Daily activities : Departure routine on the Amel 55
A 55-foot boat is made up of a group of complex machines. To manoeuvre it requires preparation and rigour. This checklist is inspired by the aviation world and aims to assist you, or a guest to whom you have entrusted the manoeuvre of putting the AMEL 55 in the departure configuration. The objective is neither to go into detail nor to present the reasons for which the actions are proposed in this order. On the contrary, it is to establish an applicable routine to ensure that no step has been left out before casting off.
It should be noted that the equipment start-up steps can themselves also be important.
We are ready, so let’s go:
In the engine room:
- Open the seawater valve in the engine room (photo). Make sure that the secondary valves are open.
- Ensure that the electrical generator set 3 circuit breakers are open, as well as the 230V electrical box circuit breaker
On the boat:
- Open the 2 battery switches (under the chart table seat).
- Look around inside the boat and check:
- That the lockers are closed and locked
- That the bridge panels are closed
- That no objects are likely to fall or move when sailing.
- Gather the various remote controls which will be needed at sea (windlass, gangway, Mizzen mast unfurler)
- Put the winch handles in place in their external brackets
On the 24V switchboard :
- Check the battery level (it must be over 60%).
- Check the diesel and water gauges.
- Start-up the electronics (in the order: GPS, Hydra, radar, automatic pilot, VHF at least)
- Turn on the cockpit controls
- For comfort: start the toilets, the fresh water pump and lighting
On the cockpit console :
- Start the engine, check that the water is evacuated correctly on the port freeboard and let it heat up in neutral while continuing the preparations.
- Go down and activate the propeller. Certainly do not test if the mooring line or the dangling chain is close by in the water.
- Start the electronics and make sure that the angle of the bar on the Automatic Pilot and the wind axis on the Hydranet unit can be checked
- It can be useful to open the windshield panel in order to easily communicate with the crewmembers positioned at the front.
On the 230V switch board :
- Turn off all 230V equipment running then close all the 230V panel switches.
- Start the electrical generator set by holding down the start button. Pre-heating can take several seconds. It is preferable to always start up the electrical generator set after the propelling engine, as its seawater pump is weaker.
- Once the voltage is stable, start up the 2 battery chargers (100 A and 60 A). They protect the batteries from voltage drops when using the side thruster during the manoeuvre.
On the deck :
The manoeuvre itself can now be prepared.
- Disconnect the dock plug coming from the electrical terminal.
- Remove the unnecessary moorings and double up those required until the last moment.
- Have a look around the bridge to ensure that nothing is likely to hold the boat back at the moment of departure or get tangled in the screws.
- Bring in the gangway if necessary.
- Read this article again and make sure nothing was forgotten !
You are ready to manoeuver.
