Grant Headifen

About Grant Headifen

My vision for NauticEd is to ensure that families and friends get out on the water not only safely but with true COMPETENCE, confidently savoring every moment of their valuable time.

Achieving this means being the pinnacle of sailing and boating education—offering comprehensive multi-media theoretical instruction coupled with hands-on, on-the-water training through our global network of American National Standards Instructors. We steadfastly avoid becoming a mere certification mill; our focus is on delivering genuine competence, ensuring our students are well-prepared for enjoyable, real-world boating experiences.

Entries by Grant Headifen

Sailing Wind Velocity & Direction

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The faster the boat sails into the wind, the more the apparent wind speed increases and the more it feels like it is coming from the front of the boat. They say  “The apparent wind is forward of the true wind”. This means the apparent wind feels like it comes from a more forward direction than the true wind.

Diesel Fuel

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The search, discovery, refinement and resource control of fuel has a rich and very sordid history. But just like…

Types of PFDs

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Types of PDF’s Here is a graphical explanation between a lifejacket and a buoyancy vest. PFD Type ratings are being phased out…

Marine Batteries

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The source of DC power is usually one or more marine-grade batteries, normally 12 volts each. They are similar to automobile batteries, except sturdier—and of course more expensive.

Sailboat Running Rigging

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A sailboat’s running rigging consists of those items controlling the sails and helping the sails to capture the wind’s energy.

Alternating Current and Direct Current

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In your house, your wall outlets deliver alternating current (AC) electricity. The electricity provided to your house and your marina from the national electric grid is AC. Most of the devices…

Key Sailboat Instruments

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Sailboat Instrumentation can be very sophisticated and intelligent. Most electronic displays provide a wide range of menus of useful information…

Personal Flotation Devices

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The terms “life jacket” and “PFD” are interchangeable, with the latter used in the USA and the former used in most of the rest of the world.