I have my hands entangled in an old boat with virtually no documentation,
what there is, is wrong in at least some cases. Here is a summary of what
is needed, this applies to most any boat.

A list of all:

Battery banks. By voltage.
Tanks. Fuel, oil, water, grey water, black water. Location of all fills and
vents. Whether fills are marked.
Sources of power: generators, alternators, battery chargers.
List of all thru hulls. What connected to and what condition. Whether an
intake or overboard.
Engines, heads, holding tanks, sinks, pumps, deck or other drains.
Pumps: bilge, potable water, grey water, black water, fuel, oil.

Description of the emergency steering system and bilge pump system.
Components, usage, locations.

Location of fuel filters and description of the fuel system, feed and
return lines.

Electrical panels and fuse panels: By voltage and type.
Isolated fuses. A spare fuse(s) should be in plastic bag attached.
List of all motors and the location of it's fuse or breaker.

Major On/Off switches. Batteries, machinery, etc.
A separate list of switches allowing the paralleling of battery banks.

Each item above should describe where located, how to identify, to use and
any special information needed to use.

A list of items for which special preparations should be taken. Jumper
cables, emergency steering, etc.
Special tools that should be tied or attached to something in order to
facilitate the usage of some equipment needed in an emergency. For instance
a wrench or screw driver or cutting device which will be needed to activate
the emergency steering or a pump, etc. If subject to deterioration, sealed
in a clear plastic bag and attached.

Mike

Capt. Mike Maurice
Wilsonville, Oregon (Portland).

And the last for the day.

Georgs, mentioned that Nordhaven has, as part of their requirements for the
Rally, put in that entrants need to have a "get home" system.

Wow, that let's a lot of us out in the cold :-(

Most of these so called get home systems I've seen on trawlers will work in
a calm sea/wind or down wind wave only.

If you're 500 miles offshore and a bit of the main engine goes cawfluey, are
you suppose to make the little 30-60 hp engine with the 14-18" folding prop
exposed to the flotsam of the not so calm sea take over and get you to the
safe harbor 500 miles away???  Give me a break!!

If you can make 2 kts upwind up wave your doing great. If it can last
without having "another propulsion failure" for 8 to 10 days you might have
a chance to make a safe harbor. Most of these boats won't have the stores to
hang in there if this scenario happens, IMO. Heck, I can make 2 kts off wind
just with my windage. With a drogue to keep me pointed downwind I'll make
VHF radio range and arrange a short tow with someplace with-in a month :-)

Better to have a fully up to snuff fuel supply/engine, plenty of spare parts
and the knowledge on board how to fix/repair/work around ANY issue that
comes up.

If not don't go. Going offshore isn't a picnic and doing so with the false
security of something that was "advertised" as the security blanket is
certainly not a good way to start the passage.

That's the way it looks from the single engine seats in the Caribbean :-)

Dave
Swan Song
Roughwater 58
Tortola, BVI