Marine Loss Adjustor and Coastguard NZ Senior Master, Paul Field shares some important advice to help you stay safe on the water.

Summer is upon us once again and it’s time for many owners to get their vessels and equipment ready for boating season. Preventable failures that can come from a lack of preparation and servicing are a common theme this time of year. We have mentioned the importance of a regular ongoing maintenance regime and talking with service providers in previous articles, and often a vessel owner’s excitement to get out on the water when conditions become favourable can also overshadow some simple vessel checks. It is common at this time of year for us to see initial outing failures and their consequences. Early season groundings, anchoring failures and mechanical and electrical issues can occur due to the deterioration of such things as anchor warps, battery systems and engines which have been sitting idle. To assist the boating population, we’ve highlighted some issues we commonly see, to hopefully inspire some pertinent checks and help minimise your risk.

  1. Ensure the engine water pump impellers are in serviceable condition, as long periods without use allow them to dry out and become brittle and or bind to the inner pump housing. Service agents can often check and replace these at a reasonable cost providing the reassurance that cooling water circulates freely at the right pressure and volume when the engine is operating, preventing overheating.
  2. Remove any stale or potentially compromised fuel. If in any doubt, remove it and ensure clean non-compromised fuel is in your tank.
  3. Check fuel filler cap seals to ensure they are able to prevent water ingress. Additionally, check fuel filters for water presence. Check your hull skin fittings are functional, and bungs are able to seal watertight.
  4. Ensure your bilges are clean and clear of debris or potential obstructions and that your bilge pumps are all functional.
  5. Check engine hoses for cracking and or perishing. Oil, fuel and water hoses don’t have an infinite life. So, when having your service agents attend onboard, a check of all hoses is prudent. A leak from any of these hoses can result in overheating of an engine and even potentially a fire which is obviously a very serious situation.
  6. Pressurised oil coolers on inboard engines rely on circulating coolant salt water to remove the heat from the oil circulating through the engine. The inner cooler tubes are subject to corrosion over time being immersed in salt water. Hence, it’s important to periodically have these checked and pressure tested to ensure both the oil and water remain in the galleries they are supposed to and don’t cross contaminate.
  7. Check oil levels and closed-circuit fresh coolant reserves are to the correct levels.
  8. Batteries do expire. Be mindful of battery ages and ensure there’s a suitable charging system for the type of battery you have – don’t risk an old battery.
  9. Check connections and battery terminals for corrosion. Ensure battery cables are tightly connected and also ensure the Positive and Negative terminals are clearly labelled and cables attached correctly.

  10. Check your navigation systems and sounders for functionality. Ensure the latest chart updates are in your navigation system.
  11. Ensure your flares and communication devices are all functional and in date. Life jackets must be in service date and fully functional and correctly fitting for those on board.
  12. Check the hull for any degradation, rot or deterioration issues. For alloy boats keep an eye on potential corrosion, for timber vessels check for rot or sitting water in the bilge. For fibreglass craft, check for any compression areas under the hull where trailer wheels point load and ensure the craft is watertight. Cast an eye over hatch seals and windows.
  13. Check all protective fabric covers are functional and haven’t degraded.
  14. Check trailer wheels and bearings are correctly greased and serviceable and that brake systems are all operable. Cast an eye over the trailer structure and check for any rust build up.
  15. Run up your craft on land (for trailer craft) and in berth for moored craft before heading out to ensure everything is operable as it’s better to identify any failures before you get out on the water.
  16. Check your anchor, chain, warp, winch and anchor fittings to ensure they are serviceable as you may need them in an emergency.

Many of the incidences we see at the beginning of the season relate to one or a combination of the items we’ve outlined. While the list might appear long, most of the items can be quickly observed. Putting together a check list is good practice to ensure all facets of your vessel are checked and confirmed to be serviceable prior to use. Regular servicing during the year and scheduled maintenance will help prevent accumulation of issues and associated failures. However, as vessel owners, casting an eye over drive lines, electricals, fuel sources, overall hull structure, fittings and your trailer can give you a sense of reassurance and safety before you embark out on the water.

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