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.

Scenic harbor view with numerous anchored sailboats and yachts, surrounded by lush greenery and coastal buildings.

Anchoring Courtesy

After safely and securely anchoring your vessel, there are certain factors to contend with - most are common sense.
October 14, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Map showing tanker ship positions and details, including Marida Patea, with color-coded directional arrows.

Risk of Collision when Sailing

The Rule of Risk of Collision is that every vessel shall use all available means appropriate to the prevailing circumstances...
August 26, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Dock Line Release

Have a dock line untying plan based on the wind and the current direction and then communicate this to the crew. Depending on which is stronger...
October 17, 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
Aerial view of a sailboat with a wooden deck moored at a dock, floating on calm, dark blue water.

Returning a sailboat to the Slip

Time flies when you are sailing. But sadly, the moment comes when you must return and put your vessel back in its slip.
October 13, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Bulldozer moving sand at a construction site, operated by a person in the driver's seat, surrounded by earthy terrain.

Getting the General Feel of Maneuvering a Catamaran

Some have compared maneuvering a catamaran with driving a bulldozer. Well . . . perhaps!
May 19, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Three people having a relaxed conversation on a sailboat at sunset.

The Types of Sailing Charters

There are two types of sailing charters; captained and bareboat. The captained charters have a professional captain on board to navigate and operate the vessel, and usually...
April 4, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Blue sailing life vest featuring durable straps and a cartoon logo. Ideal for safety and buoyancy on the water.

Personal Flotation Devices

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.
October 17, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Raymarine sailing instrument displaying depth of 9.8 feet and speed of 6.35 knots, with log reading 10321 NM.

Key Sailboat Instruments

Sailboat Instrumentation can be very sophisticated and intelligent. Most electronic displays provide a wide range of menus of useful information...
October 18, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Top view of a catamaran securely anchored with two lines, showcasing an optimal technique for stable mooring.

Mediterranean Mooring – Long Line Ashore

The long-line-ashore is a useful Mediterranean mooring method. It is mostly used in the Mediterranean as a customary way of mooring a lot of boats along a shoreline.
May 6, 2024/by Grant Headifen

Safe Speed Nav Rule

The Rule Every vessel shall at all times proceed at a safe speed so that she can...
August 24, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Diagram of a Yanmar marine diesel engine with labeled parts: fuel filter, coolant filler cap, oil dip stick, belt, water pump.

Sailboat Diesel Engine Operation

As noted earlier, diesel engines are sturdy and highly reliable, and operating them today is straightforward.
October 14, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Diagram comparing rudder positions: in front of propeller (left) vs behind propeller (right) with steering effects.

Advanced Catamaran Maneuvering – Using the Rudders

There are some other cool things you can do when you consider the propeller thrust over a Catamaran's rudders.
May 9, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Diagram showing wind direction effects on a sail: trimmed, backwinding, and luffing stages.

Luffing and Backwinding Sails

Luffing is when the sail is flapping in the wind. Back winding happens usually right before luffing occurs.
August 22, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Sailboat engine cooling system diagram showing fluid flow through heat exchanger and pumps.

Sailboat Diesel Closed Water System

The second sailboat cooling system fluid is called the closed or coolant water system.
October 23, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Mooring a Sailboat

Mooring a vessel means attaching it to a float that is firmly and permanently anchored to the sea bottom.
October 14, 2023/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
Couple relaxing on sailboat deck, enjoying sunny day on turquoise waters. Dream yachting escape in paradise.

Why Anchor?

There are many reasons for anchoring your boat...
October 20, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Sailboat heeled over in windy conditions on a sunny day, gliding through blue waters under clear skies.

Running Aground

In the information age, running aground is usually caused by an amateur mistake, and besides the potential damage, it is also highly embarrassing.
October 23, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Satellite image of hurricane approaching Caribbean islands, highlighting storm path critical for sailing safety.

Weather Predictions

While we have touched on weather concepts in this Module, no one can expect you to be a meteorologist (unless you are one) and do a good enough job at predicting the weather with enough quality to guarantee your safety.
October 13, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Sailboat demonstrating heaving-to maneuver with labeled parts: backwinded headsail, helm position, and sideways wake.

Sailing Heave To

When you have successfully hove-to (heaved-to), your sailboat will be in a stable situation with the mainsail and headsail still up. Your forward speed will be minimal and...
October 12, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Perko marine battery switch, red casing, marked OFF and ALL, used for managing dual battery systems on boats.

Sailboat Engine and House Systems

Perhaps the most important use of DC power on a vessel is for starting the engine. Considerable power is needed for this task and if the engine does not start immediately...
October 19, 2023/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
Diagram illustrating aerodynamic lift and push forces on a sail, optimizing wind flow for sailing efficiency.

Basic Sail Telltale Control

Controlling the Telltales by Trimming the Sail. The concept here is actually pretty simple. The golden rule is, when...
August 24, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Last updated on December 6th, 2024