Spring is here, temperatures are rising, and the urge to get back out on the water is irresistible. But before casting off for your first outing of the season, your boat needs a thorough overhaul. After several months of winter storage — whether on the hard or afloat — many components need to be inspected, tested, or replaced. Missing a critical check can turn a beautiful day at sea into a nightmare.
This guide offers a structured and comprehensive checklist to help you prepare your boat with confidence, from antifouling to engine start-up, through safety equipment and onboard electronics. Follow it methodically and you'll set off with peace of mind.
1. The Hull: The Foundation of Everything
Visual and Structural Inspection
Always start on the outside. Meticulously inspect the entire hull surface for cracks, osmosis, delamination, or impact damage. On a fibreglass hull, osmotic blisters often appear after winter: pierce them, let them dry, and apply an epoxy repair before applying any antifouling. On an aluminium or steel hull, check for corrosion or rust spots.
Also inspect the appendages: keel (bolts, skeg), rudder (play in the rudder tube), centreboard fin if applicable. Any abnormal play in the rudder must be addressed before launching — it's your steering that's at stake.
Bottom Cleaning and Antifouling
If your boat spent the winter on the hard, this is the perfect time for bottom work. Clean the hull with a pressure washer or scraper, sand down the old antifouling if it's too thick or flaking, and apply a new coat of antifouling suited to your sailing area (cold waters, Mediterranean, brackish water). Don't forget the sacrificial anodes (zincs): if they are more than 50% consumed, replace them. They protect your hull from galvanic corrosion — a point that is often overlooked with costly consequences.
A well-applied antifouling coat means less fuel consumption, less maintenance during the season, and a hull that lasts longer. It's an investment, not an expense.
In YachtMate, you can log the date and product used during each antifouling job directly in your maintenance logbook. The app will automatically remind you when the next treatment is due based on the type of antifouling you chose.
2. The Engine and Propulsion
Oil Change and Filters
If you didn't do an oil change when you laid up the boat for winter, now is the time. Change the engine oil and oil filter, as well as the fuel filter (and the water-separating pre-filter if your engine has one). Water in the fuel is the number one cause of engine failure at sea. Also check the gearbox oil level.
Cooling Circuit
The raw water pump impeller is the most critical component: it deteriorates at rest and should be replaced every one to two years depending on the manufacturer. Don't try to save money on it — a failing impeller causes engine overheating within minutes and can cause irreversible damage to the cylinder head. Also check the cooling hoses (cracks, hardening), hose clamps, and the cleanliness of the sea strainer on the raw water side.
Belts, Cables, and Transmission
Inspect the alternator belts: they must not be cracked and should have the correct tension. Check the condition of the throttle and gear-shift cables: lubricate them if necessary. On a sailboat, inspect the propeller shaft, the shaft seal (stuffing box or mechanical seal), and the propeller fastenings. Keep a close eye on the propeller shaft threads.
YachtMate includes a maintenance logbook where you can record every engine service with the date and engine hours. No more lost sticky notes: find the date of the last oil change or impeller replacement at a glance, even in the middle of the season.
3. The Rigging (for Sailboats)
Standing Rigging
Visually inspect all standing rigging cables (shrouds, forestay, backstay): look for broken wires, deformations, or rust stains. Pay particular attention to the termination points (swages, cones, turnbuckles): this is where failures most often occur. If a cable is more than 10 years old or has suffered a major shock, have it checked by a professional rigger.
Check the play in the turnbuckles: they must be locked with cotter pins or seizing wire. A turnbuckle that unscrews at sea can cause the mast to come down.
Running Rigging
Inspect halyards, sheets, and lines: look for wear zones, broken strands, and failing splices. A worn line is dangerous and inexpensive to replace. Lubricate blocks and winches: disassemble the winches, clean them, and grease the pawls and rollers. This is a 30-minute job per winch that prevents many jams at sea.
4. Safety Equipment: Nothing Must Be Missing
Maritime regulations require specific safety equipment depending on your sailing area (coastal, offshore, ocean). Before each season, systematically check:
- Life jackets: one per person, inflatable types checked (CO2 cartridge and firing pin), harnesses and lights in good condition.
- Distress flares: check expiry dates. Expired flares must be returned to the harbour authority (never throw them in the sea).
- Fire extinguishers: pressure in the green zone, no corrosion on the body, safety pin present.
- Life raft: date of next service (generally every 3 years). An unserviced life raft is not approved.
- EPIRB / PLB: verify the registration date with COSPAS-SARSAT and the battery charge level.
- Distress flag, signalling mirror, whistle, foghorn.
The "Safety" section of YachtMate lets you record the expiry dates of all your safety equipment — flares, fire extinguishers, life raft, life jacket cartridges. The app sends you a notification before each expiry date so you always have time to order replacements before heading out.
5. Electrical and Electronics
Batteries
Batteries suffer in winter, especially if they were left discharged. Carry out a capacity test: a battery that no longer holds its charge must be replaced. Check connections (corrosion, tightness), cable condition (insulation, adequate gauge), and the proper functioning of the main battery switch. If you have AGM or gel batteries, avoid overcharging them: check the settings on your charge controller.
Instruments and Electronics
Switch on all your instruments one by one: VHF, GPS chartplotter, depth sounder, autopilot, AIS. Check that chart updates are current. Test the VHF with a radio check (channel 16) and verify that your MMSI is correctly programmed. Inspect antennas and their feed cables. A damp coaxial cable significantly reduces your VHF range.
6. The Interior and Onboard Systems
Fresh Water Circuit
Draining the fresh water circuit during winterisation prevents freezing but can sometimes leave residue. At the start of the season, flush the tank thoroughly, check hoses and tap seals, and make sure the water pump works correctly. If you have a water heater, drain it and inspect the internal anode.
Gas Circuit
Gas is a major source of risk on board. Replace hoses if their expiry date has passed (generally 5 years). Test for leaks using soapy water on every fitting. Check that the regulator works and that the cylinder is properly secured in its ventilated locker. Make sure the solenoid gas shut-off valve (if fitted) is functioning.
Bilge Pump
Too often neglected, the bilge pump can save you in the event of a leak. Test it both manually and electrically. Clean the filter. Check that the automatic activation level is correctly set and that the electrical cable is not corroded.
7. Mooring Lines, Fenders, and Ground Tackle
Inspect your mooring lines: look for wear zones on sections that chafe against cleats or fairleads. A line that parts in a gale at the dock can be very costly. Check the condition of your fenders (inflation, attachments). Finally, examine your anchor chain: scrape off surface rust, check the markings every 10 metres to know the deployed length, and inspect the shackle connecting chain to anchor and the trip line if you use one.
A thorough preparation in April will save you nasty surprises in July. Boatyards and rigging shops are much less available in peak season — plan ahead!
8. Documents and Formalities
Don't neglect the administrative side. Before departing, make sure you have on board: the vessel registration certificate, your up-to-date boat insurance (mandatory third-party liability certificate), the radio station licences (VHF and MMSI), your pleasure craft operator's certificate if applicable, and the crew list for longer passages. If you are heading abroad, check the entry requirements for each country.
🌊 YachtMate: Your All-in-One Onboard Assistant
Preparation checklist, maintenance logbook, expiry reminders, marine weather, GPS navigation, and ship's log — YachtMate brings everything you need for a worry-free season into one place. Free and available on iOS and Android.
Download YachtMate for FreeSummary: The Spring Checklist at a Glance
To make sure nothing is forgotten, here are the main categories to check before your first departure of the season:
- Hull: inspection, osmosis, bottom cleaning, antifouling, anodes.
- Engine: oil change, impeller, filters, belts, transmission.
- Rigging (sailboat): shrouds, stays, turnbuckles, halyards, winches.
- Safety: life jackets, flares, fire extinguishers, life raft, EPIRB.
- Electrical: batteries, connections, instruments, VHF, AIS.
- Interior: fresh water, gas, bilge pump.
- Ground tackle and mooring: chain, anchor, shackle, fenders.
- Administration: insurance, registration certificate, radio licences.
By working through this checklist and using digital tools like YachtMate, you'll start the new season with complete peace of mind — and you'll make the most of every day on the water, free from unpleasant surprises. Wishing everyone a great season!