# Bareboat Necessities Checklist

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https://bareboat-necessities.github.io

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This is the check list for a small sailboat (28-feet) and coastal cruising in warm weather.

## 1. US Coast Guard Requirements

1. Personal Flotation Devices. One Type I, II, II, or V per person plus one Type IV throwable device. PFD’s must be CG Approved, wearable by the intended user and readily accessible. The Type IV throwable device must be located such that it is immediately available

2. Fire Extinguishers. One B-II or two B-I. Non-expired.

3. Visual Distress Signals on Coastal Waters. Minimum of three day-use and three night-use or three day/night combination pyrotechnic devices. Non-pyrotechnic substitutes: 1 orange flag (day-use) and 1 electric S-O -S signal light (night-use). Flares checked for expiration.

4. Sound Producing Devices. Horn or whistle recommended to signal intentions or position. Under Rule 33 of the Navigation Rules, boats under 20m MUST have aboard a means of making an efficient sound.

5. Navigation Lights. Working sidelights, stern light, masthead light, running light.

6. Pollution Regulations. 5" X 8" Oil Discharge placard and 4" X 9" MARPOL Trash placards.

7. For Gasoline Engines: Ventilation, Backflame Control. Backfire Flame Arrestors, CG regulated ventilation.

8. Marine Sanitation Devices. Vessels with installed head facilities must have an operable CG-Certified Type I, II, or III Marine Sanitation Device (MSD). Any "Y" value for discharge overboard must be located in such a manner or affixed to prevent accidental discharge of untreated waste into water.

9. Navigation Rules. Boaters should be familiar with the "Rules of the Road". It’s recommended to have navigation rules book on-board.

10. Float plan forms.

## 2. Legal / Paperwork

1. IDs, driver licenses and copies stored in dry places (in separate places)

2. Vessel current registration

3. Vessel insured for the area of sailing, liability coverage, insurance ID

4. Towing services subscription (Ex: SeaTow, BoatUS)

5. Medical insurance IDs for the crew

6. Vaccination records, vaccinations for the travel area

7. Proof of onward travel if travelling internationally

8. For VHF with DSC vessel MMSI must be properly registered

9. EPIRB properly registered

10. Passports and copies if sailing internationally

11. Sailor resumes, logs, boating certifications, memberships, and licenses

12. SSB operator license

13. Some areas require VHF operator license

14. Credit cards (stored in separate places)

15. Boating safety certificate

16. US Coast Guard Courtesy Vessel Safety Check (recommended)

17. CPR licenses

18. Scuba licenses

19. Ship’s Log / Maintenance Log

20. Float plan forms https://newcontent.westmarine.com/content/documents/pdfs/WestAdvisor/USCG-Float-Plan.pdf

21. Emergency contacts

22. Parameters of the boat printed on a separate paper:

    - Make, Model, Year, Call Sign, MMSI, Name, Home Port, Hull ID

    - Length, Draft, Beam, Bridge Clearance, Displacement, Keel Weight, Mast / Boom Lengths

    - Tanks Capacity (Water / Fuel / Holding Tank)

    - Engine Make, Model, Year, Oil Type, Oil Capacity

    - Propeller Shaft Size, Blades Type, Transmission Parameters

    - Sails Parameters, Area

    - Rig Maker, Winches Models, Anchor Types

    - Bilge Pump Throughput Capacity

    - Dinghy Hull #

23. Dinghy registration if it has an outboard motor

24. Student ID cards

25. Paper charts for the sailing area (updated)

26. Tide / current charts (up-to-date)

27. Navigation rules book

28. Sail trim quick ref card

29. Navigation rules quick ref card

30. Quick ref card for weather forecasting

31. Sailboat electric book

32. Cards that can give you discounts

33. Chart No. 1

34. Nautical almanac

35. Coast pilot book

36. The Annapolis Book of Seamanship

37. Knots quick ref

## 3. Safety

### 3.1. Good

1. All US Coast Guard safety requirements, PFDs, fire safety, distress signaling, navigation signals (See Chapter 1)

2. Hull (inspected properly)

3. Seacocks / thru hulls checked, hoses checked, hoses double clamped

4. Compliance with ABYC standards

5. Deck leaks caulked

6. No deck hazards

7. Stuffing box checked for leaks

8. At least two boat batteries (marine grade)

9. Reliably working inboard diesel engine

10. Reliably working steering system

11. Solar panel and solar charger

12. Rigging checked / inspected, tensioned properly

13. Battery charger from shore power

14. Shore power chord

15. Fenders

16. Dock Lines

17. Fuses in proper places

18. Spare fuses

19. Spare bulbs for each navigation light

20. Proper grounding wire of the boat

21. Proper marine wiring (wire grades for amps, proper insulation, good connectors, no loose connections generating heat, no hanging open wires, etc)

22. Sacrificial anodes installed in good shape

23. Emergency tiller

24. Built-in manual bilge pump and handle

25. Automatic bilge pump with proper vented loop and anti-siphon valve

26. Spare 12v bilge pump (easily deployable)

27. Boat hook (telescoping floating)

28. VHF with GPS and DSC (registered with MMSI for the vessel)

29. GPS Chartplotter, NMEA sensors connected

30. Binnacle mounted compass + handheld compass

31. Paper charts of the sailing area, dividers, protractor, etc

32. Radar reflector

33. Tide/current tables

34. Anchoring day shape ball

35. Two anchors with rode and length marking (mount for securing anchor outside of locker or anchor roller)

36. Coastal medical emergency kit

37. Sunscreen

38. Bimini

39. Marine binoculars (floating)

40. Flashlights / spare batteries

41. Wood plugs strategically placed in compartments with seacocks, know where all seacocks located, know where hammer is

42. Hammer

43. Signalling mirror

44. Boom stop with proper rope (Ex: Capt Dan’s boom brake)

45. Dinghy with oars, PFDs for the dinghy, dinghy bailer / scoop, dinghy foot pump, dock line / painter, floating flash light. Make sure the dinghy doesn’t obstruct the stern light

46. Dinghy davits (dinghy rings - in my case)

47. Fire blankets

48. Covid-19 masks

49. Lightning strike detector

50. Sailing gloves

51. Sun glasses with lanyard

52. Sunhat with lanyard

53. Rain ponchos

54. Two winch handles

55. EPIRB (properly registered, know activation procedure)

56. AIS integrated with chartplotter

57. Jacklines + tether

58. Portable water tanks

59. Depth sounder

60. Funnel, fuel strainer

61. Spare engine oil (know how to check oil level)

62. 4G/LTE internet router with on-board WiFi and SIM card for the sailing area

63. Anemometer / wind speed, direction sensors

64. Barometer

65. Boom tent

66. Swim ladder

67. Self-tailing winches

68. Heaving line with a float

69. Walkie-talkie for a dinghy-to-boat communication, anchoring communication

70. Dinghy bailer

71. Lifelines

72. Hand rails

73. Loose nuts / bolts tightened

74. Sharp rigging elements covered with rigging tape

75. Spare halyards (installed and ready)

76. Dry comfortable bunk with a fan and ways to secure yourself from falling

77. Engine key with a float

78. Companion way key with a float

79. Spare foldable swim ladder (my Dingy Rings block the swim ladder when the dinghy is mounted)

80. Couple nylon rail mountable cleats

81. Child PFDs

82. Spreader halyard for signals and flags

### 3.2. Better

1. Search light

2. Sextant

3. Bow thrusters, joystick for control

4. Water maker

5. Rain water catcher

6. Radar

7. Means to periodically report your location via internet

8. Autopilot

9. Windlass, windlass battery, anchor roller

10. Anchor chain, anchor bridle/snubber

11. Whisker pole

12. Bilge alarm

13. MOB retrieval and recovery gear (Ex: MobMat)

14. Marine ventilation plug (to close ventilation in rough weather)

15. Lee cloth

16. Storm shutters

17. Carbon monoxide alarm

18. Smoke detector

19. Various gas alarm sensors

20. Means to set up anchor alarm

21. Lifeline netting

22. Lightning strike arrester for the antenna

23. Lazy jacks

24. SSB radio

25. Satellite phone (Ex: Iridium Go)

26. Liferaft + ditch bag

27. Sonar / fish Finder

28. Inmarsat Fleet receiver

29. NavTex receiver

30. Means to receive weather fax

31. Weather routing software

32. PACTOR modem for messaging off-shore

33. Sea anchor, slowing drogue

34. Dodger

35. Wind generator

36. Self-steering gear, wind vane

37. Spare rudder / spare steering

38. Gasoline electric generator

39. Means to climb the mast (bosun chair, steps, etc)

40. Anchoring gloves

41. Clinometer

42. Spreader deck lights

43. Diver-down flag and buoy

44. Dinghy outboard

45. Pushpit outboard mount for dinghy outboard motor

46. Android tablet with spare GPS navigation software and charts

47. Bilge air blower

48. Color night vision camera

### 3.3. Crew Drills / Instructions

1. Sailboat parts / marine lingo

2. MOB drills with the crew

3. Captain overboard drills and instruction

4. Boom safety instruction, moving around the boat instructions

5. Marine head usage instruction

6. Environment protection instruction

7. Fire safety

8. Use of life jackets, PFDs

9. Docking, anchoring, mooring, boarding, dinghy use, rafting up

10. VHF, DSC, Mayday, EPIRB

11. Distress signals, bilge pump operation

12. Engine start/stop/check

13. Tacking, gybing, reefing, heaving-to, hoisting sails, steering, use of swim ladder

14. Night sailing, docking

15. Abandon ship, rig loss, fire, flooding, steering malfunction, accidental gybe, injured crew member, storm / squall procedures, grounding

## 4. On-Board Living

1. Comfortable head, convenient to clean and flush

2. Comfortable dry bunk

3. Convenient dish washing set up

4. Convenient hand wash set up

5. Energy saving lights (all)

6. Solar cockpit lights

7. Companionway rain cover (clear UV treated marine vinyl)

8. 12-volt vacuum

9. Fans in sleeping areas

10. Waterproof bags

11. A/C (Ex: ZeroBreeze)

12. Cooler (cooler bags)

13. Sun Shower (with a foot pump, shower head, hose, adaptors)

14. Portable smartphone chargers

15. Boom tent, ties

16. Bimini

17. Dodger

18. Cockpit table

19. Cabin table

20. Swim suits

21. Towels

22. Beach towels

23. Bed sheets

24. Pillows (comfortable)

25. Snorkeling mask, tube, fins, mesh bag

26. Rain coat/jacket/ponchos

27. Windproof jackets

28. Blue tooth speakers

29. Folding electric bicycle

30. Lights in each cabin

31. Tree hammock

32. Marine toilet paper

33. Mobile phone chargers / cables

34. Mesh bags

35. Cargo net

36. Pen / pencils / erasers

37. Trash bins for the galley and head

38. Rubber bands

39. Cup holders

40. Fender holders

41. Dust pan, brush

42. 12-volt pluggable 3-way adaptor (cigarette lighter type plug)

43. 12-volt extension chord (cigarette lighter type plug)

44. Envelopes, postal stamps

45. Flag pole

46. Flags

47. Daily-wear clothes

48. Small reading light

49. Binnacle cover

50. Sail cover

51. Head mounted flashlight

| Store items in plastic transparent zip lock bags (Easy to see). Expect everything to get wet, corrode, leak, spill, tip over (and damage other items). Remove all packaging and stickers. Do not use carton boxes.

## 5. Spare Parts

1. Spare bilge pump (12-volt powered, pluggable)

2. Spare batteries

3. Spare cabin lights

4. Spare alternator belt

5. Spare oil filters

6. Spare fuel filters

7. Spare impeller

8. Fuses (variety)

9. Some wires

10. Butt connectors / heat shrink tubing

11. Spare stainless nuts/bolts/screws/washers

12. Spare wood / marine starboard

13. Rigging parts, cotter pins

14. Spare swim ladder legs

15. Spare engine key

16. Spare companion way lock

17. Utility wire

## 6. Tools

1. Basic mechanical toolkit (wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, hex keys, etc)

2. Basic electrical toolkit (wire cutter, voltmeter, crimping tool, butt connectors, electrical tape, heat shrink tubing)

3. Basic carpenter toolkit, hacksaw

4. Basic plumbing toolkit

5. Basic sewing toolkit

6. Hose

7. Broom (floating)

8. Shore power chord

9. Crowbar tool

10. Voltmeter

11. Inspection mirror

12. Magnetic pick-up tool (telescoping or snake-type)

13. Wire crimping tool

14. Lighters, matches (windproof)

15. Bottle opener / corkscrew

16. Key to open tank caps

17. Inflatable dingy pump

18. Shower pump

19. Liquid transfer pump

20. Waterproof computer keyboard, mouse

21. Smart phone mount

22. Engine key attached to a float

23. Companion way lock with a float

24. Drill

25. Drill bits

26. Screwdriver bit set

27. Bar Clamp

28. Vise-grips

29. Rotary tool (Ex: Dremel)

30. Drain cleaning stick

31. Plunger

32. Marine engine oil changer / extractor (Marinas usually take the extracted oil for proper disposal)

33. Diesel fuel stabilizer

34. Laundry bags

## 7. Supplies

1. Cargo straps 1-inch width (+ clam buckles, tri glide buckles)

2. Gear ties

3. Utility wire

4. USB/Ethernet cables

5. Phone charger cables

6. Various ropes, ties

7. Carabiners

8. Stainless kitchen clips

9. Oil absorbing sheets / pads

10. Zip lock bags

11. Acetone

12. Holding tank septic liquid

13. Matches / lighter

14. Scissors

15. Pens/pencils

16. Rigging knives (one per crew)

17. Rigging tape

18. Whipping twine

19. Stainless hose clamps

20. Spare LPG gas for stove (stored outside)

21. Oil Lantern, liquid for it, funnel (or candle lantern and candles for it)

22. Plastic wire ties

23. Garbage bags

24. Paper towels

25. Boat wash soap

26. Bag of rags

27. Duct tapes

28. Electrical tape

29. Waterproof sacks

30. Dry lube

31. Air freshener

32. Odor neutralizing gel beads

33. Air deodorizer

34. Assorted bungee cords

35. Assorted shackles

36. Sail ties

37. Sail repair kit

38. Glue

39. Marine caulk

40. Caulking gun

41. Sand paper

42. Measuring tape

43. Bag of dehumidifying pellets

44. Bilge cleaner liquid

45. Boat pole holder

## 8. Hygiene / Health

1. Tooth paste / brush / toothpicks / mouth wash / dental floss

2. Eye drops

3. Eye contact lenses / liquid / prescription eye glasses with neck chord

4. Prescription medicines (labeled with name, patient name and instructions)

5. Hand sanitizer

6. Sun glasses, neck chord

7. Sun hat with lanyard

8. Long sleeve collared UV protective shirts

9. Sunscreen, lip balm

10. Hand soap

11. Q-tips

12. Supplements, vitamins

13. Skin moisturizer

14. Ibuprofen/Advil

15. Tylenol

16. Thermometer

17. Pepto bismol

18. Cotton balls

19. Tweezers

20. Wet wipes

21. Gatorade

22. Snakebite kit

23. Nail clipping toolkit

24. Bandages

25. First-aid manual (use Reeds Ocean Handbook)

26. Hydrogen peroxide

27. Anti-fungal creme

28. Antibiotic creme, neosporin

29. Skin rash, anti itch creme

30. Allergy medications

31. Shampoo

32. Body wash

33. Bath sponges

34. Deodorant

35. Shaving razor, shaving creme

36. Burn creme

37. Scissors

38. Bandana

39. Ear plugs

40. Sea sickness medications, bracelet, ginger gum / candies, ear plugs

41. Sleep mask

42. Marine toilet paper

43. Zip lock bags

44. Water shoes (for use on a dinghy)

45. Covid-19 masks, gloves

46. Feminine hygiene products (instruct not to dispose into the head)

47. Nicotine patches

## 9. Cooking / Galley

1. Stove (double-gimbaled is better)

2. Solar Stove (Ex: SunGo Sport with a marine mount)

3. Forks

4. Knives with covers

5. Ceramic knives with covers

6. Spoons, tea spoons

7. Chopsticks

8. Plates / bowls

9. Cups / glasses

10. Cooking pans

11. Spatula

12. Stainless steel cooking utensil set

13. Kettle

14. Pressure cooker

15. Windshield for the stove

16. Multi grater

17. Thermos

18. Mugs

19. Double gimbaled mug holder (Ex: Osculati)

20. Matches, lighters

21. Gas for the stove

22. Utencils holder

23. Spice rack

24. Zip-lock bags

25. Coffee maker

26. Potatoes peeler

27. Wine glasses (plastic)

28. Brushes for dish washing

29. Frying pan

30. Toaster or camping toast making tool (Ex: By Primus)

31. Cutting board

32. Can opener

33. Egg holder (plastic reusable)

34. Kitchen timer

35. Kitchen liners

36. Napkins

37. Paper towels

38. Aluminum foil

39. Plastic wraps

40. Cocktail shaker

41. Bubble wrap

42. Large plastic cookie jar

43. Pot holders

44. Dish scrubbie

45. Food saver (12v vacuum food sealer)

46. Colander

47. Outside storage for cooking propane/butane gas

| Cooking below deck possesses a risk. Store cooking propane/butane gas containers outside. The bilge should be well ventilated to allow heavier than air flammable gases to escape. Prefer cooking on an outside gas grill.

| Even if the risk is low but consequences are catastrophic you still need to mitigate the risk.

## 10. Food / Provisioning

1. Salt

2. Sugar

3. Black pepper

4. Spices (garlic powder, onion powder, bay leaves, basil, dill, etc)

5. Steak sauce

6. White vinegar

7. Gatorade

8. Trail mix bags

9. Vegetable oil

10. Olive oil

11. Rice

12. Pasta

13. Pasta sauce

14. Canned fruit snacks

15. Canned soups

16. Drinking water

17. Baking flour

18. Baking soda

19. Potatoes

20. Onions

21. Lemons, limes

22. Carrots

23. Potatoes

24. Tortilla chips / potatoes chips

25. Fruit snacks / dry fruits

26. Cookies, crackers

27. Cucumbers

28. Tomatoes

29. Lettuce

30. Bread

31. Apples

32. Coffee

33. Tea

34. Ketchup

35. Canned beans / dry beans

36. Mustard

37. Mayonnaise

38. Canned milk

39. Canned soups

40. Bouillon cubes, dry soup mix

41. Dry ramen noodles

42. Canned tomato paste

43. Sea food sauce

44. Avocados

45. Raisins

46. Cacao mix

47. Peanut butter

48. Protein bars, granola bars

49. Pretzel sticks

50. Peanut butter

51. Chips

52. Olives

53. Ginger ale

54. Tomato/apple/orange juice

55. Cheese

56. Thermos

57. BBQ / steak sauce

58. Pickles

59. Beer

60. White wine / sparkling wine

61. Cereal

62. Bacon

63. Eggs

## 11. Crew roles

### 11.1. Captain / Skipper

1. In-charge

2. Safety

3. Decision maker

### 11.2. Navigator

1. Position / weather tracking

2. Radio, radar, navigation electronics

3. Ship logs

4. Sail trim

5. Tides / currents

### 11.3. Engineer

1. Hull / integrity

2. Fire safety

3. Mechanical and electric equipment

4. Repairs / maintenance

5. Tools / spares

6. Plumbing / hull

7. Radio equipment

### 11.4. Cook

1. Food and galley

2. Provisioning

### 11.5. Boatswain

1. Rig / spars / mast

2. Running rigging

3. Anchors

4. Deck equipment / safety gear

### 11.6. Helmsman

1. Whoever is at the helm

2. Maintain course and speed

3. Watch out for vessels and obstructions

4. Monitor trim / rig / voltage / nav lights / weather conditions

5. Notify captain

### 11.7. Accountant / Bookkeeper

1. Expense tracking

### 11.8. Doctor

1. Healthcare

### 11.9. DJ / animator

1. Entertainment

2. Music

### 11.10. Photographer / video operator

1. Photo

2. Video

### 11.11. Fisherman

1. Anything fishing

### 11.12. Lookout

1. Observation of hazards

2. Landmarks

3. Person on a watch out

4. Anchor watch

### 11.13. Pilot

1. Dinghy operation

2. Boat to shore movements (from anchoring / mooring)

## 12. Entertainment

1. Blue tooth speakers, audio cable

2. Downloaded music

3. Computer (low power usage), movies (downloaded)

4. Some board games (chess, etc)

5. Card games

6. Small musical instruments (harmonica, ukulele, guitar, etc)

7. Guitar tuner

8. Books / magazines

9. Travel guides

10. Beach volley ball

11. Balderdash

12. Snorkel, mask, fins, mesh bag

13. GoPro camera, mounts

14. Waterproof smartphone, charging cables, 12v adapter, unlocked

15. Camera drone, charger, remote

16. Scuba gear, oxygen tanks

17. Fishing gear, fishing poles, fishing pole mounts, knives, lures, lines

18. Fishing spear / gun

19. Marine life identification book / phone app

20. Skateboard, roller blades, scooter, helmets

21. Small underwater sea scooter

22. GoPro camera + mounts

23. Folding electric bike

24. Domino

25. Chess

26. 3D Connect Four

27. Boogie board

## 13. Applications for smart phones / tablets

1. iNavX

2. Navionics

3. OpenCPN

4. SEAiq

5. Marine Traffic

6. Ship Finder

7. PredictWind

8. NOAA Weather Radar

9. Tide Alert

10. US Coast Guard

11. SeaTow

12. Dockwa

13. Snag a Slip

14. ActiveCaptain

15. CruisersSailingForums

16. Boatsetter

17. GoSailing

18. NauticEd

19. Knot Guide

20. StarChart

21. WebMD