Pre-Departure Checklist — Start Every Voyage Right

Why Checklists Keep Sailors Safe

Every sailor knows the excitement of casting off lines and feeling the boat surge forward. But before that moment comes, there is a quiet ritual that separates safe voyages from risky ones: the pre-departure checklist.

Pilots never take off without one, and astronauts wouldn’t dream of launching without checking each system. Sailors should approach the sea with the same discipline. Once you’ve left the dock, there’s no way to run back for a forgotten flare or expired fire extinguisher. A well-structured checklist is what stands between you and those preventable emergencies that can spoil a passage.

What a Pre-Departure Checklist Covers

A sailing pre-departure checklist is more than a reminder to pack snacks or sunscreen. It ensures that every system on board has been checked and that nothing vital has been forgotten. The most important categories include:

Safety gear: Life jackets for every person, throwable flotation devices, flares, fire extinguishers, and sound-signaling devices.

Navigation and communication: Updated charts, GPS, VHF radio, and navigation lights.

Boat systems: Fuel and oil levels, bilge pump function, belts and filters, and general engine readiness.

Docking and anchoring: Lines, fenders, and anchor gear.

Paperwork: Registration, insurance, and any necessary cruising permits.

Walking through each step doesn’t just reduce forgetfulness. It enforces a culture of seamanship. You and your crew leave the dock knowing the boat is seaworthy and ready.

Why It Matters

The ocean has a way of magnifying small mistakes. Forget a piece of paperwork, and you may face fines or denied entry into a harbor. Skip a flare inspection, and you may discover in an emergency that your signaling equipment no longer works. Neglect to check the bilge pump, and a small leak could turn into a dangerous flood.

Carrying expired flares or missing life jackets isn’t only dangerous; it’s illegal. And system failures — from engines that won’t start to navigation lights that suddenly fail — are often the result of missed checks on shore. A checklist prevents these problems from becoming crises.

Sailors who use checklists consistently discover a second benefit: peace of mind. Instead of wondering “did we forget something?” during the first hour of a passage, they sail on knowing every box has been ticked.

When and How to Use It

The pre-departure checklist should be used before every outing, no matter how short. A harbor hop can go wrong just as quickly as an ocean crossing. Make it part of your pre-sail ritual: fuel, water, safety, systems, paperwork. When sailing with crew, assign responsibilities and confirm each item together.

Many sailors laminate their checklist and keep it by the companionway, ticking it off with a dry-erase marker before each departure. This habit takes minutes but can prevent hours — or days — of trouble later.

Seabound Life Connection

The free Pre-Departure Checklist gives you the framework, but the deeper knowledge lies in understanding why each item matters and how to use it. That’s where Seabound Life books come in.

Sailing Skills Bootcamp teaches beginners the essential routines that build confidence.

The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to World Sailing goes further, explaining seamanship practices, equipment choices, and voyage planning in detail.