seized. Bad corrosion can also wear a hole in the lifejacket bladder, meaning even if it does fire it won’t stay inflated.
- Pack the lifejacket away correctly. Once you’ve deflated it, fold (rather than stuff or roll) the bladder back up into its cover
- check you can access the inflation pull cord and the whistle is still attached
- look for any sun damage or tears
Once you are happy that all lifejackets are fit for purpose then store them onboard in an easy-to-access dry compartment ready for use. Remember, as the skipper you are responsible for everyone on board. Enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing all of these have been checked and are all in working order.
As the skipper, you are responsible for ensuring that everyone onboard is wearing a lifejacket that fits properly! A poorly fitting lifejacket can be just as bad as not wearing one, especially if you’ve taken a knock to the head as you’ve gone overboard. Check it fits snugly and don’t forget to look at the weight guide. Lifejackets have a weight range so make sure that the lifejacket someone is wearing is good for them and will keep them buoyant should they need it.
This is especially important when it comes to children. All children grow so what fitted them last season is likely not to fit them this summer. Resist the temptation to say ‘she’ll be right’ and get a jacket that fits snugly. The buckles should do up easily, but there shouldn’t be so much space that they can slip out of it. A good guide is to make sure there’s no more than two finger-widths of gap on the shoulders – if you can fit three or more fingers between your child’s shoulders and the lifejacket, it’s too big!
FLARES AND OTHER EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT
Every boat should have a grab bag that can be used in an emergency. But there is no point in grabbing that bag if everything in there is out of date! So make sure that you check all your emergency equipment on board at the start of every season.
Flares
Flares have an average lifespan of between 3-5 years. After that the propellant starts to degrade, meaning that you risk your expired flare not firing at all when you need it.
The expiry date should be printed on each flare. If you can’t read the expiry date or the flare shows signs of age (eg. rust around any metal parts or worn labels) replace them.
EPIRB or PLB
These little lifesavers also need some attention if they are to help you when you most need it. So make sure you do these three checks:
- Each year you need to check the expiry date listed on the side of the beacon, to ensure the batteries are still within their use dates. If they have expired then batteries can be replaced, but you’ll probably find the cost isn’t vastly different from buying a brand new beacon.
- Perform a test every so often – there should be a test button behind a guard which won’t transmit a signal, so you know the beacon is still working correctly.
- Make sure your beacon is registered and that your details are kept up to date
It’s also worth noting that beacon technology has advanced hugely in the last decade – many beacons include GPS as standard now – so it’s worth investing in a new emergency beacon to ensure you’ve got the latest and greatest.
Also, make sure that your beacon transmits on the 406MHz frequency. Older beacons (especially those over a decade old) may only transmit on 121.5MHz, which has been phased out as an emergency frequency and is now used mostly by aircraft.
Using an older beacon in an emergency may mean a confirmed satellite detection is significantly delayed, sometimes as much as five hours – so update your old one today.
Fire Extinguishers
Having a fire on board is something we all dread as a boatie and if it happens then you do not have much time to react. As part of your summer checks, make sure your fire extinguishers are still in date and in working order. Most fire extinguishers are designed to last anywhere from 5 to 15 years. Each extinguisher should have a maintenance sticker or yellow tag attached to it; check the service date listed on that.
But a five-second check of the pressure gauge, to ensure it’s still in the green, should be done at least monthly – you don’t want an “in-date” fizzing out on you, simply because the unit has lost pressure in between service dates! You should also invert the extinguisher regularly to ensure the powder inside doesn’t settle at the bottom of the canister.
It goes without saying you should recharge the extinguisher at an authorised dealer, or replace it, if you’ve had to use it. But you should also get it checked if you notice any of the following:
- * The hose or nozzle is damaged or cracked
- * The locking pin is missing – it might mean the extinguisher has been fired, or means it could fire at any moment, if not stowed properly
- * The inspection tag is missing – you won’t know when it was last inspected.
* You also need to ensure these are accessible and all of the crew know where they are and how to use them.
MEDICAL KIT
Having a good medical kit out on the water is important and could save your life. It’s no good pulling it out only to find it has been ruined by water or something has not been replaced. Make sure you go through the kit on a regular basis and check the expiry dates and condition of the equipment in your kit.
CALLSIGNS AND OTHER PAPERWORK
When it comes to owning a boat it’s not just the physical equipment we need to check, it’s also the other stuff that needs to be checked each year too. These include:
- * Callsigns
- * Boat Insurance
- * Trailer WOF
- * Coastguard Membership
Let’s start with callsigns. – If you have a VHF onboard then you’re legally required to have a unique identifier such as a callsign, and a VHF Operator’s certificate!
All VHF radio transmissions in New Zealand are legally required to be individually identifiable, and the best way to do this is with a callsign. If you need to contact Coastguard on your VHF to log a trip report or because you need our help, a callsign is the best way for us to easily identify you and your boat. When you get a callsign your contact and boat details are held on the National Database for search and rescue purposes – it’s much easier to find your boat out on the water if we know exactly what we’re looking for!
A callsign only costs $50 and it’s yours for life. Apply for one in a few minutes online at the Boating Education website or give them a call on 0800 40 80 90. Keeping your callsign up to date is just as important as having one. If you’ve changed your address, purchased a new boat and wish to use your existing callsign, or made a significant change to your current vessel (e.g., name or colour), these details will need to be updated on the Boating Education website.
Boat Insurance
While it can seem like just another bill and can be easy to overlook, you’d be kicking yourself if you weren’t covered for any accident on the water.
Make sure your insurance is up-to-date, and that it covers your boat fully (and includes third party cover, fishing and personal gear aboard).
TRAILER
Don’t forget the trailer WOF, which needs to be done every six months (or only every 12 months, if your trailer was manufactured after 2012). It’s a good idea to try to sort both your rego and warrant at the same time, to avoid missed payments – if you let your rego lapse, fines can get steep very quickly.
YOUR COASTGUARD MEMBERSHIP
You can never be prepared for everything, whether it’s a flat battery or something more serious, so make sure you’ve got your Coastguard Membership sorted before you hit the water. If you run into trouble, Coastguard will have your back with free assistance!
Membership is only $115 a year, so sign up today.
Courses to consider
Even if we have been boating for a while, we all get a little rusty after the winter so as the skipper of your vessel be responsible and get educated. Coastguard Boating Education offers a wide range of courses that can be completed online, at home or in a classroom. Here are a few of the most popular ones:
The Day Skipper – CBE Certificate | 2 Day Classroom Course or 15hr Online Course:
Our most popular course and a great introduction for all members of the family or crew, including those new to boating. It is particularly suited to those who are new to the responsibility of being a skipper on their own vessel. It is for recreational pleasure craft operators and crew and covers general knowledge required to operate a pleasure craft in familiar waters during daylight hours, at an introductory level..
Maritime VHF Operator Certificate | 1 Day Classroom Course or 10hr Online Course:
This course, which aligns with the syllabus specified by Radio Spectrum Management, covers the general features and functions of a marine VHF radio, procedures and operating techniques for routine calling, correct distress and urgency and safety procedures, pro-words and the phonetic alphabet, trip reports, weather services, EPIRBS and more. To obtain a working knowledge in the use of a marine VHF radio and an EPIRB.
Boatmaster | 30 hours Classroom plus Self Study or a Home Study Course:
The Boatmaster course is a comprehensive course for boaties with current knowledge and experience. It applies to a wide range of vessels including yachts, launches, and powerboats. As part of the pathway of Coastguard Boating Education courses, the material extends your knowledge in – chartwork, navigation techniques, distress signals, emergency procedures, knots, rope work, and provides a thorough understanding of the rules of the road at sea.
Engine Maintenance | 1 Day Classroom Course or Home Study Course:
These are for both inboard and outboard engines and cover engine care and troubleshooting.
To view other courses on offer go to: https://www.boatingeducation.org.nz/courses/
