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.

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
Blue nautical first aid kit with red handles, essential for boating safety and emergency preparedness.

Crew Safety Briefing

You can avoid many emergencies by conducting a proper safety briefing before leaving the dock.
October 24, 2023/by Grant Headifen
West Marine deep cycle battery, Group 31, for reliable marine power and extended 105 amp hours performance.

Marine Batteries

The source of DC power is usually one or more marine-grade batteries, normally 12 volts each. They are similar to automobile batteries, except sturdier—and of course more expensive.
October 18, 2023/by Grant Headifen

More Basic Sail Twist

The wind at the top of the mast has more heeling leverage on the boat than the wind lower...
August 21, 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
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

Seamanship Nav Rules

Navigation rules refer many times to good seamanship, The best advice we can give here around seamanship is to get experience...
August 31, 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

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
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
Sleek yacht interior featuring a shiny stainless steel stove and oven set within polished wooden cabinetry.

Galley Stove on a Charter Boat

The vast majority of vessels in charter fleets are equipped with propane-burning galley stoves. 
April 7, 2024/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
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
Sailboat anchor issue: rope lifts shank, flukes can’t dig in, affected by wind direction.

Anchoring Rode and Scope

To hold a sailboat, the anchor must naturally be attached to the vessel. This is accomplished by using “rode,” which is either all chain or a combination of rope (nylon line) and chain.
October 19, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Sea anchor setup on a yacht deck with tow line and deflate line labeled for easy sailing navigation and safety.

Sea Anchor

Finally, there is something called a “sea anchor.” These can be a variety of devices used to slow down a vessel caught in high winds and turbulent seas.
October 13, 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
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
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
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
Comparison of lifejacket and buoyancy vest, illustrating flotation differences in water safety gear.

Types of PFDs

Types of PDF's Here is a graphical explanation between a lifejacket and a buoyancy vest. PFD Type ratings are being phased out...
October 18, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Diagram of a fuel system flow: tank, filters, pump, engine. Return line and shut-off valve included.

Diesel Fuel

The search, discovery, refinement and resource control of fuel has a rich and very sordid history. But just like...
October 18, 2023/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 on calm sea under wispy clouds with forested shoreline in the background, perfect for a peaceful sailing trip.

Clouds, Fog, Thunderstorms

Clouds can give a relatively easy and quick look at what might be coming in the future. These clouds then are a good indication of possible changing weather in the next few days.
October 23, 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

Last updated on December 6th, 2024