BROWSE POWERBOATING ARTICLES

Diagram showing a boat's unintended drift due to strong wind and prop walk, preventing the desired path.

Prop Walk Disadvantage

There is one situation where you are just going to have to suck it up and admit defeat. Propwalk wins this game today and you have to come back and fight another day.
High-performance marine engine with 360-degree rotating connection for advanced maneuverability and efficiency.

Precise Docking

You can't leave docking to luck or always hoping it will be a nice day. You have to become an expert.
Diagram of aligned and misaligned forces showing equilibrium and moments attempting to align, with two vertical arrow sets.

Force Alignment and Moment Balance

There is a really cool universal law out there that states: “For every force, there must be an equal and opposite force.” When you are docking, if your boat pulls on a line attached to the dock, the line pulls back on your boat.
Silhouette of a sailboat at sunset, gliding over calm waters under a vibrant sky. Perfect evening for sailing adventures.

Lights and Shapes on Vessels

Nighttime can be a beautiful time to go boating. However, night vision is not the same as day vision and so rules have been established to ensure safety.
Aerial view of luxury powerboats docked at a marina, with a lone kayaker paddling between the piers.

Leaving the dock – Introduction

OK, now that you're an expert at maneuvering the boat under power outside of the marina, it is time to bring the varnish and gel coat in close quarters with its sworn enemies - the docks, pilings, and other boats.
Luxury powerboat cruising at sunset, cutting through calm waters with speed and elegance. Perfect day for a boating adventure.

Philosophy of Boating Competence

Operating a powerboat on our waterways is different than operating a vehicle on a road. Besides the obvious reasons, there are strict and well-defined rules for vehicles.
Red fire blanket container with safety instructions, essential for powerboat safety and emergency preparedness.

Fire on a Boat

Putting out fires quickly is essential. The sooner you find the source the quicker the fire can be extinguished.
Powerboats maneuvering in a marina with docks, guided by wind direction and arrows, illustrating effective docking techniques.

Slips – Returning

Wind coming into the slip channel and your boat is to be docked stern-toSteer into the slip channel and maneuver...
Red and white marine signal horn for safety on powerboats, essential for navigation and emergency situations.

Non-Electronic Communications

Sailing has been around for thousands of years. Electronic Communications has been around for less than 100 years (not counting the telegraph).
Diagram of a powerboat's fuel system, illustrating the flow from the tank to the engine with filters and pumps.

Diesel Fuel

The search, discovery, refinement, and resource control of fuel has a rich and very sordid history. But just like a conversation on a boat...