Pilots have a checklist that they go through before they pushback. It has help for us to have a checklist also. One of the items a friend of our's forgot was, "unplug from shore power". Yep, those pedastals will pull out! (Sorry Dave!) But, as Bill was pointing out, checking water flow is absolutely esential for checking everytime you start the engine.
When my
boat has been pulled from the water, I have to prime by closing the seacock and filling it up with water. I don't have to do this when I just change the filter. So, your mileage may vary.
Cheers,
Keith