Saturday, December 1, 2012

What does a sailor's to-do-list look like?

So I hear the following question a lot: what's left for you all to do on the boat before you're ready to take off?  A sailor’s boat to-do-list… if not ever growing, is at least never ending:

Here is ours as of today:

  1. Changing all the 4 heads (a marine word for toilet) plumbing as all the pipes are permeated… I let you guess what that entails smell wise.
  2. Check the issue with one of the holding tank (a holding tank holds waste from the heads when within 3 miles of the US Coast; offshore, you may dump everything in the sea; different countries have different rules, and enforce them more or less).
  3. Change the shore power cord set up
  4. Fix the bilge pump flap in port hull.
  5. Set a rack on the stern for the life raft
  6. Have a rain dodger made and installed  (see why here)
  7. Waterproof and treat the canvas bimini (probably with Starbrite 303)
  8. Fix the range-oven (issue with the thermocouples grounding)
  9. New anchor : a Rocna 25 (55lbs) or 33 (73lbs)
  10. New chain – at least 250 ft
  11. New dinghy (maybe a secondhand one if good deal)
  12. Repair trampoline (getting unglued in different parts & chaffed lines)
  13. Sanding/painting/repairing the fiberglass/buffing the hulls
  14. Bring back all the reefing lines to the helm (so you don’t have to go to the mast to reef in bad weather)
  15. New VHF radio + handset needed
  16. Change the insulation on top of the starboard engine (coming to pieces)
  17. Varnish our beautiful wooden cockpit table and davits
  18. Caulking the galley sink (it’s leaking)
  19. Lubrication of the steering tie bar.  It seems really stiff.
  20. Visual check of both fresh water tanks
  21. Figuring the fuel system return and charge for the generator
  22. Blinds for hatches
  23. Calibrate depth sounder
  24. Calibrate our autopilot
  25. Remove stanchion net
  26. Lubricate all winches and blocks
  27. Service the windlass
  28. Repairing/changing some ceiling lights in heads
  29. Foot pump (optional)

….and I am forgetting a few...