Blue Prints. The blue prints of the docking plan should be delivered to the dock master. All assistance should be rendered to the dock master, and his instructions carefully complied with.
If entering a graving dock, men will be needed to handle the wale shores.
If entering a floating dock the vessel will rest squarely upon her bottom.
Straight stemmed vessels can best be placed on an absolutely level keel by swinging a hand lead over the stem; the Chief Mate should see to this.
All closets, drains, and drip pipes should be shut off.
When the dock is dry the Chief Mate should make a careful inspection of the bottom. If it is intended to drain the tanks; double bottoms, peaks, etc., the carpenter should remove the necessary plugs. As soon as the draining is completed these should be replaced and the Chief Mate should see that they have been replaced properly by personal inspection. He should see that the plugs are not wooden plugs—this has been done.
While the vessel is in dry dock, aside from any extraordinary repairs that may be made, the following matters should be looked after:
- Bottom cleaned and examined.
- Note fouling and state of previous coatings, and when last applied.
- Note corrosion and damage.
- Outboard valves should be examined and reground when necessary.
- Rudder pintles and gudgeons should be carefully examined. Rudder lifted, and repairs made if necessary.
- Stuffing boxes and valves of the rudder should be repacked.
- Look for corrosion along the butts of shell plating. Look for corroded rivets; such rivets should be removed and new ones driven.
- Look after all zincs at the stern frames, valve openings, and at the propellers.
- Examine struts, propeller shafting, brackets, etc.
Painting. It is essential that the bottom be dry before applying the anti-fouling paints. It should also be clean and the paint should be well stirred before being taken in the individual buckets of the painters.
All metal but the zincs and the bronze propellers should be covered.