How to Prepare Your Yacht for Professional Delivery

Preparing Your Yacht for Delivery

A well-prepared yacht makes for a safer, smoother delivery. While your delivery crew will conduct their own pre-departure checks, there are important steps owners can take beforehand to avoid delays and ensure everything goes well.

Engine and Mechanical Systems

• Service your engines if due — don't leave this for the delivery crew to discover
• Check oil, coolant, and belt condition
• Test the generator and confirm fuel levels
• Run the watermaker if fitted, to confirm it's operational
• Check steering systems including emergency tiller access on sailing yachts

Safety Equipment

Ensure the following are aboard, in date, and accessible:

• Life raft — serviced and within certification date
• Flares — in date (expired flares should be removed)
• Fire extinguishers — serviced and charged
• EPIRB — registered and battery in date
• Life jackets and harnesses — enough for the full delivery crew
• First aid kit — stocked and complete
• MOB equipment — danbuoy, light, throwing line

Navigation and Electronics

• Confirm all navigation instruments are working — chartplotter, radar, AIS, VHF
• Update electronic charts if possible
• Test the autopilot — this is critical for offshore passages
• Check navigation lights — all working and visible

Documentation

Leave the following aboard for the crew:

• Vessel registration documents
• Insurance certificate (confirming delivery cover)
• Equipment manuals for key systems
• Port entry documentation if crossing international borders
• Spare keys for the vessel and any locked compartments

Provisioning

Professional delivery crews typically handle their own provisioning for food and supplies, charged at cost. However, owners should ensure:

• Fresh water tanks are full
• Fuel tanks are full (or at an agreed level)
• Gas bottles for cooking are full
• Basic cleaning supplies are aboard

Communication

Agree with your delivery company on:

• Preferred communication method — most professional services provide satellite tracking and regular position reports
• Emergency contacts — who to call for vessel-specific technical questions
• Insurance broker contact — in case of any incident

A delivery crew arriving to a well-prepared yacht can focus entirely on the passage rather than resolving issues in port. This leads to better timing, fewer delays, and a smoother experience for everyone.