Creating a haul-out to do list

[tmoandj]

Hi everyone, I'm just preparing for our first ever haulout in the spring. We have an aluminum 45ft with a pretty new beta engine. I'm trying to create a general list of haulout to do items. Maybe something generic that we can all use....
For example:
1: zincs
2: engine zinc
3: hull paint
4: bottom paint
5: deck paint
6: fuel tank cleaning
Etc....

[cgrabens]

Thru hulls. We replaced all of ours when we were out which was a lot more work than I originally anticipated. Also check prop and prop shaft and strut. Rudder and rudder shaft and gudgeons. And when we put her back in we had to pull her back out to replace stuffing in stuffing box.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by tmoandj

Maybe something generic that we can all use....

Initially helpful, in reality useless. Everyone needs to develop their own. It's called personal responsibility. There are more than enough checklists out there already. Every generic one I've ever seen is so overblown as to be useless. Why? 'Cuz they tend to cover too much, much of which may not be applicable to my particular situation. Developing yet another one is like reinventing the wheel. They are already out there.

[tmoandj]

What is the point of having a forum if the negative nay-sayers jump in all the time before the conversation can get started? Ignoring the unhelpful response, so far we have:
1: zincs
2: engine zinc
3: hull paint
4: bottom paint
5: deck paint
6: fuel tank cleaning
7: Through-hulls
8: Prop, prop shaft and strut
9: Rudder, rudder shaft and gudgeons
10: Stuffing box
Thanks cgrabens

[CREX]

As obvious as this sounds:
Deep clean. Remove batteries and clean. Bilge clean. Defrost clean and sanitize. Interior painting so you don't have to breathe the fumes all night. Remove unnecessary stuff. It's easy on the hard, usually.
Get rum so you don't loose your sea legs...

[demacsea]

Here's mine, but you should also take a look at Hauling Out and Laying Up...
Clean and bag dinghy;
Remove BBQ;
Remove Danbuoy and HS lifebuoy;
Remove Life Sling;
Lubricate locks;
Remove all batteries from torches etc;
Wash insect screens;
Clean watermaker filters;
Pickle watermaker;
Turn off gas at cooker and bottle;
Turn off gas locker vent valve;
Sort chart table contents;
Flush toilet with fresh water;
Turn off inverter circuit breaker;
Turn off isolators;
Turn off anchor windlass circuit breaker;
Fit instrument covers;
Clean underside main hatch;
Clean bilge;
Clean carpets and cabin sole;
Clean and close curtains;
Clean upholstery;
Remove track-cleats;
Remove tiller;
Cover ballast tank breathers;
Remove cockpit drain pipe;
Check condition of anodes;
Fit deck hatch covers;
Remove thru-hulls, install insect mesh;
Deck/Hull clean;
Wash anchor, chain and locker;
Clean Stainless;
Tie off windcharger and turn off;
Lay up outboard motor;
Engine oil/filter change;
Grease shaft seal;
Drain and disconnect exhaust box;
Lubricate seacocks;
Clean and grease prop;
Remove and wash bimini;
Remove and wash dodgers (weathercloths);
Remove/bag sails;
Remove and wash sailcovers;
Remove and wash sprayhood;
Clean cockpit seats;
Remove jackstays;
Remove mainsheet, vang, runners etc;
Tie out halyards;
Secure boom on deck;
Fill fuel tank;
Fill (or drain) water tanks;

[ThresherMan]

Are you pulling the mast?

-inspect running and standing rigging and replace as needed
-inspect sails for chafe and seams - take to sail loft as needed

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by tmoandj

What is the point of having a forum if the negative nay-sayers jump in all the time before the conversation can get started?

You might want to reconsider. I explained WHY, not just nay said.

And besides, as this topic evolves, as it has already you'll see exactly what I meant and why I said what I did.

Every single "checklist" question I have seen on boating forums since Al Gore invented the internet, go just this way.

The OP ends up spending more time separating the wheat from the chaff than he would making up his own checklist.

Either way, good luck.

[Island Time O25]

If you don't know what needs to be done at the next haul out you either are not spending enough time on the boat or doing something wrong. And btw as several old salt marine buddies keep telling me - don't fix it/repair it if it ain't broken.

[Shrew]

Originally Posted by tmoandj

What is the point of having a forum if the negative nay-sayers jump in all the time before the conversation can get started? Ignoring the unhelpful response.............

You get the answers to the question as its asked regardless if you like the answer or not. Here's my list:

Change lube in outdrive
Change zinc's in outdrive
winterize A/C
winterize engine
winterize head and holding tank
winterize freshwater system
Drain hot water heater
shrinkwrap boat

I am in a northern climate and when I haul it is prior to the winter (freezing temps for 6 months). May be this applies to you, maybe it doesn't. I hope that helps.

[TrentePieds]

Well, I'm with Stu Jackson. Why make a mountain out of a molehill? The things that must needs be done with the boat on the hard are very few indeed. Most maintenance tasks can be done, and should be done, while afloat. "Leaving them till haul-out" is rarely sensible. Do them when they reveal themselves.

What needs to be done with the boat on the hard will reveal itself as you do your "walk around". You do do a walk-around, don't you :-)?

All boats are different, even boats of the same type and make, because the appurtenances are rarely the same from one boat to another. Therefore the maintenance requirements are different from one boat to another and, as Stu sez a generic dunce list for haul-out seems a waste of time. A dunce list SPECIFIC to the boat develops organically over the sailing season and each year's list will differ from the previous year's list.

Saying so is not "nay-saying". It's just a recognition of the reality of boat keeping over many years. Every boat owner should have a clear mental picture of what HIS boat needs. If he doesn't, he must be missing something quite fundamental to boat-keeping.

But for those among us whose get pleasure from generating lists - why not? It's a separate and different hobby IMO. It's a placebo. It can't harm you, but neither will it do you any real good.

TrentePieds

[Dave22q]

Originally Posted by Shrew

You get the answers to the question as its asked regardless if you like the answer or not. Here's my list:

Change lube in outdrive
Change zinc's in outdrive
winterize A/C
winterize engine
winterize head and holding tank
winterize freshwater system
Drain hot water heater
shrinkwrap boat

I am in a northern climate and when I haul it is prior to the winter (freezing temps for 6 months). May be this applies to you, maybe it doesn't. I hope that helps.

I would add check and maintain/replace through hulls as a necessary task.

[seabreez]

Originally Posted by tmoandj

Hi everyone, I'm just preparing for our first ever haulout in the spring. We have an aluminum 45ft with a pretty new beta engine. I'm trying to create a general list of haulout to do items. Maybe something generic that we can all use....
For example:
1: zincs
2: engine zinc
3: hull paint
4: bottom paint
5: deck paint
6: fuel tank cleaning
Etc....

Remove props and shafts and inspect bearings, wear points. Check cutless and strut support and bolts... Check stuffing boxes. Drop the rudders and inspect the post and bearings and stuffing boxes (if applicable). Alignment of shaft and flanges... Any bubbling of paint... chip it and check for cracks...

[Don C L]

I am always trying to maximize yard time so I can get the most done in the shortest time. Anything that can be done in the water, don't waste time in the yard on it. So, for me, it's not just planning what to do, but how long to do each job. And I start early, finish late and have somebody bring me breakfast, lunch and dinner! 'cuz I just don't have much to spare on yard time. And have everything ready so you don't need to run to the Chandlery or hardware store for one screw or one paintbrush! (Note to SELF!)

[savoir]

Originally Posted by Island Time O25

If you don't know what needs to be done at the next haul out you either are not spending enough time on the boat or doing something wrong. And btw as several old salt marine buddies keep telling me - don't fix it/repair it if it ain't broken.

Wrong. Fix it BEFORE it breaks. Put everything breakable on routine replacement. e.g. replace engine impellers every xx years depending on use