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.

Holding a Constant Heading while Adjusting the Sails

We're heading to a specific point on land or a compass heading. Thus we need to keep the sails flying effectively...
August 22, 2023/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
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
Illustration of sailboats docked at a pier, showing wind direction and spring line for secure mooring.

Docking onto End Ties

Wind blowing you off the dock end ties, plan a fairly steep approach so that you are facing more into the wind.
March 30, 2024/by Grant Headifen

Electric Devices and Standards

A word of caution whenever using any home AC appliances on a vessel. Generally, these devices will work fine
October 16, 2023/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
Steel fluke anchor for secure boat mooring; ideal for sandy or muddy seabeds. Durable marine hardware.

Types of Anchors

Anchor design has been the focus of much research over thousands of years, and as a result, there are
October 20, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Diagram illustrating a sailboat's interaction with strong wind, showing movement and wind direction.

Planning to use springlines when docking

Like a work of fine engineering, a spring maneuver requires a design. The key is to plan the maneuver by considering the wind, current, and other obstacles, then design the placement and directions of the forces and moments.
May 13, 2024/by Grant Headifen
RSS feed icon for staying updated with the latest sailing adventures and tips.

Boat Safety Sound Signals

Sound signals are defined and prescribed in the Navigation Rules for International and Inland Waters. Sound has an advantage over light signals, in that it can be used when vision fails.
October 25, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Sail TellTales

"Telltales" attached to the sail in strategic positions to "tell" us what the wind is doing at that exact location.
August 11, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Antique log-line and bucket display, used in traditional navigation for measuring a ship’s speed at sea.

Navigation Units

Sailors are forever measuring stuff. This brings us to the subject of navigation units. As we all remember from the good ol’ school days, measurement is the process of comparing something with an established standard.
October 13, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Red and blue waterproof sailing jackets, perfect for marine adventures and protection against harsh weather.

Clothing for Sailing

Dressing appropriately for weather conditions is an important but often overlooked topic. Weather in the marina may be considerably different from weather beyond the marina and conditions can drastically change during your venture.
October 17, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Navigation Tools

No matter the chart in use, the navigator’s work largely involves the determination of direction and distances. The most useful tools for actual chart work are...
October 25, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Basic Surface Geometry

Below is a brief summary of how locations are commonly expressed on different surfaces.
October 13, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Marine Radio Licensing

To operate a marine radio lawfully, you must comply with the laws of the country in which you are operating the radio.
April 15, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Couple relaxing on the deck of a sailing yacht, enjoying a sunny day on clear blue water.

Anchoring Basics

Anchoring is not simply throwing a "hook" and letting out a line. Although by watching some sailors this seems to be their theory. The best way to approach anchoring is to dissect it into a series of individual steps.
April 13, 2024/by Grant Headifen
World map showing IALA maritime buoyage systems: IALA A (green to green) and IALA B (red-right-returning) regions.

Aids To Navigation (ATONS)

Aids to Navigation include buoys, lights, lighthouses, and markers, among others...
October 13, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Basic Telltale Control continued

Controlling the telltales by making course adjustments - when making the woolies fly by making course adjustments the rule is...
August 14, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Starting the Diesel Engine

Prior to starting the diesel engine: Become familiar with how and when a vessel’s transmission gear shift...
October 17, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Diagram of a sail with terms: head, luff, leech, foot, tack, clew, jibsail, jibsheet, fairlead, and geometric center.

Names of Thingys in Sailing

There's a lot of terminology in sailing, and to get started with sail trim we recommend beginning with some key sailing "thingy" terms.
August 2, 2023/by Grant Headifen
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
Monument of Discoveries sculpture in Lisbon with sailors set against a clear blue sky and a view of the Tagus River.

Navigation Introduction

The history of navigation is fascinating and dates back to as many centuries as we can imagine.
October 15, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Diagram showing wind direction effects on a sail: trimmed, backwinding, and luffing stages.

Lifts and Knocks in Sailing

Lifts and Knocks are technical terms for how the direction of the wind changes, requiring changes in how you respond while sailing...
August 11, 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

Last updated on December 6th, 2024