Sailing Education Archives

Plumbing and Tankage – Getting Familiar with a Charter Boat

April 4, 2024/by Grant Headifen

A diaphragm pump below directs flow from the water tank(s) to various faucets throughout the boat. You’ll always begin a charter with full water tanks but understand that water conservation is still required.

Seacocks – Getting Familiar with a Charter Boat

April 4, 2024/by Grant Headifen

Seacocks are designed to let water flow out of the hull safely. They are not one-way valves so any loose clamps around the seacock itself create leaks around the hoses and can allow water to enter into the boat. This is usually bad – right?

Heads on a Charter Boat

April 4, 2024/by Grant Headifen

You don’t need trouble with the waste system, especially when on vacation.

Electricity and Charging Your Devices on a Charter

April 4, 2024/by Grant Headifen

It’s a given, we can’t live without electricity. At home, we have all the conveniences and all the chargers we need. But what about on a boat on a sailing vacation? What can I charge and what voltage is available?

Generators on a Charter Boat

April 4, 2024/by Grant Headifen

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.

Charter Local Area Familiarization

April 4, 2024/by Grant Headifen

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.

The Engine – Getting Familiar with a Charter Boat

April 4, 2024/by Grant Headifen

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.

The Fuel System – Getting Familiar with a Charter Boat

April 4, 2024/by Grant Headifen

While it is reasonably rare to have a fuel problem on a charter it can certainly happen and you should be prepared to apply the (sometimes simple) solution below.

Showering on a Charter Boat

April 3, 2024/by Grant Headifen

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).

Sails – Getting Familiar with a Charter Boat

April 3, 2024/by Grant Headifen

We’re pretty certain here that you know how to operate sails on a sailboat, however – chances are that you’re chartering a boat much bigger than you’re normally used to.