This is a description of the checks that we make before we go to sea. There is a minor omission in the video in that we check the navigation lights and put a harness tether in the cockpit. 
G'day John, I find your videos and your practical, no-nonsense style very useful. I'm still new to my 38' wooden ketch and although it isn't identical, a lot of your ideas and practice are transferable. Thanks for taking the trouble to produce the videos. Keep up the good work, and cheers from Australia!
Indeed - good idea to add it to the list. Our battery monitor has a Bluetooth app that allows me to look at the charging rate. I think I mentioned this in the video but it is an easy thing to remember so I like the idea of adding to the mnemonic.
AHOY THERE ,,,,great checklist procedures ,i would also add checks to the standing rigging every split pin and bracket on mast needs to be checked to see theyre in place no breaks or cracks spreaders need inspected its not a problem ,if you dont mind a broken mast and torn sail and can afford thousands for new mast and sail i would do deck fittings rigging inspection before going inside cabin to continue the other engine and electrical checks ,just saying but thats my thoughts anyways happy sailings
I completely agree that checking the standing and running rigging is an important part of spotting emerging problems. I do a check of these things I have to say when I am out and Sailing and there is a little bit of load. A useful tip that I was given was to look at the top of the mast and the spreaders binoculars from the cockpit if getting up the rig is tricky.
I noticed you saw a bit of water in the bilge and hand-pumped it out. Why wouldn't the automatic bugle pump have taken care of that? I assume you would leave the auto pump on while you are away. Or is it that the pick-up for the manual pump is below the auto pump and the water wasn't high enough for the auto pump to kick on yet?
Yes - that’s right. The auto bilge pump is left on (or set to auto to be more precise). It will kick in when there is about 2-3 pints in bilge. It then emptied it really quickly but the water left in Pipe (maybe 1 pint) then drops back. The manual bilge pump gets everything out and it then stays out.
Run some old CD's up the mast just above the spreaders make sure they can spin, I use 4 CD's two on each side. I was really tired of cleaning up my decks after the birds every week (HR312) and it actually worked, I thought it was a wife's tale but for sure was a 90% reduction.
Very useful and interesting John. Do you close the seacocks if you leave Coric for an extended period?? (would be great to see a video of how you cast off and berth single handed)
Thanks for this - I tend to leave the seacocks open. Certainly the cockpit drains need to be that way. The others we just cycle every week. I certainly plan to do an episode on getting the boat into and out of berths single-handed. I have changed how I do this a little bit based on experience. Assuming nothing else changes I will do one on that subject shortly.
Ruth's busy studying these videos whist I'm off the water recuperating from a knee replacement - really useful. Thanks for making and sharing .
Sorry to hear about the knee and trust you are on the mend. Delighted the video is useful. J
G'day John, I find your videos and your practical, no-nonsense style very useful. I'm still new to my 38' wooden ketch and although it isn't identical, a lot of your ideas and practice are transferable. Thanks for taking the trouble to produce the videos. Keep up the good work, and cheers from Australia!
Thank you that’s very kind, I do enjoy making a Videos. It’s sort of helps me think about how I will teach things in the future
Nice run through - picked up some tips - I put an A in front of Wobble = A Wobble for alternator
Indeed - good idea to add it to the list. Our battery monitor has a Bluetooth app that allows me to look at the charging rate. I think I mentioned this in the video but it is an easy thing to remember so I like the idea of adding to the mnemonic.
Very comprehensive and informative. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you
Nice process to step through. Logging the data also makes sense. Another useful video.
Thanks Mike
AHOY THERE ,,,,great checklist procedures ,i would also add checks to the standing rigging every split pin and bracket on mast needs to be checked to see theyre in place no breaks or cracks spreaders need inspected its not a problem ,if you dont mind a broken mast and torn sail and can afford thousands for new mast and sail i would do deck fittings rigging inspection before going inside cabin to continue the other engine and electrical checks ,just saying but thats my thoughts anyways happy sailings
I completely agree that checking the standing and running rigging is an important part of spotting emerging problems. I do a check of these things I have to say when I am out and Sailing and there is a little bit of load. A useful tip that I was given was to look at the top of the mast and the spreaders binoculars from the cockpit if getting up the rig is tricky.
I noticed you saw a bit of water in the bilge and hand-pumped it out. Why wouldn't the automatic bugle pump have taken care of that? I assume you would leave the auto pump on while you are away. Or is it that the pick-up for the manual pump is below the auto pump and the water wasn't high enough for the auto pump to kick on yet?
Yes - that’s right. The auto bilge pump is left on (or set to auto to be more precise). It will kick in when there is about 2-3 pints in bilge. It then emptied it really quickly but the water left in Pipe (maybe 1 pint) then drops back. The manual bilge pump gets everything out and it then stays out.
Run some old CD's up the mast just above the spreaders make sure they can spin, I use 4 CD's two on each side. I was really tired of cleaning up my decks after the birds every week (HR312) and it actually worked, I thought it was a wife's tale but for sure was a 90% reduction.
:-) that might help - the stack pack gets a fair covering
Did Coric have the water tank level gauge when you bought the boat or was that part of the refit? Same question for the fuel gauge.
Hi - there was a fuel tank but no sender / gauge and the water tank is completely new. We fitted sender and gauges to both during the refit
Hi John, could you tell me the make and model of your seawater strainer for the engine please 😁.
Hi - will have a look tomorrow and come back…
It looks like the maker name is maestrini (Italian) and the size of the strainer is 40mm diameter. Body of the strainer unit is about 170mm
@@CoricContessa32 brilliant, many thanks, will Google it 👍
Very useful and interesting John. Do you close the seacocks if you leave Coric for an extended period?? (would be great to see a video of how you cast off and berth single handed)
Thanks for this - I tend to leave the seacocks open. Certainly the cockpit drains need to be that way. The others we just cycle every week.
I certainly plan to do an episode on getting the boat into and out of berths single-handed. I have changed how I do this a little bit based on experience. Assuming nothing else changes I will do one on that subject shortly.