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.

Diagram showing a sailboat's anchor dragging underwater, with arrows indicating anchor path and boat movement.

Weighing Anchor

“Weighing the anchor” simply means raising it. If raising the anchor is to be done by hand...
October 17, 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
Red powder fire extinguisher with blue handle, essential for boat safety and emergency preparedness on board.

Sailboat Fire Extinguishers and Requirements

Fire Extinguishers Fire Extinguishers are given a letter rating that matches the type of fire they will be battling.
October 13, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Sailboat interior bathroom with mirror, sink, and hangers for gear, showcasing efficient use of small space.

Showering on a Charter Boat

Charter boat guests use the showers not only for basic hygiene, but must also rinse off seawater after swimming to avoid nasty skin rashes (sailor’s sores). 
April 3, 2024/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

Action by a Give-Way Vessel

The Nav Rule Every vessel which is directed to keep out of the way of another vessel shall...
August 23, 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
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

Sailboat Diesel Engine Fluids

Diesel engines make use of a variety of fluids, including raw and coolant water, diesel fuel, and lubricating oil. A problem in the flow of any one of these fluids can cause problems...
October 22, 2023/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

Responsibility between Vessels Nav Rules

Every vessel has a definition of being one and only one of the below at all times. And each vessel has the ability to morph from one to the other.
August 26, 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 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
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
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

Sail Trim

While setting the sails to general rules of thumb will get you really close to a good sail set,
October 12, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Sailboat anchored in serene blue water near rocky coast, ideal for sailing adventures and peaceful escapes.

Anchoring

Anchoring is not simply throwing a “hook” and letting out a line. However, after watching some sailors, this seems to be their theory. Successful anchoring requires a plan considering all the factors.
October 24, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Sailing boat heels with mast head pull technique on water.

Mast Head pull heeling versus wind heeling

Takeaways: Standing rigging isn’t the place to economize—it’s a load-management system. Use stretchy docklines for masthead pulls, avoid shock loads, and apply smooth, steady pressure. Snatch loads break rigs.
January 3, 2026/by Grant Headifen
Colorful fresh vegetable and salami salad with cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes, and peas for a healthy, vibrant meal.

Charter Provisioning

Many charter companies can stock and provision your boat before you arrive. This is a good idea for the basics but there is usually little imagination in the food that is supplied.
April 6, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Open yacht anchor locker with chain and windlass, showcasing teak deck and railing against blue sea backdrop.

Electric Windlass

An electric windlass is a powerful electric winch that greatly helps in the lowering and raising the anchor.
October 23, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Group enjoying a sailing trip on a yacht, navigating through open sea with two steering wheels and wooden deck.

Good Captainship

Being a good captain on a bareboat charter is a real skill. It is very unlike being a good captain on a military or commercial ship or even a captain in a local yacht race.
April 5, 2024/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
Sailboats navigating a marina with wind direction marked, illustrating docking techniques and boat maneuvering strategies.

Dock Slips Docking Techniques

Wind coming into the dock slip channel and your boat is to be docked stern-to, steer into the slip channel...
June 3, 2024/by Grant Headifen

When Turbulent Flow Happens in Sailing

An airplane stalls and falls out of the sky when the wings stop producing as much lift, similar to when turbulent air flow happens in sailing...
August 22, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Last updated on December 6th, 2024