1 – GATHER EQUIPMENT AND BRING UPSTAIRS TO THE FLYBRIDGE
Life Jackets – Marriage Savers (Head Sets to communicate with one another) – Binoculars – Hand held VHF(Very High Frequency) this is a backup for the regular VHF Radio – Samsung Galaxy Tablet (Displays: Obstructions, Buoys, Water Levels/Depths, and our Route to our next destination.
2 – TURN ON NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT
3 – TURN ON THE AIS (Automatic Identification System): This display provides pertinent information e.g. Name of boat, position, speed, heading, This helps when you are passing or approaching Tugs, Barges and other Pleasure Boaters who have the AIS System.
4 – DISCONNECT SHORE POWER CORD FROM THE PEDESTAL AND STOW. We plug into the pedestals to provide electricity. The cord is retracted into and out of the boat.
5 – TURN HEADSETS ON AND PAIR THEM WITH ONE ANOTHER. Put Life Jackets and Head Sets On (Ensure we can hear one another).
6 – START ENGINES: FRICK/PORT ENGINE AND FRACK/STARBOARD ENGINE.
7 – TURN BOW THRUSTER CONTROL ON – Ensure that it is engaged and bow moves starboard/right or port/left. .
8 – DISCERN WIND DIRECTION, ANY OBSTACLES, INCOMING TRAFFIC, AND BEGIN REMOVING LINES FROM THE DOCK. Pete usually docks the boat and Cheri takes it from the slip.
9 – SLOWLY PROCEED AWAY FROM THE DOCK USING SMALL,SHORT BURSTS OF POWER.
