Essential Pre-Departure Boating Checklist [⭐Do These Things EVERY TIME Before You Go!] | BoatUS

Captain Eric Sorensen from Sorensen's Guide gives you his essential pre-departure boating checklist for items you should inspect or do before you spend a day out on the water on your boat. Items on his pre-departure checklist include filing a float plan, checking fuel and freshwater levels as well as the weather forecast, and tides, familiarize yourself with charts for where you're going, ensure you have enough life jackets and in the right sizes for everyone aboard, familiarize yourself with local regulations, inspect safety items such as flares and fire extinguishers, teach everyone how to use the head, check your VHF radio and ensure that at least two people on board know how it works, open seacocks you need, run the bilge blower for three to four minutes if you have an inboard or sterndrive gas engine, check the oil and cooling water levels, start the engine and check controls and steering. Once you've done these things, disconnect shorepower, cast off your lines, and have a great day on the water! Want more boating checklists? https://www.boatus.com/expert-advice/expert-advice-archive/2019/june/the-power-of-checklists What checks do you do that aren't on this list? Comment below! 🚩Enjoy this video? Become a BoatUS Member today to get 25+ valuable benefits including a subscription to award-winning BoatUS Magazine! https://boat.us/e/sy-join 🚩Visit the BoatUS Magazine website: https://www.boatus.com/Expert-Advice. BoatUS is the nation’s largest association of recreational boaters with more than half a million Members. We provide a diverse offering of services including marine insurance, on-the-water towing provided by TowBoatUS, the nation’s largest fleet, plus boat financing, graphics and lettering, representation for boaters on Capitol Hill, the award-winning BoatUS Magazine and much more. For more than 50 years, BoatUS has made boating safer, more affordable and more accessible. 🚩Download the BoatUS App today to access NOAA marine weather, tides, exclusive Member discounts, and your BoatUS account. Assistance on the water has never been easier with TowBoatUS CONNECT in the BoatUS App — the fastest way to get a tow! https://boat.us/sy-app 🚩Connect with us: https://Facebook.com/BoatUS https://Twitter.com/BoatUS https://Instagram.com/BoatUS https://Pinterest.com/BoatUS https://linkedin.com/company/boatus #boatsafety #boatus #checklist