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.

Safe Speed Nav Rule

The Rule Every vessel shall at all times proceed at a safe speed so that she can...
August 24, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Diagram shows electromagnetic induction process and corresponding sinusoidal wave of current amplitude over time.

Alternating Current and Direct Current

In your house, your wall outlets deliver alternating current (AC) electricity. The electricity provided to your house and your marina from the national electric grid is AC. Most of the devices...
October 18, 2023/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
Magnetic field lines around a bar magnet, illustrating north and south poles with curved lines of force.

Magnetism

We begin with a phenomenon called magnetism. This phenomenon was known thousands of years before electricity. Magnetism was discovered...
October 16, 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 comparing rudder positions: in front of propeller (left) vs behind propeller (right) with steering effects.

Advanced Catamaran Maneuvering – Using the Rudders

There are some other cool things you can do when you consider the propeller thrust over a Catamaran's rudders.
May 9, 2024/by Grant Headifen
VHF marine radio with distress alert, important for boating safety and emergency communication.

Raising the Alarm in Emergencies

A comprehensive list of how and the equipment used to raise the alarm in sailing emergencies
October 22, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Dock Line Release

Have a dock line untying plan based on the wind and the current direction and then communicate this to the crew. Depending on which is stronger...
October 17, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Sailboat deck with installed solar panels, capturing sunlight for sustainable energy on the water.

Topping Up your Energy on a Sailboat

There are several methods to top-off your energy on a sailboat.
April 14, 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
View of a sailboat's helm with a wooden wheel against a clear blue sky and open sea, conveying serene sailing moments.

Operating the Engine – Getting Familiar with a Charter Boat

Many modern sailboats are equipped with integrated engine throttle and transmission shift systems; called the push-pull cabling system. 
April 5, 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
Diagram of sailing angles: upwind and downwind with wind direction indicated. Ideal for navigational strategies.

Sailing Directions

Directions are super important because while sailing, you will always be in communication with others regarding directions of obstacles, wind changes, your destination, water current, and other boat traffic.
October 21, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Top view of a catamaran securely anchored with two lines, showcasing an optimal technique for stable mooring.

Mediterranean Mooring – Long Line Ashore

The long-line-ashore is a useful Mediterranean mooring method. It is mostly used in the Mediterranean as a customary way of mooring a lot of boats along a shoreline.
May 6, 2024/by Grant Headifen

Typical Sailboat Energy Usage

Here we show the devices and how much energy you would typically use on a sailing boat on a sailing vacation each day.
April 12, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Sailboat engine with labeled oil dipstick and water pump, showcasing essential maintenance points.

The Engine – Getting Familiar with a Charter Boat

While this is a sailing boat propelled by the wind and mostly without the need for burning fossil fuels the most devastating breakdown besides hull failure is the engine.
April 4, 2024/by Grant Headifen
Sailboat and motor yacht on open sea, aerial view, showcasing a serene maritime adventure on calm waters.

Crossing Situations Nav Rules

The Rule 15 (a) when two power-driven vessels are crossing so as to involve risk of collision, the vessel...
August 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

True Wind vs. Apparent Wind

Learn the basic difference between True Wind and Apparent Wind...
August 27, 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
Rule 2000 heavy-duty bilge pump with red and blue design for efficient water removal on boats.

Bilge Pumps

An emergency bilge pump(s) is a very significant electrical device on any vessel. This pump is used to pump out water that may collect, for whatever reason, in the bilge.
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 Homann-Charette
Diagram of yacht communication and navigation system with satellite, GPS, radar, WiFi, and autopilot integration.

Electronic Communications

Nowadays, gigabytes of data can be sent in a second as a digital signal. It is all a complete Wow!
October 22, 2023/by Grant Headifen
Dual-color LED boat navigation light with red and green lenses, ideal for marine safety and visibility on sailboats.

Boat and Equipment Emergencies

The character MacGyver in the TV show of the same name would have made a great sailor. Why? Because he could fix anything and a boat is a concoction of a kajillion gadgets busting to rot...
October 19, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Last updated on December 6th, 2024