Recovery
Wash and Maintenance
Near
the slip after recovery
OK
You’ve loaded all
the kit and the brass back onto the boat, now it’s time for internal
lubrication of the dive party.
Before you rush off
to complete your logs over and orange juice or coke, remember the trailer and
boat have probably got a long possibly dark journey ahead
Refer to the boat log
if necessary but always check the following thoroughly:
Is the trailer
securely attached to the car?
Is the boat securely
attached to the trailer?
Is the lighting board
fitted and working with enough slack at the front connection?
Is all the kit on
board?
Is the brake free and
working?
On the journey home try to stop at least once to confirm the lights/indicators are working
Ensure the wheel
bearings and brake hubs are cool and free and make sure all straps and fittings
are secure
Trailer brakes are notoriously inefficient due to constant immersion in salt water and infrequent maintenance, remember on wet roads your car will be much more likely to lock wheels and skid, particularly if the trailer is badly balanced, always distribute the weight evenly preferably over the trailer wheels.
At Home Before Returning the Boat to
Boat Officer
OK
So you’ve made it
home complete with boat, trailer, brass and all divers.
Now it’s time to
get rid of the boat, before the other half finds it parked on the front flower
beds, dripping sea water and two stroke onto the Begonias.
So, anything to do
before we hand it back? Just
a little.
The object of the
exercise is to return the boat and trailer in as good as, if not better
condition than when you collected it.
Quick checklist:
Is petrol tank full?
Is the main oil tank
full?
Is the boat log
checklist still valid?
If the answer to all
the above is yes then there is just some minor maintenance to do before
unhooking.
1)
Engines hate salt water fresh water should be run through the system
whenever possible, remembering to close fuel vents after use.
2)
The salt water should be hosed from the boat and trailer, paying
particular attention to the brake hubs and engine/gearbox assembly.
3)
Spillages of petrol/oil should be washed away with squeezy and the
instruments dried and sprayed with service oil (WD40)
4)
The engine cover should be removed and the whole engine liberally sprayed
with WD40.
5)
The wheels should be jacked up and the bearings felt for play and spun
for noise, if you’re quick you can check the handbrake too!
6)
All equipment should be checked and neatly stowed, particularly the
anchor chain and rope, as this may be needed in an emergency next time out.
7)
The hull should be drained via the front and rear bungs, and the
elephant’s trunk’s let down to allow rain water to escape.
So
now the boat is ready to hand back to the Boat Officer,
If you haven’t done
any of the above then someone will have to, before the boat can safely be issued
to the next dive party.
That party might be
yours!
Golden Rule for Boat Handlers Remember Rule Eight - If you break it you
own it!