Charter Yacht Equipment and Safety: What to Check at Handover

The Handover Sets the Tone

The charter handover is the most important hour of your entire trip. It is your opportunity to learn how a specific boat works, identify any existing issues, and ensure that all safety equipment is present and functional before you leave the dock. Rushing through it or letting excitement override thoroughness is one of the most common mistakes charter sailors make.

A good handover should take 45 minutes to an hour. The charter company's briefer will walk you through the boat's systems, but they are often pressed for time and may skim over details. It is your responsibility to ask questions, open every locker, and test every system. Bring a checklist, and do not feel pressured to sign off until you are satisfied.

Safety Equipment: Know Where Everything Is

Life Jackets and Harnesses

Life jackets should be stored in an easily accessible location, typically a cockpit locker or a dedicated locker near the companionway. Count them. There should be one for every person on board, plus at least one child-sized jacket if children are part of your crew. Check the inflation mechanism on each jacket. If they are auto-inflating, confirm the CO2 cartridge is in place and the indicator shows green.

Harnesses and jacklines are required equipment for offshore passages but are often not included on standard bareboat charters in protected waters. If you plan to sail at night or in exposed conditions, confirm their availability and test the clips.

Fire Extinguishers

There should be at least two fire extinguishers on board, one in the galley area and one near the engine compartment. Check the pressure gauge on each one. The needle should be in the green zone. Note the expiration date. Know the location of the engine compartment fire port, a small opening through which you can discharge an extinguisher into the engine bay without opening the compartment and feeding oxygen to a fire.

Flares and Visual Signals

The flare kit is usually stored in a watertight container near the helm or in the navigation station. Open it and check the contents against the inventory list. At minimum, you should find handheld red flares, parachute flares, and an orange smoke signal. Check expiration dates. Expired flares may still function but are not legally compliant in many jurisdictions.

Life Raft

If the charter includes a life raft, it is typically mounted on the stern rail, on the coachroof, or in a dedicated cockpit locker. Confirm its location and the method for deploying it. Life rafts have service dates stamped on their canisters. This should be within the last 12 to 18 months.

First Aid Kit

Open the first aid kit and check its contents. At minimum, it should include bandages, antiseptic, seasickness medication, pain relief, burn gel, and a basic wound closure kit. If anyone on board has specific medical needs, supplement the kit from a pharmacy before departure.

Engine Systems

Pre-Start Checks

Before starting the engine, open the engine compartment and perform a visual inspection. Check the oil level using the dipstick. The oil should be between the minimum and maximum marks and should appear amber or dark brown, not milky, which would indicate water contamination.

Check the coolant level in the header tank. On raw-water-cooled engines, which are common on charter boats, there is no separate coolant system, but you should confirm the raw water intake seacock is open. On freshwater-cooled engines, check the coolant reservoir.

Inspect the drive belts for tension and wear. Press on the belt with your thumb. There should be about 10 to 15 millimeters of deflection. Look for cracking, fraying, or glazing on the belt surface.

Starting the Engine

Follow the briefer's instructions for the start sequence, which varies by engine model. The general steps are:

1. Confirm the gear lever is in neutral
2. Open the raw water intake seacock
3. Turn the key to the pre-heat position and wait for the glow plug indicator
4. Start the engine
5. Immediately check the exhaust for water flow

The exhaust check is critical. Within 10 to 15 seconds of starting, you should see water bubbling out of the exhaust outlet at the stern. If the engine is running but no water is coming out, shut it down immediately. The raw water cooling system is not functioning and the engine will overheat within minutes.

While Running

Let the engine idle for two to three minutes before putting it in gear. Check the engine instrument panel for oil pressure, temperature, and charging. Listen for unusual sounds: grinding, knocking, or high-pitched squealing all warrant investigation. Check under the engine for leaks.

Electrical Systems

Battery Banks

Most charter boats have two battery banks: a starter battery for the engine and a house bank for lights, instruments, refrigeration, and electronics. The battery monitor, usually located at the navigation station or the electrical panel, shows the state of charge and voltage. A fully charged 12-volt system reads around 12.7 volts. Below 12.0 volts, the batteries need charging.

Ask the briefer how the battery switch works. Some boats have a simple selector switch with positions for Battery 1, Battery 2, Both, and Off. Others have an automatic charging relay. Understand how to isolate the starter battery from the house bank so you always have enough power to start the engine.

Shore Power

When connected to shore power, the boat's charger keeps the batteries topped up and provides AC power for outlets. Know where the shore power inlet is located, how to connect and disconnect the cable, and where the circuit breakers are for the AC system. Before unplugging shore power, confirm the batteries are fully charged.

Solar and Wind

Some charter boats have solar panels or a wind generator. These supplement the battery bank while at anchor but rarely provide enough power to run everything indefinitely. Ask about the expected daily power generation and consumption so you can plan your electrical budget.

Water Systems

Fresh Water

Charter boats typically carry 300 to 600 liters of fresh water in built-in tanks. The tank gauge is on the instrument panel, but these gauges are notoriously inaccurate. A more reliable method is to fill the tanks completely at handover and track your consumption.

A crew of four using water conservatively will consume approximately 60 to 80 liters per day for drinking, cooking, and basic washing. Showers are the biggest drain. A five-minute shower uses 30 to 40 liters. Using the cockpit shower with a foot pump is more economical than the interior shower with an electric pump.

Know where the water fill cap is located and how to switch between tanks if the boat has more than one. Some boats have a watermaker that converts seawater to freshwater. If yours does, learn how to operate it and how long it takes to produce a meaningful amount.

Bilge Pumps

Every charter boat has at least one electric bilge pump and should also have a manual bilge pump as a backup. Check the bilge before departure. A small amount of water is normal, but standing water above the floorboards or a persistent inflow is cause for concern. Test the electric bilge pump by switching it on briefly to confirm it works. Locate the manual pump handle and verify you know where to install it.

Heads and Holding Tanks

Marine toilets are different from household toilets and are the single most common source of maintenance calls on charter boats. Ask for a demonstration during the handover. The most important rules are: nothing goes in that has not been eaten first, pump at least ten full strokes to clear the discharge line, and always close the seacock after use.

Know the capacity of the holding tank and how to empty it. In many coastal areas, pumping waste overboard within a certain distance of shore is prohibited. Most marinas have pump-out stations.

Before You Leave the Dock

Take photographs of any existing damage, including scratches, dents, stains, and worn areas. Record these on the handover checklist and ensure both you and the charter company representative sign off. This protects you from being charged for pre-existing damage at the end of your charter.

Test the VHF radio by calling the charter base on the agreed channel. Confirm that the GPS chartplotter is functioning and that the charts are current. Test the depth sounder, wind instruments, and navigation lights. Check the anchor and windlass by lowering the anchor a few meters and raising it again.

The time you invest in a thorough handover pays for itself many times over. It builds your confidence in the boat, ensures your safety, and means you can sail away from the dock focused on the trip ahead rather than worrying about what might be missing or broken.