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
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

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
Satellites orbiting Earth in space, illustrating global connectivity and navigation technology.

Global Positioning System

GPS stands for global positioning system. It uses a network of satellites in orbit. Although the GPS is used as a navigation device, it is also a form of communication to the vessel.
October 14, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Sailing catamaran with solar panels and green sail navigating along a scenic, forested coastline under clear blue skies.

Sailboat Solar Power

Solar panels produce DC power and are used to charge the batteries. A relatively small solar panel such as 1 square foot (0.1 m2) can produce about 1½ amps at...
October 24, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Two men discussing sailing techniques on a sailboat, part of NauticEd's Instructional Skipper program.

Learning sailing while on a Yacht Charter Vacation

Learn to sail while on vacation with the Instructional Skipper Program. Gain real-world skills and practical experience in beautiful destinations.
December 15, 2024/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
Sailors securing a sailboat to a mooring buoy at sunset, against a backdrop of tranquil ocean and distant islands.

Mooring on a Charter

Most developed chartering locations throughout the world have established zones in which mooring balls have been permanently implanted.
April 12, 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
Group of sailors examining navigation charts at a table in a nautical classroom setting.

Charter Local Area Familiarization

Once you’ve arrived at the charter base, the company will give you an extensive briefing on the local area, where to sail, where not to sail, and they’ll also give you a recommended route to take for the time that you have allotted.
April 4, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Diagram showing Earth's latitude lines from the Equator to 90°N, illustrating the planet's spherical shape and rotation axis.

Latitude and Longitude

The latitude and longitude coordinate system is the key navigational concept for sailing. It is the mariner’s coordinate system.
October 12, 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
Diagram of a sail with terms: head, luff, leech, foot, tack, clew, jibsail, jibsheet, fairlead, and geometric center.

Fairlead Control

The fairlead is the first control device that the jib sheet passes through on its way back to the cockpit. You can move the fair lead forward or backward.
August 30, 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
Torqeedo Power 48-5000 lithium battery for electric sailboats, dimensions: 23x10x8.6 (577.5x253x218 mm).

Available Energy Stored in a Battery

You don’t actually run all of the electron charge out of a battery when it is considered empty.
April 13, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Bulldozer moving sand at a construction site, operated by a person in the driver's seat, surrounded by earthy terrain.

Getting the General Feel of Maneuvering a Catamaran

Some have compared maneuvering a catamaran with driving a bulldozer. Well . . . perhaps!
May 19, 2024/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
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
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
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
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
Perko marine battery switch, red casing, marked OFF and ALL, used for managing dual battery systems on boats.

Sailboat Engine and House Systems

Perhaps the most important use of DC power on a vessel is for starting the engine. Considerable power is needed for this task and if the engine does not start immediately...
October 19, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Mooring a Sailboat

Mooring a vessel means attaching it to a float that is firmly and permanently anchored to the sea bottom.
October 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

Last updated on December 6th, 2024