Charter boat pre-departure checklist — what to check before every guest trip

On a charter boat the pre-departure check is not a safety formality; it is the difference between a trip that starts on time and a guest who watches the crew hunting for a fuse. This is the list we see on well-run crewed and bareboat charter yachts from 40 to 100 ft, split by who is responsible, so it can be run in parallel and finished in an hour.

Engineering — engine room and systems

• Engine and generator oil, coolant and belt check; raw-water strainers clean; no leaks in the bilge under either.
• Fuel: quantity for the itinerary plus reserve; primary filter bowl free of water.
• Fresh water: tanks full, pump running, water heater on, watermaker tested if fitted.
• Holding tanks empty; heads flushed and working; macerator run.
• Batteries charged; shore power disconnected and stowed; inverter and charger states checked.
• Bilge pumps tested on manual and automatic; high-water alarm tested.
• Steering full lock to lock; autopilot engaged and disengaged; bow thruster run.
• Air conditioning and fridges cold; ice maker running.
• Anchor windlass up and down under load; chain marked; snubber aboard.

Deck — safety and seamanship

• Liferaft in date and secured; hydrostatic release in date; EPIRB registered and tested; grab bag checked.
• Lifejackets one per person plus spares, checked and accessible; harnesses and tethers for crew.
• Fire extinguishers in date and in place; fixed system armed; gas locker checked and gas off until needed.
• Flares in date; MOB gear (horseshoe, light, pole or MOB1) ready; throw line aboard.
• Navigation lights, VHF radio check with the marina, AIS transmitting, chartplotter with the route loaded.
• Sailing: sails bent on, reefing lines run, running rigging inspected for chafe, halyards and sheets tidy.
• Tender: fuel, kill cord, oars, painter, lights, launched and running.
• Lines, fenders and boat hook ready for departure; passerelle and swim ladder stowed or secured.
• Safety briefing prepared: where the lifejackets are, how the heads work, gas, MOB, what to do if the captain is down.

Interior — guest readiness

• Cabins made up per the guest preference sheet; linen and towels counted.
• Galley provisioned per the menu; fridges and freezer at temperature; dietary notes on the board.
• First-aid kit checked and restocked; seasickness medication aboard.
• Water toys inflated and tested; snorkel gear counted; rinse tank full.
• Documents aboard: registration, insurance, radio licence, charter agreement, crew list, guest passports where required, port clearance.
• Boat clean, deck dry, cushions out, music and Wi-Fi working.

Making sure it actually happens

• One checklist per department, one owner each, run in parallel, all three signed off to the captain before guests arrive.
• Same list every time. A checklist that changes each trip is a memory test, not a checklist.
• Sign-off with a name and a time, not a tick. When something is found broken on day two, you need to know who checked it and when.
• Anything found not working goes on the issues list immediately with a photo, even if it is fixed on the spot — the pattern is what tells you a part is failing.
• Review the list quarterly: add what got missed, remove what never fails.

Do all of this in iVessel — and more

iVessel is built to run exactly this: a checklist per department, assigned to a person, signed off with a name and a time, and stored on the boat forever.

• Create your own pre-departure, turnaround and handover checklists with the items you want, in the order you want; they live on the boat's account and are there for every trip, whoever the crew are.
• Assign each checklist to a crew member; every item is signed off with a name and a time, and the captain or manager ashore sees the status live.
• Log anything found broken as an issue with a photo in seconds; the parts used to fix it come off the spares inventory automatically.
• Keep the boat's documents, certificates and expiry dates in one place, with reminders before anything lapses.
• Works offline at the dock and at sea, and syncs when you are back in range. iOS, Android and web.

Your first boat is free for 30 days.