Charter know-how · Yacht care and maintenance
Yacht care 4: the dinghy and outboard
4 min read
The narrated video is being recorded
It will appear here shortly. The full guide is below.
The dinghy is your car for the week: it takes you ashore for dinner, to the beach and to the shops. Look after it and it will be there when you need it.
The outboard
- Check the fuel before every trip, and find out at check-in whether the engine takes plain petrol or a petrol-oil mix.
- Attach the kill cord to the driver's wrist or lifejacket: if they fall out, the engine stops.
- Tilt the engine up before reaching the beach or shallow water so the propeller does not hit the bottom.
- Go slowly near swimmers, other boats and in harbours.
Ashore and at night
- Pull the dinghy well up the beach, or tie it where it will not chafe against the quay.
- Lock it at night and in towns: dinghy and outboard theft happens in busy harbours.
- At the boat, lift it on the davits or tie it short. A loose dinghy at night bangs on the hull and can drift away.
Towing
- Only in calm water and for short distances, on a line long enough that it rides on the back of your wake.
- Never tow with the outboard on, and keep the line away from the propeller when manoeuvring.
General guidance for charter crews. Your charter company's briefing, the boat's own manuals and local rules always come first.