BROWSE POWERBOATING ARTICLES

Sailboat navigating serene waters near stunning rocky cliffs, perfect for marine adventures and scenic exploration.

Anchoring Introduction

Ensuring that your boat is in the same place you left it is a very important skill. There are also other factors to consider: depth under keel and surrounding area depth, tidal currents, low tide depth, other boats in proximity, wind speed and direction changes, type of bottom, and length of stay. All factors play into your anchoring decisions.
Blue marine air horn for boating safety and signaling on the water. Essential equipment for powerboat enthusiasts.

Sound Signals

Sound signals are defined and prescribed in the Navigation Rules for International and Inland Waters. Sound has an advantage over light signals, in that it can be used when vision fails.
Diagram of a magnetic field, showing lines of force around a bar magnet with labeled poles, N and S.

Magnetism in Boating

We begin understanding electrical energy with a phenomenon called magnetism. This phenomenon was known thousands of years before electricity.
TrueCharge 20+ amp marine battery charger on a shiny black surface. Essential for efficient powerboating battery maintenance.

Battery Charging

Like a water bucket, batteries have a specific storage capacity and must be refilled/recharged when their contents of energy are depleted.
Diagram of the Earth showing latitude lines from the equator to 90°N, illustrating the Earth's spin axis.

Latitude and Longitude

The latitude and longitude coordinate system is the key navigational concept for boating. It is the mariner’s coordinate system.
High-performance marine electric motor with brass propeller, ideal for enhancing powerboat propulsion efficiency.

Electric Drive Engines in Powerboats

Electric engines are becoming an increasingly popular choice for large powerboats as technology advances and the boating community becomes more environmentally conscious.
NauticEd logo. Perfect for online boating education and certifications.

Engine Maintenance

Maintenance of the engine and associated components are an essential part of being a boat owner and skipper of the vessel.
Perko marine battery switch for powerboats, red casing with off/1/2/all settings, ensuring safe engine control.

Engine and House Systems

Perhaps the most important use of DC power on a vessel is for starting the engine. Thus, it is prudent to always assign one “isolated” battery or bank of batteries for the sole purpose of starting the engine and assign another battery or bank of batteries to “the house”.
NauticEd logo. Perfect for online boating education and certifications.

Electric Devices and Standards

A word of caution whenever using any home AC appliances on a vessel. Generally, these devices will work fine at first, but in a marine environment, they are subject to corrosion due to the salt air.