Boat pre-departure checklist: 15 checks before leaving the dock

A good boat pre-departure checklist covers five things: conditions, route, boat, safety equipment and crew. Complete it while there is still time to fix a problem or postpone the trip. Adapt every item to your vessel, operating area and local rules.

The U.S. Coast Guard's recreational-boating guide includes a pre-departure checklist alongside federal equipment guidance. The list below turns those principles into a practical coastal-sailing routine. It is a planning aid, not a substitute for the requirements that apply where you sail.

Conditions and timing

1. Read the latest official marine forecast. Check the forecast issued by the responsible weather or maritime authority for the entire operating area. Read the forecast period, warnings, wind, gusts, visibility and sea state. A forecast for the marina does not describe every headland, channel or exposed leg.

2. Check waves, not only wind. Review wave height, period and direction. Two forecasts with the same wave height can affect a small boat differently when their periods differ. MARLOG's wave-period guide explains how to read the seconds without treating one number as a safe-or-unsafe rule.

3. Check tide and current for the relevant times. Use an official tide and current source for departure, the passage and the return. NOAA provides official tide and current predictions for U.S. waters; use the equivalent hydrographic or maritime authority elsewhere. Allow for the difference between a prediction and the conditions you actually observe.

Route and alternatives

4. Review the route on current official charts. Check depths, hazards, restricted areas, aids to navigation and the scale used for each leg. NOAA describes nautical charts as a fundamental tool showing depths, landmarks and aids to navigation. Its recreational-boating resources also explain how charts, tide data and sailing directions complement one another.

5. Read chart updates and local notices. An old download can look convincing while missing a changed buoy, newly reported shoal or temporary restriction. Confirm that the chart and notices are current. If a symbol is unfamiliar, use the chart producer's official key instead of guessing; MARLOG's beginner chart guide explains the first checks.

6. Name an alternative and a turn-back point. Decide what you will do if weather worsens, the crew becomes unwell or the destination is unavailable. An alternative harbour is useful only if it is suitable for the boat and conditions. Set a time, position or condition that will trigger a reassessment before the easiest option disappears.

Boat and equipment

7. Check fuel, battery and propulsion. Confirm that you have enough fuel or electrical range for the planned trip plus a sensible reserve. Inspect the engine or propulsion system according to the manufacturer's guidance. Test the battery state, steering and controls before leaving the berth.

8. Look for water, leaks and loose gear. Check the bilge, seacocks, hoses and through-hull areas you can safely inspect. Secure anchors, lines, fenders, tools and cabin gear. A small loose object can become a serious distraction in rough water.

9. Test navigation lights and essential electronics. Test the equipment you expect to use, including navigation lights when the trip could extend into darkness or reduced visibility. Confirm that electronic charts and required offline data are available before losing connectivity.

10. Carry a real backup. Prepare for a flat battery, damaged phone, failed chartplotter or lost connection. NOAA offers printable custom charts and other official recreational-boating products. The right backup depends on the boat and passage, but it must remain usable when the primary device does not.

Safety and communication

11. Match life jackets to the people aboard. Confirm that each person has an appropriate, serviceable personal flotation device and knows where it is. Local carriage and wear requirements vary; check the rules for your boat and waters.

12. Check emergency and signalling equipment. Verify the equipment required for your vessel and trip, which may include fire extinguishers, sound and visual signals, first-aid supplies, throwable flotation, an anchor and emergency tools. Check expiry dates and accessibility, not only whether an item is somewhere aboard.

13. Test communication equipment. Check the VHF radio where carried, charge phones and protect them from water. Save the relevant emergency and harbour contacts. Mobile coverage is not guaranteed along a coast, so do not treat a phone as the only communication plan.

Crew and final decision

14. Brief the crew and leave a float plan. Explain the intended route, expected conditions, life jackets, emergency equipment and how to call for help. Tell a responsible person ashore where you are going, who is aboard and when to raise concern if you do not check in.

15. Pause before casting off. Make one final walk around the boat. Check lines, fenders, hatches, shore power, crew readiness and traffic around the berth. Ask whether the latest information still supports the plan. Completing a checklist is not a reason to depart when the answer has changed.

Where MARLOG fits

MARLOG can help you explore coastal places in its Atlas, inspect wind and marine conditions at selected points in Forecast, and refresh seamanship concepts in Academy. It is a discovery, learning and reference instrument, not an official chart or navigation system.

Use MARLOG to organize the questions, then verify the answers with current official charts, forecasts, warnings and local information. Get MARLOG for iPhone.

Quick answers

What should be checked before a boat trip? Check the official forecast and warnings, waves, tide and current, current charts and notices, route alternatives, fuel or battery, propulsion, safety equipment, communications and crew readiness.

How long should a pre-departure check take? There is no universal duration. A familiar short trip in a prepared boat may need only a focused review; a longer or unfamiliar passage requires more planning. The check is complete when the boat, crew and information have been verified for that trip.

Can a boating app replace a pre-departure checklist? No. An app can gather useful information and prompt questions, but it cannot inspect the vessel, fit a life jacket, brief the crew or replace official navigation and safety sources.

Sources: U.S. Coast Guard, A Boater's Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats; NOAA, Resources for Recreational Boaters; NOAA, Nautical Charts. MARLOG feature descriptions were checked against its live website on September 24, 2026.