William,
Here are a few samples that could be helpful.
SAMPLE #1

https://www.soundingsonline.com/voices/lifelines-checklist
SAMPLE #2
1 Before leaving marina / moving vessel
Anchor chain/line • Chain & line. Chafe ?
Anchor winch • Does it work/ handle available ?
Cockpit drain • Is it clogged ?
Compass light • Check it at night
Engine belts • Tight ? Worn ? Aligned ?
Engines • Inspection for leaks etc Spares
EPIRB • In date?
Fire extinguishers • In date / Charged
Flashlights • Do they work ? Spare batteries
Handheld instruments • Batteries good? Do they work?
Hatches • Do they close 100%. Handles, knobs etc
Instruments • Turn them on to check ?
Lifelines • Visual inspection for breaks etc
Lights • Interior, exterior & Nav lights. Spare bulbs.
Lockers • Make sure they lock shut.
Man-over-board gear • Check quick release and condition
Navigation lights • Easy to check at night
Outboard engine • You have spares ? Does it work ?
Ports • Do they close 100%. Handles, knobs etc
Radios • Batteries ? Do they work? Licenses ?
Safety equipment • Valid date ? Ready for use ?
Stanchions • Are they solid ?
Toilets • In good working order ? Holding tank OK ?
Clean Propeller • Dive and check
2 Before long ocean passage
Cockpit drain • Is it clogged ?
Compass light • Check it at night
Engine mounts • Visual inspection. Are they secure ?
EPIRB • In date?
Expiry dates • Ship papers/radio licences etc.
Fire extinguishers • In date / charged
Flashlights • Do they work ? Spare batteries.
Gas bottles • Rusty? Are they secure? Change hose ?
Odour?
Gas locker • Is vent hole plugged?
Handheld instruments • Batteries good ? Do they work?
Lifelines • Visual inspection for breaks etc
Liferaft • In date? Secure ? Accessible ?
Lights • Interior, exterior & Nav lights. Spare bulbs.
Man-over-board gear • Check quick release and condition
Navigation lights • Easy to check at night
Rigging • Visual inspection from top to bottom.
Roller furlers • Rinse, grease, visual inspection.
Free running ?
Safety equipment • Valid date ? Ready for use ?
Sails • Stitching. Chafe
Ship's papers - Visas • Complete
Stanchions • Are they solid ?
Wind vane • Check it out before you need it
3 Daily
Gas leak • Is there any odour near/under the stove/
pipes?
4 Weekly
Bilges • Is there water/ fuel present ?
Fuel leaks • Fuel in the bilge/ around the tanks ?
Underwater leaks • If salt water in bilges check all fittings
5 Monthly
Batteries • Acid level ? Clean terminals ?
Deck leaks • Check chainplates/hatches/ports etc. ?
Electrics • Run everything to make sure it works.
Spare fuses.
Engines • Inspection for leaks etc Spares
Fire extinguishers • Positions, mounting, in date ?
Flashlights • Do they work? Spare batteries ?
Gas locker • Is vent hole plugged?
Pumps • Do they work? Handles for manual pumps
Toilets • In good working order ? Holding tank OK ?
Seacock • Open / Close / Check movement
SAMPLE #3
ON DECK
- Anchors are shackled and seized to rode, and there is some means of securing them to bow-roller / deck-chocks (or below deck) once you leave confined waters
- Bitter end of anchor rode is secured to boat below decks
- Chain hawsepipe is as watertight as possible
- Deck storage cans for water and fuel are well-lashed
- Deck-mounted dinghy is tightly lashed
- Outboard motor is securely stowed on pushpit, in deck locker or elsewhere on deck where fuel cannot leak into boat
- Outboard fuel securely stowed on deck or in a sealed deck locker
- Rubber gaskets on hatches and opening ports are sound
- Hatches and ports shut and dogged, hatch-covers fitted as appropriate
- Deck-filler caps for fuel and water properly done-up and o-rings in good condition
- Cockpit drains are clear and draining freely
- Washboards are sound and handy (ready to fit when needed)
- Lifeline connectors are in good condition and properly done up
- Lifelines/stanchions are strong enough to support a heavy crewmember’s weight
- Stanchions are secured with pins or bolts in their bases; bases are bolted securely through deck (not screwed)
- Sharp knife stowed close to cockpit for emergency rope-cutting
SAILS
- all sails inspected for rips, holes and broken stitching on seams
- batten ends securely fastened and in good condition
- sail slides in good condition (none worn, broken or sun-damaged)
- Roller headsails furl freely and top swivel is working properly
- Headsail hanks working freely
- Comprehensive sail repair kit on board, plus spare sailcloth and strong adhesive for major ‘instant’ repairs
REEFING
- Roller reefing lubricated and handle stowed in appropriate place
- Slab reefing lines working and chafe-free
SPARS
- No metal-fatigue, corrosion or chafe on load-bearing fittings such as mast crane and shroud tangs
- Spreaders are secure at inboard end and correctly angled
- Anti-chafe on spreader-ends to prevent damage to sails
- Wooden spars inspected for shakes or areas of softness around fittings
RIGGING
- Bosun’s chair is in good condition and stowed somewhere accessible in case of emergency
- Rigging wire is sound: no broken strands, particularly around terminal fittings
- Shackle-pins (aloft & on deck) firmly done up and seized
- All shackles, terminals, turning blocks and mast fittings inspected for fractures, wear and pitting
- Sheaves turn freely
- Split-pins/rings in all rigging screws or turnbuckles (aloft & on deck)
- Exposed split-pins are taped to prevent snagging of sheets, sails or passing legs
- Rig is correctly tensioned: mast is in column and leaning neither to port or starboard
- Chainplates inspected for cracks or corrosion
- Hacksaw plus spare blades on board (for emergency rigging removal), and bull-dog clips for a jury rig
STEERING
- Rudder has no excessive play
- Wheel steering: cables are properly tensioned, lubricated and protected from interference by gear stowed nearby. Inspect for broken strands.
- Tiller is sound (no splits or cracks) and firmly secured to rudder stock
- Self-steering is correctly set up
- Emergency tiller has been tested and crew know how to find, rig and use it
HEAVY WEATHER GEAR
- Trysail and storm jib have been hoisted and checked for condition, sheeting angles, tack strops etc
- Rode, turning blocks and anti-chafe assembled and accessible for sea-anchor/drogue
- Storm boards accessible for windows and skylights
DOWN BELOW
- Seacocks are working freely; skin fittings in good condition
- All through-hulls have tapered softwood bungs attached by lanyard in case of skin-fitting failure
- Flexible piping is secured to through-hull fittings with double hose-clamps. Hose clamps in good condition
- All siphon-breaks and breathers clear and working
- All movable items are stowed in lockers, fastened or lashed in place
- Fiddles are in ‘offshore’ position
- All drawers and locker doors have catches to prevent them flying open at sea
- Lee cloths/boards for bunks are strong and have adequate fastenings
ENGINE
- Overheat alarm/light is working
- Drip tray under engine is oil-free
- Fuel tanks are full
- Fuel sumps and filters checked for water and diesel fungus
- Oil is clean and topped up
- You have enough spare oil on board for at least one oil-change
- Cooling water through-hull and strainer are clear of blockages and growth
- Drive belts inspected for condition and correct tension
- Stern gland adjusted and lubricated
ENGINE RUNNING CHECKS
- Cooling water is pumping
- Throttle control and gear-shift are working correctly
- No excessive vibration
- Ammeter/voltmeter shows alternator is charging
POWER GENERATION
- You have sufficient means of generating power to run navigation lights, house lights, instruments and any other appliances you wish to use at sea
- Batteries are holding a charge
- Batteries are securely contained in boxes clear of bilge-water
- Battery terminals are clean, free of corrosion, and cables securely connected
- Electrolyte level correct in battery cells (if not, top up with distilled water)
GALLEY
- Galley-strap securely fastened, and strong enough to take a heavy crewmember’s weight
- Stove has adequate fiddles to retain pans/kettle in rough seas
- Gas bottles properly stowed; gas alarm working
- Gas bottles, valves, piping and stove checked for condition
- Sufficient food and stove-fuel on board for anticipated passage-time plus safety margin
- All dry stores in waterproof packaging or containers
- Rough weather provisions (snacks, instant meals etc) easily accessible
WATER
- All water tanks topped-up and caps securely in place
- Tank plumbing checked for leaks
- Flexible water bladders protected against chafe
- Manual fresh water pump working
- Pressure water pump system turned OFF
- Toilets tested and free of leaks
FIRE
- Extinguishers are in good condition and mounted in places they can be accessed easily during an engine or galley fire
- Engine fuel shut-off valve located and tested
- Bucket stowed in cockpit or lazarette for use in engine-room fire or emergency bailing situation
- Fire blanket is easily accessible (not buried in a locker)
LEAK MANAGEMENT
- You have at least 2 bilge pumps on board, one of them manual
- Bilges and limber-holes are clear of debris (so will not block pumps)
- Manual bilge pump hose is fitted with a strainer
- Manual bilge pump is strongly mounted and working efficiently, with handle easy to access in emergency
- Electric bilge pump working (including float switch and panel light)
- Electric bilge pump switched to ‘AUTO’
- Bilges are dry (to allow monitoring of leaks underway)
- Rudder tube and gland checked for leaks
- All areas of bilge are accessible in case you need to inspect at sea
- Crew are aware that head valves must be closed immediately after use
NAVIGATION
- GPS is working and securely mounted
- GPS waypoints double-checked for co-ordinate accuracy and datum discrepancies
- Compass is correctly adjusted, with deviation card on board
- Nothing metal or magnetic (tools, aerosol cans, radio, cameras) stowed near compass
- Log, depth-sounder etc correctly calibrated and barometer set
- Sufficient chart coverage of planned and contingency routes, as well as pilotage information
- Plotting tools (pencils, dividers, parallel rules/protractor etc)
- Hand-bearing compass and binoculars are secure but accessible
- Relevant tide tables on board
NIGHT SAILING
- Compass light working
- Chart table light and galley light screened to avoid blinding watch-keepers
- Waterproof torches (with fresh batteries!) available for use on deck or in emergency
VISIBILITY
- Mast-head lights are working
- Navigation lights are working (fore and aft); and positioned so they cannot be obscured by sails
- Back-up navigation lights (battery) in case of electrical system failure
- Powerful torch or portable spotlight within reach of cockpit (to draw attention to your boat when a collision is possible)
- Fog horn is working
- Adequate radar reflectors in place
RADIO
- Radios functioning and signal checked
- all crew are familiar with distress procedure (and/or instructions are taped near radio)
- you have up-to-date frequencies and times for weather broadcasts
SAFETY
- A jack-line of adequate breaking strain is securely rigged between cockpit and foredeck both sides (for clipping harness tether onto)
- Deck is sufficiently non-skid, particularly the coachroof, foredeck and around the mast
- You have sufficient hand-holds along the side-decks (if not, rig temporary ones using rope or webbing)
- EPIRB tested, and batteries are in date
- Liferaft is in date, large enough for the number of crew, and stowed securely in an accessible position
- Liferaft tie-downs checked for sun-damage and chafe
- Sufficient harnesses, tethers and lifejackets for the number of crew: all in good condition and located for easy access underway
- Danbuoy, lifebuoys, upside-down lights etc firmly mounted and ready for deployment
- A good supply of flares (the necessary number in date) stowed in waterproof containers
- Waterproof ‘grab kit’ stowed for easy accessibility, containing useful items for liferaft or dinghy survival at sea
- All crew are familiar with your Man Overboard procedure
CREW WELFARE
- First aid kit: check adequate and waterproof
- Offshore medical kit is comprehensive, with drugs in date, and waterproof
- Do-it-yourself medical handbook onboard
- Seasick pills, sun-block and painkillers easily accessible
- Drinking water bottle handy to cockpit
- Sufficient warm clothing, bedding and foul weather gear for all crew
- Watch system and galley rota organised
SAMPLE #4
Chafe Detection - At least once a day we walk around the deck to check for chafe on the items listed: | - Anchor ties
- Pole guys and control lines
- Jib/Yankee /Staysail sheets
- Main halyard
- Mainsheet
- Reefing lines
- Dingy tiedown lines
- Jerry container tiedown lines
- Mainsail at spreaders if we are off the wind'
- Mainsail, Jib, Staysail tacks
- Roller furlers
- Main boom goosenecks
- Windvane control lines
- Mizzen halyard
- Mizzen sheet'
- Mizzen reefing lines
- Mizzen tack
- Mizzen gooseneck
|
Assure Items are Secure | - Liferaft Hold downs
- Fenderboard
- Outboard motor
- MOB pole
- MOB horseshoe ring
- Lifesling
|
Engine | - Check oil level
- Check voltage on all batteries
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