• anchor’s and anchor rodes – look for corrosion and fray;
• batteries – discharge and service;
• charts, other reference and/or navigational material – check to see if need to be updated;
• coolers – clean them and look for mildew and cracks and replace, if necessary;
• emergency rafts – service;
• fire extinguishers – discharge;
• first aid kits and other personal hygiene items- take inventory and replenish;
• flares and other pyrotechnics – check for expiration;
• foul weather gear and harnesses – check for mildew and corrosion and repair as needed;
• lines – check for chafing and fraying;
• LP – look for corrosion and replenish;
• PFD’s – disintegrate, discharge and corrode;
• PIW kits – corrode, disintegrate and repair;
• radio’s, EPIRB’s and other electronics – look for corrosion and dead batteries;
• rags, towels and other protective clothing – clean and replace as necessary;
• sound producing devices – look for corrosion and replenish;
• tool kit – look for corrosion and service;
• weather forecasting equipment – clean, repair and adjust as necessary.

That can be a lot of gear! Use your time expeditiously and it isn’t an “insurmountable task. Remember, the last items to replace are those that have an expiration date – such as flares, and other pyrotechnics and first aid supplies.

Service your equipment, making sure it’s in the best possible shape for the next boating season and that the equipment matches the type of boat and boating habits you intend on using. Take some courses. First Aid courses, small engine repair, safe boating and navigation courses can make this great sport of ours not only more fun, but safer for you, your passengers and the other boaters that you encounter.

For more information about USCG Auxiliary safe boating courses, contact your local Flotilla via either your local Coast Guard unit or on the web at www.cgaux.org. The Coast Guard can be found in your yellow pages or on the web at www.uscg.mil.