Sure to forget something ...

My friend Paul and I are  rolling out for the St. Johns River a week from Tuesday. Now is the time for all the advance work necessary for having a carefree boating experience. For example:

• New wheel bearings on the trailer
• Lubricated engine throttle and transmission linkages
• Checked coolant level
• Checked oil
• Adjusted alternator/raw water pump belt
• Cleaned raw water strainer
• Back-flushed raw water intake hose and valve
• Lubricated raw water intake ball valve
• Adjusted stuffing box
• Checked shaft coupler bolts/nuts
• Checked sanitary system
• Started and tested the 1000-watt generator
• Got the outboard and the inflatable dinghy out of storage
• Surveyed the safety gear

The piloting routes are already plotted and in the GPS. I have a meals plan (heavy on restaurants).We also have a float plan for the spouses, showing where and when we expect to be, along with telephone numbers.

Still to do:

• Marina reservations
• Load bedding and towels
• Grocery list, shopping
• Check electronics gear and ground tackle
• Exterior scrubdown and interior vacuuming
• Fill the fresh water tank
• Load and stow personal gear and food.
• Ice the cooler.

My brother Boris, who moved from Atlanta to New Mexico, bought a cowboy hat and is therefore entitled to feel free on the range, never fails to write and suggest I get professional help for all my preparatory list making. Maybe he is right, but I would rather deal with this stuff now than later.

I know I'll forget something, but I'm unlikely, with my lists, to forget everything.