Boating Tips

Your boat is your floating home for the week, and it runs entirely on its own batteries, water tanks and fridges. A few simple daily habits keep everything working, so you spend your days exploring the islands, not troubleshooting. Your pre-charter briefing and your boat’s Operations Manual cover the details for your boat.

Snapshot

What should I check before getting underway each day?

• Run the engines for about 20 minutes at 1,200 to 1,500 RPM to top up the batteries
• Stow loose items inside and out, including fenders and ropes
• Close all hatches and portholes firmly, and fit all lifelines
• Check the engines are pumping cooling water through the exhaust
• Make sure no ropes or lines are trailing in the water

How do I keep my batteries charged?

A 12V battery bank powers your lights, VHF radio, toilets, water pumps, navigation equipment and fridges. Keeping it charged is the skipper’s job, and it’s the biggest single factor in a trouble-free charter.

Charge by running the engines at 1,200 to 1,500 RPM, in neutral or while underway. Idling won’t charge the batteries. Allow about 1.5 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening as a minimum. Check the voltmeter regularly:

To save power, switch off cabin lights, fans and underwater lights when not in use, and turn off a fridge once your groceries run down. When berthed at a marina, plug into shore power and check the battery charger is on.

Can I charge my devices on board?

Yes. Every boat has USB ports and 12V sockets. An inverter supplies 240V for small appliances such as laptops, camera chargers and most sleep apnoea (CPAP) machines. Check your equipment works with the inverter before you depart, and bring a 6 m 240V extension lead if you’re using a CPAP machine.

How do I make my fresh water last?

Tanks can only be refilled at Coral Sea Marina and Hamilton Island Marina, so make sure everyone on board goes easy on fresh water.

• Confirm your tanks are full before leaving the marina, and check levels daily
• Switch the water pump off at night
• If your boat has a water maker, top up the tanks every day rather than waiting for them to run low
• A spare 20L container is kept on board for emergencies

Hot water is heated by the engines, so run them for about an hour at 1,300 to 1,500 RPM before showers. Check the temperature before children step in, as it can be hotter than at home.

How do I keep the fridge cold?

• Check daily for frost on the cooling plates, and don’t adjust the settings
• Keep doors closed and compartments full. Water bottles or ice fill the gaps well
• As provisions run down, consolidate into one unit and switch off the others
• Drinks fridges can go off overnight

Boat freezers aren’t as cold as a domestic freezer, so plan your ice cream accordingly.

How do the toilets and holding tanks work?

Marine toilets flush with salt water into a holding tank. Treat them gently and they’ll look after you.

• Flush at least twice, counting to 20 each time
• Use only the single-ply toilet paper provided, and flush large amounts in stages
• Nothing else goes in the toilet. Wipes, tissues, paper towel, sanitary items and hair go in the bin
• Keep holding tank valves closed in all anchorages
• Empty the holding tanks daily when at least 1 nautical mile from any shore or reef, then flush them through with water

What should I know about the galley and BBQ?

• Close the valve on the gas bottle after every use. Gas is heavier than air and can collect in the bilges
• Never cook with the doors and windows closed
• Deep frying isn’t permitted on board
• Clean the BBQ and drip tray after each use while still warm, to prevent fat fires and slippery decks
• No BBQs in any marina, and no campfires ashore, as the islands are National Park

Around the boat

Fuel. Fuel isn’t included in your charter fee. Cruising at three quarters of top speed roughly halves your fuel use. You’re very unlikely to need fuel mid-charter, and our team helps you refuel at the end of your trip.

Fenders and dock lines. At a marina, tie the fenders to the base of the stanchions so they just touch the water. Run dock lines from the forward and aft cleats, under the lifelines, and secure with bow and stern lines plus two springs. Bring every fender and line back on board when you leave.

Bilges. A little water in the bilges is normal, and the automatic pumps may run occasionally. If a pump stays on or the bilge alarm sounds, check the bilge directly and contact us.

Rubbish. There are no rubbish facilities on the islands. Bag and store all rubbish on board until you reach Coral Sea Marina or Hamilton Island, where recycling is also available. Never throw food scraps, bait or fish waste overboard, as it attracts sharks to anchorages.

Smoking. Smoking isn’t permitted inside any boat. Use the downwind corner of the deck and never put butts in the ocean.

How do I keep children safe on board?

• Small children should wear a life jacket whenever the boat is underway, even in the cockpit, and at all times on deck
• Child-sized life jackets are free to collect from our office and need to be fitted before departure. Bringing your own ensures the right fit
• Keep children seated in the cockpit while anchoring or berthing
• Keep small hands well clear of winches, the anchor winch and ropes