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.

Crew celebrating on a sailboat race, clear skies and other sailboats in the background.

The Geography of Confidence

Unlock your boating potential by gaining knowledge. Explore how boating confidence through education expands your horizons.
September 14, 2025/by Merrill Charette
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
Man walking beside a modern spiral staircase on a minimalist deck, under a clear sky.

Propwalk factors – The p factor

There are two combined reasons that work in unison to create propwalk.
May 16, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Sailboat racing on open water with crew adjusting sails, vibrant spinnakers in the distance, under a clear sky.

Holding a Straight Course in Sailing

Holding a straight course is an imperative skill to master as you learn to sail. As an experienced sailor, nothing is more distracting to a good day out sailing than a novice helmsperson swinging the boat in all directions.
October 12, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Diagram of yacht mainsail with furling system, showing compartments for sail furl and cable run from forward to aft.

Standing Rigging

To keep the mast from toppling over, an array of rods, cables, ropes (lines), and wires are attached at various spots on the mast and run down to the bow, stern, and sides of the vessel.
October 23, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Two sailboats navigate wind conditions of 20 and 10 knots, illustrating sailing dynamics and wind impact.

Reefing the Sails

Before heading out, check forecasted wind conditions to see if you might need to reef at some point during the day. If so, make appropriate reefing preparations in the calm marina and ensure your crew knows the procedure.
October 12, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Sailing Safety Introduction

Emergencies at sea extend from simple and almost funny episodes to major challenges that are extremely serious.
October 19, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Crew Briefing Video

It is important to know how much experience your crew has before you embark on any sailing adventure. For our boat, we created a video walkaround introduction to the boat covering safety items and also just general items on how we want our boat looked after.
October 15, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Sailboat Diesel Engine

Thanks go to Mr. Rudolf Diesel who years ago in Germany cleverly invented an engine that today bears his name (luckily, they chose to use his last name)—the sailboat diesel engine.
October 21, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Illustration of a sailboat viewed from above, showing sail, mast, and keel, highlighting basic sailing structure.

Using Spring Lines for Docking

A spring line is just a dockline that is placed strategically from the boat to the dock to help maneuver and turn the boat in place - get it safely into the dock or safely away.
October 24, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Two sailboats anchored with a dragging anchor. One boat moves sideways in a marine environment with sea grass.

Deploying the Anchor

It is important that the person deploying the anchor and the helmsperson are in agreement about the anchoring plan first. Discuss the placement, the direction, the depth, the desired scope, and the setting plan.
April 15, 2024/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
Sailboat bathroom interior with compact sink, mirror, and toilet, showcasing efficient design for marine use.

Heads on a Charter Boat

You don’t need trouble with the waste system, especially when on vacation.
April 4, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Diagram illustrating sea breeze effect: warm air from land replaces cooler water air, influencing sailboat movement.

Wind

Winds can be gentle, hardly felt, like zephyrs flitting about in a local area, or they can be vast movements of air moving swiftly across oceans and continents at low and high altitudes.
October 22, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Diagram comparing water flow in buckets to energy flow in batteries, illustrating concepts of joules and watts.

Understanding Energy and Power

Energy: The concept of energy is likened to water for the easiest understanding. A bucket of water holds a specific amount of water which is measured in a quantity of gallons or liters. It is finite; when it is all drained out, it is gone. To gain more, it must be replaced from a source.
April 14, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Schematic of boat bilge pump system with battery, manual and float switches, showing hull and water levels.

Bilge Pumps on a Charter Boat

Boats have two types of pumps to empty bilge water; electronic and manually operated. 
April 5, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Panoramic view of a serene bay with turquoise waters, anchored sailboats, and a sandy beach, perfect for a sailing adventure.

Getting Familiar with the Charter Boat

Prior to releasing the boat to you, the charter company will give you a reasonably extensive walk through the boat.
April 2, 2024/by Grant Headifen

Boat Heading vs Sail Set and Forces on the Sail

The set of your sail depends on your sailing angle to the wind. You're working to maximize the aerodynamic forces on the sail.
August 30, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Sailboat with people navigating open waters, capturing the essence of adventure and freedom under clear skies.

Seacocks – Getting Familiar with a Charter Boat

Seacocks are designed to let water flow out of the hull safely. They are not one-way valves so any loose clamps around the seacock itself create leaks around the hoses and can allow water to enter into the boat. This is usually bad – right?
April 4, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Close-up of a sailboat cockpit with winch, steering wheel, and navigation instruments under a clear blue sky.

Starting the Engine – Getting Familiar with a Charter Boat

Regarding the starting procedure, we’re assuming that since you’re actually commanding a sailboat you pretty much know how to turn the key and all the other safety precautions.
April 4, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Comparison of masthead and fractional rig sailboats with labeled diagrams showing sail positions.

Mast Head and Fractional Rigging

There are two variations on the standing rigging set up: Masthead and Fractional. On masthead rigs, the attachment point for the sidestays (shrouds), forestay, and backstay (if they exist) is at the top of the mast.
October 15, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Group of people planning a sailing route with a map and notes in a cozy room, discussing navigation strategies.

The Nautical Chart

Safely maneuvering a vessel while using positions derived from various coastal and near coastal sources is called coastal navigation.
October 24, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Scenic harbor view with sailboats docked along a quaint seaside village, surrounded by lush greenery and hillside houses.

Mediterranean Mooring Techniques

Mediterranean Mooring Techniques is where the rubber meets the road—or, in this case, where the gel coat does not touch the big bad hard concrete wall.
May 15, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Sailboats passing port to port with horn signals, showing nautical right-of-way on open water.

Head-on Nav Rules Situation

The Rule (a) Unless otherwise agreed when two power-driven vessels are meeting on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal...
August 26, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Last updated on December 6th, 2024