Spring Boat Recommissioning Checklist (Sail & Power)

A good spring recommissioning follows a simple order: first what keeps the boat afloat (hull, through-hulls, bilge), then what makes it go (batteries, engine, fuel), then, on a sailboat, what carries the sails (rigging and canvas), and finally safety gear and comfort on board. Round it off with a short test run in calm weather before the first proper outing.

Before launching: hull and through-hulls

If your boat spent the winter ashore, now is the time to look at everything that will soon be out of sight:

• Hull and underwater sections: knocks, cracks, blisters, and the state of the antifouling (done by the yard).
• Through-hulls and seacocks: they should open and close without forcing; hoses and clamps free of cracks.
• Shaft, propeller, rudder: any unusual play, a dinged prop, and the stern gland or shaft seal to check.
• Outboard leg or sterndrive: no oil leaks, and any anode checked with the yard.

If the boat stayed afloat, run the same checks from inside: through-hulls, seacocks, hoses, and a clean, dry bilge.

Engine: bringing it back to life step by step

• Fluid levels: engine oil, gearbox or leg oil, coolant.
• Raw-water pump impeller: inspected, or replaced according to the manufacturer’s schedule.
• Filters: raw-water strainer cleaned, fuel filter and water separator checked (water in the fuel is a classic after winter).
• Belts, hoses and clamps: no cracks, no slack, no weeping.
• Fuel: petrol that has sat in the tank for a long time goes stale; if in doubt, ask your mechanic.
• First start: check straight away that cooling water is coming out (the tell-tale stream on an outboard, water at the exhaust on an inboard), and watch the alarms and warning lights.
• Controls: throttle, gear shift and steering should move smoothly through their full range.

For anything beyond routine maintenance, hand the engine over to a mechanic or a yard.

Electrics and batteries

• Batteries recharged, terminals clean and tight, charger and battery switch working.
• Bilge pump tested, in both manual and automatic mode.
• Navigation lights, horn, cabin lighting.
• Electronics: depth sounder, GPS, VHF if fitted.

Sailboats: rigging and sails

• Standing rigging: shrouds, forestay, bottlescrews, split pins and chainplates. A broken strand or a missing pin is not up for debate: call in a rigger.
• Running rigging: halyards, sheets, blocks and clutches, with no heavy wear.
• Sails: stitching, bolt ropes, the genoa’s UV strip, mainsail battens.
• Furler: it should turn freely in both directions.
• Winches: smooth rotation; a start-of-season service does them good.

Deck, ground tackle and safety gear

• Lifelines, stanchions, pulpits and cleats all firmly fixed.
• Mooring lines and fenders: replace the ones winter and the bise have worn out.
• Ground tackle: anchor, chain or rode, shackle moused.
• Safety equipment: complete and in good order, in line with the Lake Geneva navigation rules for your type of boat (lifejackets, fire extinguisher and so on); check the service dates.
• Boat paperwork: insurance, registration documents and berth contract up to date.

Interior and comfort

• Air the boat thoroughly and hunt down any damp or mould.
• Refill the fresh-water system and flush it through.
• Check the heads and the fridge, and on a boat with gas, the regulator and the hose’s expiry date.
• Linen, bedding, crockery: bring back whatever was taken home for the winter.
• A full start-of-season clean, inside and out.

The first test run: short, calm and attentive

Before heading out for the day, take a short trip in calm conditions close to the marina. Keep an eye on engine temperature, the bilge staying dry, how the helm feels, and on a sailboat, how the rig behaves under load. Write down anything that is not right: now is the time to get it fixed, not in the middle of the lake.

Arrive at the marina and find the boat ready

Recommissioning takes time, and time is exactly what most owners are short of in spring. Our boat concierge service handles uncovering and airing the boat, starting up the engine, batteries and equipment, filling up with fuel and water, and coordinating with yards for mechanical work: we open the boat, let the technician in and report back to you. To start the season on a spotless boat, a pre-launch seasonal clean is part of our steam cleaning service. From the port of Nernier, we cover the marinas of the French shore of Lake Geneva, from Chens-sur-Léman to Évian-les-Bains, including Yvoire and Thonon-les-Bains. You arrive, you sail: tell us when.