Boating Knowledge Archives

Docking onto End Ties

March 30, 2024/by Grant Headifen

Wind blowing you off the dock end ties, plan a fairly steep approach so that you are facing more into the wind.

Anchoring with Propwalk on a Sailboat

March 27, 2024/by Grant Headifen

Without proper knowledge of how the boat reacts to the wind and propwalk, anchoring can be a real challenge.

Sinking

October 25, 2023/by Grant Headifen

A boat sits down in the water until it has displaced the same weight of water as the weight of the boat. It is a universal arrangement between boat and water…

Boat Safety Sound Signals

October 25, 2023/by Grant Headifen

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.

Sailing Vessel Preparation

October 25, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Sometimes it is a good idea to get nasty stuff out of the way first as well as prepare your boat and crew.

Navigation Tools

October 25, 2023/by Grant Headifen

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…

Rigging

October 24, 2023/by Grant Headifen

At boat shows, we see folks huddled down in the vessel’s salon oohing and aahing at the leather cushions to sit on, and at the electronic gadgets for navigation and entertainment.

Sailing and Wind Forces

October 24, 2023/by Grant Headifen

A sailboat moves in upwind and downwind directions. Downwind is intuitive; it just gets blown downwind. But just how does a sailboat move into the wind?

Towing

October 24, 2023/by Grant Headifen

The following diagram shows how you can tow another vessel. Form a “bridle” from the rear cleats…

Lights on ATONS

October 24, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Lights are installed on some ATONS. The lights are usually alternating on and off on some consistent interval to distinguish one ATON from another.