Here is a  checklist for your support and race committee boats to help ensure you have a safe and enjoyable experience this year.  

 
Check List*
• Documents: Review your license, registration, insurance and other important documents pertaining to your boat and trailer, and store them in a watertight bag or container.
• Life jackets: Make sure each person has a properly sized life jacket in good condition with no rips or missing parts.
• Fire extinguishers: Make sure onboard fire extinguishers are fully charged, properly mounted and the correct class for your vessel. Turn dry chemical extinguishers upside down to loosen the powder. Replace or refill expired units.
• Flares: Replace outdated flares, and keep old ones on board as spares.
• Charts and maps: Review and update as necessary.
• Plugs: Inspect and tighten drain plugs. Make sure rubber seals or gaskets haven't cracked or dried out in storage.
• Hoses and clamps: Inspect and replace as necessary.
• Propellers: Inspect for dings, pitting, cracks and distortion. Damaged props can cause unwanted vibration and drive train damage. Make sure connectors such as cotter pins are secure, and grip the prop to check for looseness. If the shaft is loose, consider replacing the bearing. 
• Inboards: Examine the rudderstock to ensure it has not been bent or compromised.
• Hull: Inspect for blisters, distortions, cracks and compromised rivets.
• Water intake strainer: Make sure your strainer is secure, unobstructed and corrosion free.
• Large inboards: Check the engine shaft and rudder stuffing boxes for looseness before and after launch. Make sure through-hulls don't leak.
• Outboards and outdrives: Inspect outdrive bellows for cracks, dryness or deterioration, paying careful attention to the folds. Replace questionable bellows.
• Fluid levels: Check all fluid levels, including engine oil, power steering and power trim reservoirs. Replace worn-out zincs.
• Control cables: Inspect the outer jackets, and replace cables showing cracks, swelling, corrosion or deterioration.
• Fuel lines: Inspect fuel lines, including fill and vent hoses, for softness, brittleness or cracking.
• Fuel tanks: Check your tanks and pumps, and replace filters annually. Consider using a fuel stabilizer.
• Hoses: Inspect cooling, exhaust and blower hoses and pipes for stiffness, rot and leaks. Make sure hoses are connected tightly; double clamp them if necessary.
• Electrical connections: Inspect for cleanliness and tightness. Corrosion, especially on battery cables, could indicate a poor connection. Remove the terminals, and wire brush them along with the cable ends.
• Running and navigation lights: Make sure all running lights work. Keep spare navigation bulbs on board.
• Emergency lights: Inspect emergency lights and signal devices, and make sure you have spare batteries.
• Ignition kill switch: Ensure it's working properly.
• Bilge pumps: Check for leaks and corrosion, and make sure the float switch works.
• Ropes and lines: Inspect for damage, chafing and deterioration, and replace as necessary. Layout and thoroughly inspect your anchor line. Keep lines untangled and coiled for ease of use.
 
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*This check list is by no means exhaustive, and should be considered a starting point.  You should further customize it to suit your boat, trailer, and usage requirements. Check list content from United States Power Squadron. Used with permission.
 
To learn more or to contact the marine insurance specialists at Gowrie Group: www.gowrie.com, 800.262.8911, boats@gowrie.com.