We have gathered up a few tips here from around the internet, which you may find helpful to share with your crew members when you get on board.
With everything stowed, and a cold beer in hand, spend about 60 minutes taking the crew through the initial safety briefing covering the following:
Safety Discussion items that you may want to go over….
1. Please take care of the boat like it was your own. The goal should be to bring it back cleaner / better than when you got it. Do not force anything, and ask if something does not work the way you think it should.
2. Location of life jackets, fire extinguishers, flares, plugs, throwable flotation devices
3. Electrical panel, batteries (isolation switch), shore power, generator, battery gauge
4. The lighting of the charcoal grill
5. Proper use of VHF radio, and the importance of weather (mayday procedure)
6. Docking, mooring, and anchoring procedures (never use your hands – roving bumper)
7. Winch instruction and hand placement while operating sheets (ongoing training throughout the week)
8. Toilet operation and water conservation (only things that come out of you go into the toilet), if you plug the head, you will need to pay to get it unplugged. Shower off the back of the boat
9. Hats, sunscreen, sunburn and hydration (the wind will make it not seem as hot)
10. MOB situation, roles, and responsibilities, what to expect as you may see the boat moving away from you initially. Always keep 3 points of contact with the boat, tell someone if you are going to sit on the back steps while underway
11. Proper shut off of propane gas and solenoid switch. How to light the stove.
12. Use of the spare tiller if steering goes out (not a real need with a twin-engine catamaran)
13. Use of the manual bilge pumps on deck.
14. Buddy system for snorkeling, never leave your buddy in the water alone when snorkeling
15. Buddy system for going ashore – never leave you, buddy, alone onshore, be courteous – let someone know where you are going and when you will be back.
16. Dinghy operation (secure all lines – watch elbows when starting engine), outboard motor operation
17. Expectations before getting underway (shut all hatches, all laundry inside, everything stowed and put away. Look around and use your eyes. If something does not look right, say something, ask for help
18. Right of way: Portly / Windy always give way, the motor gives way to sail (ongoing training throughout the week, also check out the free “Rules of Sailing” App on your I-phone)
19. In an emergency, the captain makes the call, follow the directions immediately, as it could save someone’s life.
I hope this helps; safety considerations will bring down your worry level on your first bareboating trips.