Boating Knowledge Base

Have a sailing question? Access NauticEd’s sailing and boating knowledge base, and gain in-depth answers to your sailing questions. If you’re interested in powerboating, visit our new powerboating blog.

NED Sailing Simulator

Before you play with NED, the sailing simulator, read this first. The graphic below is representative of a real wind meter on...
August 9, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Satellites orbiting Earth in space, illustrating global connectivity and navigation technology.

Global Positioning System

GPS stands for global positioning system. It uses a network of satellites in orbit. Although the GPS is used as a navigation device, it is also a form of communication to the vessel.
October 14, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Diagram of yacht communication and navigation system with satellite, GPS, radar, WiFi, and autopilot integration.

Electronic Communications

Nowadays, gigabytes of data can be sent in a second as a digital signal. It is all a complete Wow!
October 22, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Sailboat anchored by rocky cliffs in serene waters, under a clear sky, perfect for sailing adventures.

Anchoring with multiple anchors

Setting multiple anchors has multiple advantages. It reduces swing, reduces the holding load required by each anchor, and can act as a backup.
April 13, 2024/by Grant Headifen

Typical Sailboat Energy Usage

Here we show the devices and how much energy you would typically use on a sailing boat on a sailing vacation each day.
April 12, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Diagram shows electromagnetic induction process and corresponding sinusoidal wave of current amplitude over time.

Alternating Current and Direct Current

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...
October 18, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Hull and Keel

A sailboat’s hull and keel receive considerable attention from a sailboat designer since they determine the capacity of the vessel, how fast it will go, and the degree of safety and comfort.
October 16, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Torqeedo Power 48-5000 lithium battery for electric sailboats, dimensions: 23x10x8.6 (577.5x253x218 mm).

Available Energy Stored in a Battery

You don’t actually run all of the electron charge out of a battery when it is considered empty.
April 13, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Sailing yacht gliding through ocean waves at sunset, sailor steering from deck, capturing adventure and freedom at sea.

Rigging

At boat shows, we see folks huddled down in the vessel’s salon oohing and aahing at the leather cushions to sit on, and at the electronic gadgets for navigation and entertainment.
October 24, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Dual-color LED boat navigation light with red and green lenses, ideal for marine safety and visibility on sailboats.

Boat and Equipment Emergencies

The character MacGyver in the TV show of the same name would have made a great sailor. Why? Because he could fix anything and a boat is a concoction of a kajillion gadgets busting to rot...
October 19, 2023/by Grant Headifen

More Basic Sail Twist

The wind at the top of the mast has more heeling leverage on the boat than the wind lower...
August 21, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Coast Guard rescue helicopter with a crew member performing a daring sea operation in clear blue skies.

Sailing Personnel Emergencies

As the skipper of a vessel, you are expected to be able to handle situations thrust upon you at a moment’s notice. Many of these situations are boat-related issues, but there are also crew injury issues for which you should be prepared to assess and handle at least enough until professional assistance arrives.
October 16, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Red fire blanket case with safety instructions and pull tapes, designed for emergency fire control and safety preparedness.

Fire on a Sailboat

Putting out fires quickly is essential. The sooner you find the source the quicker the fire can be extinguished.
October 21, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Two people enjoying a sunny day sailing, adjusting sails on a boat with clear blue skies in the background.

Sails – Getting Familiar with a Charter Boat

We’re pretty certain here that you know how to operate sails on a sailboat,  however – chances are that you’re chartering a boat much bigger than you’re normally used to.
April 3, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Large cargo ship in open water with humorous text on the bow reading, If you can read this, say goodbye to your mommy.

Action to Avoid Collision

When you reach the section on who is responsible to give way to whom - in certain circumstances...
August 23, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Red and white diver down flag indicating scuba diving activity or a submerged diver in the area.

Non-Electronic Communications

Sailing has been around for thousands of years. Electronic Communications has been around for less than 100 years (not counting the telegraph).
October 24, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Diagram of aerodynamic forces on an airfoil and sail, showing lift, drag, and pressure differences for sailing dynamics.

Sailing and Wind Forces

A sailboat moves in upwind and downwind directions. Downwind is intuitive; it just gets blown downwind. But just how does a sailboat move into the wind?
October 24, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Two sailboats on open sea with an arrow pointing from the red-hulled boat to the blue-hulled boat under a clear sky.

Terms Port – Starboard – Forward – Aft

In discussing sail trim, certain terminologies must be understood and so we are presenting a few basics to get you started
August 4, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Catamaran anchoring between expensive sails, with guidance for anchor placement.

Mediterranean Mooring with an Anchor

Another factor when Mediterranean Mooring with an anchor is that the wind direction determines who is in control...
May 4, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Diagram showing a navigational leadline marked with depth in feet from 10' to 50' and angles from 32 to 33 degrees.

Know Your Chart!

Always familiarize yourself with any chart before using it for navigation and plotting of positions; there are significant differences between charts that could lead to mistakes.
October 14, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Sailor in survival suit boarding liferaft from yacht for safety drill on calm water, emergency preparedness at sea.

Sinking

A boat sits down in the water until it has displaced the same weight of water as the weight of the boat. It is a universal arrangement between boat and water...
October 25, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Blue kayak on a sandy beach with sailboats in the calm sea under a clear sky. Perfect day for sailing and kayaking.

How to Book a Sailing Charter

There are a few things you need to know about booking a charter.
April 4, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Sailboats navigating between docks on a sunny day, with wind direction marked, illustrating docking maneuvers.

Leaving the Slip with a Sailboat

Wind coming into the slip channel and your boat is stern-to. This is best handled by steering out of the slip and then immediately downwind. Back out of the slip channel and well into the main channel before engaging forward.
April 1, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Boat generator control panel with preheat and start switches; toggle between gen and shore power.

Generators on a Charter Boat

Some charter boats have generators. These are small diesel engines that convert fossil fuel to DC electricity that is stored in the battery banks and AC electricity that is used to run the air conditioning, microwave, and AC outlet plugs around the boat.
April 4, 2024/by Grant Headifen

Last updated on December 6th, 2024