Education Skills
Getting out of Irons
If you do end up in irons, you can simply wait until the wind and current pushes you one way or the other and you’re able to fill your sails again. You can also speed things along by turning the Read more…
Education Skills
Dinghy Handling
Towing a Dinghy The tow line should be adjusted so that both the towing boat and the dinghy reach the crest of successive waves at the same time. When maneuvering in close quarters or backing, the dinghy can be secured Read more…
Education Skills
Anchoring and Mooring
Anchoring a boat is a bit more precarious than tying up to a mooring. If you don’t know what’s on the seafloor, it’s easy to get your anchor stuck, or fouled. It can also be illegal to anchor near coral Read more…
Education Safety
Seasickness
Seasickness is not as serious a condition as hypothermia, but it can spoil a fun day. Being seasick will also make a person more prone to hypothermia if they should be unfortunate enough to fall overboard as well. Some people Read more…
Education Safety
Sailboat Safety
There are a few different ways to get hurt on a boat. Any of these could kill you under the right circumstances, so take them seriously. The risks are easily minimized if proper caution is used. Fall overboard Don’t think Read more…
Education Safety
Safety Equipment
Along with the Coast Guard PFD requirements already mentioned, most states require additional safety equipment on board boating vessels. Again, reference your specific state’s boating laws to determine exactly what equipment is legally required, but the list is likely to Read more…
Education Safety
Life Jackets
Lifejackets – or more generally personal flotation devices (PFDs) – are classified by their function and buoyancy into five types. The table below describes each type. Federal law requires at least one lifejacket (any non-throwable type) per person to be Read more…
Education Safety
Hypothermia
A somewhat surprising fact about boating is that hypothermia is usually a bigger threat than drowning, particularly in chilly waters. Most people are aware of the possibility of drowning, but neglect the risk of hypothermia and therefore aren’t adequately prepared Read more…
Education Navigation and Piloting
Sound Signals
Sound signals can be made by either a horn that is built into the boat or a handheld air horn. There are two types of basic signals, a short and a long blast. A short blast is about 1 second Read more…
Education Navigation and Piloting
Rules of the Road
The rules of the road are described in terms of right of way hierarchy in the following figures. Sometimes you’ll see these are listed in opposite order (“A gives way to B” instead of “A has right of way over Read more…