Sailing Education Archives

Key Sailboat Instruments

October 18, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Sailboat Instrumentation can be very sophisticated and intelligent. Most electronic displays provide a wide range of menus of useful information…

Types of PFDs

October 18, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Types of PDF’s Here is a graphical explanation between a lifejacket and a buoyancy vest. PFD Type ratings are being phased out…

Starting the Diesel Engine

October 17, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Prior to starting the diesel engine: Become familiar with how and when a vessel’s transmission gear shift…

Dock Line Release

October 17, 2023/by Grant Headifen

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…

Chart Symbols

October 17, 2023/by Grant Headifen

Studying a harbor layout does very little good without understanding the symbols and what they signify. It pays to

Weighing Anchor

October 17, 2023/by Grant Headifen

“Weighing the anchor” simply means raising it. If raising the anchor is to be done by hand…

Personal Flotation Devices

October 17, 2023/by Grant Headifen

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.

Propeller Entanglement

October 17, 2023/by Grant Headifen

If there is a sudden slowing or stopping of the engine while motoring it is possible that you have picked up some floating line, hopefully not from your vessel.

Dinghy Safety!

October 17, 2023/by Grant Headifen

When it comes to dinghy operations, the following is a dangerous attitude: “It’s only a short distance ashore—jump in…

Dressing appropriately for weather conditions is an important but often overlooked topic. Weather in the marina may be considerably different from weather beyond the marina and conditions can drastically change during your venture.