nauticalknowhow
U.S. VHF Marine Radio Channels and Frequencies
When you’re out on the water, it’s essential that you’re familiar with VHF marine radio frequencies and channels. The marine industry specifically uses the VHF frequency range for communication. VHF stands for Very High Frequency, and it’s used for ship-to-ship, ship-to-shore, and even ship-to-aircraft two-way communications. There are plenty of marine channel frequencies, and a…
Auto-Inflatable PFD Review
Auto-Inflatable PFD Review Standing at the edge of the dock, IÂ’m looking down into the frigid waters of Great South Bay. I know we have to test these new inflatable life jackets in real world conditions, but couldnÂ’t we do it in a pool? A heated pool? “ThatÂ’d be cheating,” reminded Ron, our photographer (easy for…
How to Change the Oil in Your Boat
Just like getting the oil changed in your car, you need to change engine oil in your boat. The difference here is that it can be a much messier job. Many boat owners dread oil changes in their boat. It doesn’t have to be as hard as it seems, though. It’s definitely something you don’t…
Electricity 101 for Boaters
Since the majority of failures in boating have to do with something electrical, we thought it might be a good idea to post an article on electricity and trouble shooting. Understanding the terminology of electricity is the first step to starting to understand electrical theory. I personally like to compare electricity to the more straight…
Do You Need a Captain’s License?
Do You Need a Captain’s License? And what is a passenger for hire? We have received several emails asking about the necessity of having a captain’s license. One such email described a situation that follows: “A friend of mine was boarded by the Marine Police and the Coast Guard while fishing on the Chesapeake Bay….
Visual Distress Signals
Visual Distress Signals The most common method that a mariner uses to notify the Coast Guard that they are in distress is via their marine VHF-FM radio. I strongly encourage all boaters to have a radio on board their vessel, especially if their boating activities take them offshore. During the past year Coast Guard Station…
Distress Signals
Distress Signals Rule 37 in the Rules of the Road states: “When a vessel is in distress and requires assistance she shall use or exhibit the signals described in Annex IV to these regulations.” Red Star Shells Fog Horn Continuous Soundings Flames on A Vessel Gun Fired at Intervals of One Minute Orange Background Black…
Boat Docking — An Introduction
We can’t cover everything about boat docking in one sitting, but I think you’ll be surprised at how many of the basic principles of close quarters maneuvering are embodied in the example docking which I will be discussing shortly. First let me answer these two questions: Is this boat handling exposition for novice boaters? Yes,…
Electrolysis Can Eat Your Prop
Electrolysis Can Eat Your Prop Whenever different metals are placed in a conductive liquid, such as salt water, you create a battery. If you connect these pieces of metal together, current will flow. This current, trying to equalize the conductivity of the metals, will be removing metal from one of the metal pieces. This removal…
Trim Tabs – An Explanation
Trim tabs work exactly the same way as the control surfaces on an airplane. As you know, there are three axes affecting the motion of your boat as you travel through the water: Yaw , Pitc h and Roll . Trim tabs have little effect on the yaw axis, because yaw is controlled by the…
Basic Electrical Theory for Boaters
Multimeter – The Invaluable Tool As mentioned in the last article Electricity 101 , many of the problems that you will encounter on your vessel are electrical problems. It is because of this that the multimeter is an invaluable tool. With it you can do a lot of troubleshooting and track down potential problems without…
Docking & Undocking
Docking & Undocking It’s inevitable that when conditions are at their worst, you’ll have an audience. Prior planning and practice will not only keep you and your passengers safe and protect your boat, it will also help you avoid serious personal humiliation. Undocking Plan Prior to getting underway, you should implement an undocking plan with…
Documenting Your Vessel – FAQ
Documenting Your Vessel – FAQ What is Vessel Documentation? What vessels may be documented? Must my Vessel be Documented? How do I know if my vessel measures five net tons? What vessels are exempt? Are there different types of documentation? What are the requirements for documentation? How is vessel ownership established? How do I establish…
Buying Your Own “Hole In The Water”
Buying Your Own “Hole In The Water” The two most widely-used sayings about boats are that they are “holes in the water, into which you throw money” and “the happiest day of a boat owner’s life is the day they buy the boat and the day they sell it.” Although many people believe these axioms…
Steps to Smooth Anchoring
Steps to Smooth Anchoring At some point in your boating career you will probably want to anchor. You may want to stop and fish, swim, have lunch or stay overnight. A second reason to drop anchor may be to control the boat if bad weather is blowing you ashore or if your engine has quit…
Looks Like Chicken Pox – AKA Blisters
Looks Like Chicken Pox – AKA Blisters You have just finished hauling your boat for the winter. You have blocked her, pressure washed the hull, cleaned the topsides, and are about to button her up for the long winter’s nap. One last stroll around her, gazing at the long lines, the sleek hull…sleek! eek! MY…
Understanding Boat Navigation Lights
Boat navigation lights are essential when you’re out on the water. They’re essential, but it’s easy to misunderstand their uses and correct placements. If you don’t know the correct placement for your stern lights or know what type of navigation light you need on your mast, don’t worry: we’re here to help. Below, we’ve got…
Boating Etiquette
Boating Etiquette Boating, as a recreational sport, has been around for over 300 years. During this time many customs and traditions have been developed in order to help relieve the natural stress that comes with dealing with the elements. No matter how long you have been boating there is always that tense feeling when you…
The Best EPIRB for 2021
Boating safety is key to being able to enjoy your time on the water. Any sailor needs to have the proper emergency gear on board before you head out. This includes the obvious things, like personal flotation devices. But technology can also help make your sailing smooth. You want a good quality VHF radio on…
How to Calculate the Distance to the Horizon
How to Calculate the Distance to the Horizon Have you ever been out on a leisurely cruise and suddenly wondered, “How far it is to the horizon?” Or maybe your destination is a port that has a lighthouse and you wonder “How far away will I be when I see the lighthouse?” (Well, you’re in…
Chart Reading 101
Chart Reading 101 Many recreational boaters in small boats don’t consider it important to have charts onboard. Bad idea , even if you are just operating on your local lake. Perhaps you are not yet a navigator, but a chart onboard allows you to compare what you are seeing with what you should be seeing…
Preparing Your Boat for the Season Pre-Season Checklist
Preparing Your Boat for the Season Pre-Season Checklist In order to assure a safe and uneventful season make sure that you go through the list below and make a note of any discrepancies that need attention. Because there are so many variables depending on the size and type of boat you have, we have categorized…
Nathan’s, Believe It Or Not, Kite Boat
Nathan’s, Believe It Or Not, Kite Boat I have been having an ongoing conversation with one of the Boatsafe students over the past few weeks. He has an unusual idea, but thought it sounded fun and interesting. I think almost everyone, at one time or another, has been fascinated by kites. Following is some of…
Nautical Mnemonics: Understanding Boat Lights
One of the most complicated things to learn about your boat are the COLREGs lights. That stands for International Regulations for Prevention of Collision at Sea. The lights on your boat, both power boats and sail boats, help you navigate at night. They also help other boats understand how to navigate around you. We…
How to Prepare Your Boat for a Hurricane
Keeping safe on the water is no easy task. Storm clouds and hurricanes are always a risk. Boats need to be ready. How you prepare depends on where you plan to store your boat. Also on how much time you have ahead of the hurricane. As always, ensure your own safety first. Learning how to…
Passenger/Crew Orientation
Passenger/Crew Orientation Capt. Matt, I think the course is great! I really enjoyed it – in fact, IÂ’m going to recommend it to the people I most often take out on my boat in the summer, because I think itÂ’s really important for the crew to be informed as to what to do if the…
Low-Head Dams: A Not-So Clear and Present Danger
On a river there can be many dangers. Some are easier to pick out than others. One that many people overlook are low-head dams. In fact, ask the average person what a low-head dam is and they will have no idea. Let’s take a look at what exactly a low-head dam is. Also how recirculating…
The Life Expectancy of the Marine Engine
The Life Expectancy of the Marine Engine The average marine gasoline engine runs for 1,500 hours before needing a major overhaul. The average marine diesel engine will run for more than three times that long and log an average 5,000 hours under the same conditions. The number of hours that a marine engine runs is…
Watch Schedules and Ship’s Bells
Watch Schedules and Ship’s Bells As early as the 15th Century, a bell was used to sound the time onboard a ship. (Time, in those days, was kept with an hourglass. See The History of Navigation ) The bell was rung every half hour of the 4 hour watch. A 24 hour day was divided into…
Cone of Protection from Lightning – Faraday’s Cage
Cone of Protection from Lightning – Faraday’s Cage This spring seems to have brought the most extreme weather in history. With heavy thunderstorms you will often find lightning. Lightning on the water can bring life-threatening circumstances. For your safety and the safety of others boating with you we have updated and are republishing this article…