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 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
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
Diagram showing propeller blade directions for a right-handed screw in reverse, with upsweeping and downsweeping labels.

Propwalk – The Wash Lift effect

The wash-lift effect has been documented heavily by Dave Geer who is one of the worlds leading propeller engineers.
May 1, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Diagram of green light patterns: Flashing (2), Flashing, Occulting, Quick Flashing, ISO for nautical navigation signals.

Lights on ATONS

Lights are installed on some ATONS. The lights are usually alternating on and off on some consistent interval to distinguish one ATON from another.
October 24, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Sailor in a red jacket braving rough seas, harnessed on a wet deck with splashing waves, focused on handling the sail.

Sailing Safety Equipment

There is a plethora of equipment specially designed for a variety of emergencies at sea. Some are inexpensive...
October 16, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Sailboat on emerald sea approaches stormy skies, showcasing adventure and the thrill of sailing challenges.

Weather Warnings

Weather services will also provide weather warnings, such as small craft or gale warnings for a certain area, as well as fog predictions.
October 16, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Two sailboats navigating in open sea, one with red hull. Wind direction indicated by blue arrow.

Some Navigation Rules Terminology

Understanding Navigation Rules begins with learning some basic Navigation Rules terminology...
August 23, 2023/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
Satellite image of a swirling hurricane over the Atlantic, approaching the southeastern coast of the USA.

Understanding Weather Systems

Weather is a highly complex natural phenomenon. Globally, it is all connected and operates on a multitude of physical laws.
October 19, 2023/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

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
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
Compact marine generator with dimensions 36x22x23 and weight 600 lbs., ideal for sailing power needs.

Sailboat Generator or Large Battery Bank?

Dedicated electric generators on board sailboats are usually only reserved for large sailboats because of their weight and size. Unless there is a desire for large amounts of electricity...
October 23, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Catamaran and monohull sailboats docked; text Catamaran vs Monohull overlaid, highlighting sailing choice options.

Catamaran vs Monohull: A Real-World Comparison for Cruisers

Comparing catamaran vs monohull for cruising? This guide breaks down comfort, sailing feel, cost, safety, and real-life tradeoffs that matter.
June 27, 2025/by Merrill Charette
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
Sailing diagram showing boat heading angles: 30, 60, 90, and 120 degrees off wind direction. NauticEd education info.

Best Angle to the Wind when Sailing

Here's a diagram to show you what "degrees off the wind" means. Sails, unlike wings, get their shape from the wind pressure against the fabric....
August 13, 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
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
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

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

Seasickness on a Bareboat Charter

Here is some education about sea sickness that can help you and your crew overcome it.
April 12, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Marine VHF radios with microphones tuned to channel 16, essential for communication and safety at sea.

Communications while Underway on a Charter

Contact between vessels, or a boat and a land station, is usually carried out using VHF (Very High Frequency) radios.
April 6, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Sailing boat battery switch panel with labels and on/off toggles for negative and positive connections.

DC Electrical System on a Charter Boat

Batteries power the 12 Volt DC “house” electrical system. There may be one or several batteries linked together to supply power...
April 1, 2024/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

Last updated on December 6th, 2024