First-Season Systems Familiarization

Week 1–2: Locate and label

Seacocks, thruhulls, bilge pumps/float switches, battery switches, fuel shutoffs, fire extinguishers, manual bilge pump, kill switches, spare fuses.

Electrical literacy

Know house vs start banks, shore-power sequence, charger behavior, and what loads kill batteries overnight. Install CO alarms on gasoline cabin boats if not present.

Fuel & propulsion

Practice priming and cold starts per the manual, at the dock, not with the current pushing you toward the bridge. Log normal temp/pressure. Learn how to check lower-unit oil (outboards/stern drives).

Navigation stack

Update charts, set waypoints home, perform a radio check on VHF 16/9 as appropriate locally, understand DSC MMSI programming if equipped.

Docking curriculum

Progressive drills: calm day, then breeze, then with one crew, then alone if that is your reality. Use spring lines intelligently.

FAQs

Should I join a towing service? Many owners do—especially coastal and Great Lakes.
How many shake-down trips? Until anomalies stop appearing; do not invite guests until basics are boring.