Prudent seamanship and routine checks and maintenance prevent issues, catch issues before they become big problems, and will limit breakages on voyages.

  • Basics
    • Hull:
        • Seacocks
        • Winches
        • Bearings
        • Anodes
        • Anti-Foul

    • Steering
      • Quadrant
      • Cables (Carry Spares)
      • Redundancy
      • Emergency Tiller
      • Self-Steering
      • Autopilot
      • Note: Steering problems are common on long voyages, especially when sailing with the trade winds. Preventative maintenance. Keep it simple. Have backups. Plan ahead and have a plan for when the main system fails.
    • Rig – Standing and Running
      • Age (Insurance max 10 years?)
      • Halyards (Chafe)
      • Blocks
      • Furling Lines
      • Corrosion
      • Chaffing
      • Daily Check
      • Messenger lines in Mast
      • Spares (carrying Dyneema for running repairs)
    • Sails
      • Age & Service
      • Reefing System (Night time and rough weather plans)
      • Roller Furling Operation
      • Downwind Sail plan
      • Storm sails
      • Battens
      • Preventer
      • Note: The most common breakage on blue water voyages are ripped sails and breakages caused by chafe. Also, the majority of damage is caused from the yacht being overpowered, or when hoisting, furling, or dousing.
  • Engine
    • Tools
    • Clean Fuel
    • Fuel Tanks
    • Water traps
    • Dual and Independent Filter System (with spares)
    • Oil
    • Spares of everything
    • Preventative Servicing
    • Stuffing Box, Shaft, Prop (with rope cutter), Alternator (spare) – It’s not if, but when you will get dirty fuel, plan accordingly
  • Safety
    • Life Jackets
    • Harnesses
    • Jackstays
    • MoB Tracking
    • MoB Recovery System
    • EPIRB
    • AIS
    • Liferaft
    • Grab Bag
    • Training
    • Fire Extinguishers
    • Bilge Pumps (Automatic and Manual)
    • First Aid Kit
    • Propane Solenoid
    • Propane/C0 sniffer
  • Power Management
    • Power Audit
    • Generation (Solar, Wind, Alternator)
    • Redundancy (Multiple ways to charge batteries)
    • Batteries (Age, Type, Service, Condition, Securely Attached)
    • Backup Batteries on separate system
    • Fuses/Breakers (spares)
  • Food & Water
    • Propane, Butane, Alcohol
      • Different areas offer different fuels
    • Crash Bar on Oven
    • Water
      • At least two separate holding tanks (redundancy)
      • Bottles
      • Watermaker
        • Spare parts
        • If equipped, do you also have a Generator which requires Preventative Maintenance
      • Water Catchment System
      • Salt Water Tap (functional and clearly identified so as to not waste fresh water)
    • Refrigeration
  • Anchoring
    • Spares & Stern
    • Chain & Rode
    • Snubber
    • Anchor Roller
    • Windless & Alternative
    • Anchor Locker
  • Electronics
    • AIS (Receiver & Transponder)
    • Radar?
    • Radios
      • VHF
      • Amateur/SSB
    • Satalite
  • Extras
    • Dinghy
      • Outboard
      • Oars
      • Sails
    • Sun shade
      • Bimini
      • Awning
      • Scoops
      • Hatch Covers
      • Canvas UV protection
    • Toilet (Common source of problems while on voyages)
      • Holding Tanks (Legal requirements to area you are travelling in, to.)
  • Spares & Repairs
    • Plan to deal with whatever may happen onboard
    • Comprehensive Tool Kit
    • Reference Manuals and Other Material
    • Spares (hose, belts, lines, etc)
    • Updated Stowage Plan posted near companionway

Last Updated on December 9, 2024