Moving Your Stern
Fighter pilots are familiar with the term VIF-ing. VIF stands for “vectoring in flight.” It means that you can move your plane sideways, up, or down while in flight.
Entries by Grant Headifen
Rode and Scope
To hold a sailboat, the anchor must naturally be attached to the vessel. This is accomplished by using “rode,” which is either all chain or a combination of rope (nylon line) and chain.
Generator or Large Battery Bank?
Dedicated electric generators on board boats are usually only reserved for large boats because of their weight and size.
Propellers
Propellers are a critical component for powerboats, as they directly affect the boat’s performance, efficiency, and handling.
Bilge Pumps
An emergency bilge pump(s) is a very significant electrical device on any vessel. This pump is used to pump out water that may collect, for whatever reason, in the bilge.
Boating Weather Predictions
While we have touched on weather concepts in this blog, no one can expect you to be a meteorologist (unless you are one) and do a good enough job at predicting the weather with enough quality to guarantee your safety.
Stevedore Stopper Knot
The Stevedore knot is another stopper knot. It is less likely to slip undone than the Figure 8 and is used to prevent a rope from slipping out of a device or from running through a block or hole.
Gear and Throttle Controls
Throughout this course, and when maneuvering under power, we talk about shifting gears, throttle control, and steering.
Introduction to Powerboat Engine and Drive Types
Larger Powerboats are equipped with a variety of engine types, each offering unique advantages and performance characteristics.
Marine Electric Panels
The electrical panel, located at the navigation station, normally has two distinct and separately marked sections…
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