Boating Resources

Step-by-step guides, best practices, and practical checklists organized around your trip workflow.

Prepare

Checklists, regulations, and boat setup before leaving the dock.

Open sea with rolling waves under an overcast sky, illustrating wind conditions at sea.

Beaufort Wind Force Scale

Understand the Beaufort scale from force 0 to 12, with wind speeds in knots and km/h, sea conditions, practical sailing advice, and guidance for interpreting marine forecasts.

All boaters

Marina full of moored boats with a lifebuoy hanging on the wooden dock.

Boat Provisioning for a Sailing Trip: Food, Water and Supplies

Plan food, drinking water and essential supplies for a sailing trip. Use practical provisioning lists, meal-planning tips and storage advice for day sails and longer cruises.

All boaters

Orange lifebuoy with reflective bands on a boat, sea in the background.

Boat Safety Equipment: Inspection and Expiry Dates

Learn how to inspect boat safety equipment, track expiry dates, check lifejackets, flares, fire extinguishers and liferafts, and prepare a reliable inspection checklist.

All boaters

Dark, layered clouds gathering over a choppy sea, illustrating changing marine weather conditions.

Clouds and Weather Signs for Sailors

Learn how to identify common cloud types, recognise signs of changing weather at sea, and combine sky observations with reliable marine forecasts.

All boaters

Aerial view of a sailboat underway, leaving a long wake across the open sea.

How to Plan a Sailing Route

Learn how to plan a sailing route using nautical charts, waypoints, distance calculations, weather forecasts, tides, and alternative destinations.

All boaters

Sailboat cruising on calm blue water past a green coastline.

How to Plan a Sailing Trip

Learn how to plan a sailing trip, from choosing your destination and checking the weather to preparing your boat, crew, route, and backup plans.

All boaters

Sailboat underway on open water beneath a partly cloudy sky, illustrating sailing in changing wind conditions.

How to Read Wind Conditions for Sailing

Learn how to read wind forecasts for sailing, understand knots and gusts, assess wind direction and sea state, and decide when conditions are suitable for your boat and crew.

All boaters

Sailboats moored in a marina viewed from above, illustrating preparations before departure.

Pre-Departure Boat Checklist: What to Check Before Setting Sail

Use this pre-departure boat checklist to prepare your vessel, check safety equipment, review weather and navigation, brief the crew, and leave the dock safely.

All boaters

View from aboard a sailboat approaching a rocky coastline.

Sailing Passage Checklist: Plan a Safe Passage

Prepare for a sailing passage with this detailed checklist covering route planning, weather, tides, boat systems, safety equipment, crew, watches, provisions, and contingencies.

All boaters

Sailboat on the horizon with a woman sitting on deck in the foreground.

Sailing Trip Checklist: Everything to Prepare Before You Go

Prepare for your next sailing trip with this complete checklist covering boat readiness, weather, route planning, safety equipment, crew, provisions, and departure.

All boaters

Large waves breaking into white foam on the open sea.

Sea State Explained: Wave Height, Swell and the Douglas Scale

Learn how to read sea state forecasts, understand wave height and period, distinguish swell from wind waves, and assess conditions before sailing.

All boaters

Sailboat resting in shallow water near the shore at low tide.

Tides and Currents Explained: A Sailor's Guide

Understand tides, tidal range, tidal coefficients, tidal streams and slack water. Learn how to use tide tables and current forecasts to plan safer sailing trips.

All boaters

Navigate

Passage planning, weather tracking, and smart logkeeping on the water.

Red navigation light mounted on a sailboat's rigging against a blue sky.

Boat Navigation Lights Explained

Learn how to identify boat navigation lights, understand what they reveal about a vessel, and recognise the lights required at night and in restricted visibility.

All boaters

Two boats travelling across open water, viewed from above, illustrating vessel traffic and collision avoidance.

COLREGs: International Collision Regulations Explained

Understand the COLREGs, the international rules for preventing collisions at sea, including right of way, lookout, safe speed, navigation lights and sound signals.

All boaters

Sailing crew working together on deck while handling the yacht's rigging and sails.

Crew Roles on a Sailing Yacht

Learn the key crew roles on a sailing yacht, from skipper and helm to sail trimmers, navigator and bow person, and how to work together safely.

Sailors

Aerial view of a sailboat at anchor in a turquoise bay beside a rocky coast.

How to Anchor a Boat

Learn how to choose an anchorage, deploy an anchor, calculate anchor scope, check holding, and monitor your boat safely.

All boaters

Anchor chain extending into clear turquoise water beside a boat at anchor.

How to Keep Anchor Watch

Learn how to keep a proper anchor watch, check whether your anchor is holding, monitor weather and wind shifts, and respond if your boat starts dragging.

All boaters

Sailboat secured to a mooring buoy in a calm harbour at sunset.

How to Pick Up a Mooring Buoy

Learn how to approach, pick up and secure a mooring buoy safely, with practical steps for sailboats and motorboats.

All boaters

Winch and sail-handling gear on a sailboat deck at sunset.

How to Reef a Sail

Learn when to reef a sail, why early reefing matters, and how to reduce sail area safely as wind conditions change.

Sailors

Hand-bearing compass lying on a nautical chart to determine a bearing at sea.

How to Take a Bearing at Sea

Learn how to take a compass bearing, identify landmarks, plot position lines, and use multiple bearings to estimate your position at sea.

All boaters

Red navigation buoy floating in calm water, illustrating the use of maritime channel markers.

IALA Buoyage System: A and B

Learn how to identify IALA navigation buoys and marks, understand Regions A and B, recognise cardinal marks, and navigate safely through marked channels.

All boaters

International Maritime Signal Flags

Learn the International Code of Signals, the meanings of maritime signal flags, and how vessels use flags to communicate safety messages at sea.

All boaters

Orange rescue boat operating at sea, illustrating a maritime man-overboard response.

Man Overboard: What to Do

Learn what to do when someone falls overboard, from raising the alarm and keeping visual contact to returning to the casualty and recovering them safely.

All boaters

Boats moored in a Mediterranean harbour at sunset, with hills visible in the background.

Mediterranean Mooring: A Step-by-Step Guide

Learn how to moor stern-to in a Mediterranean harbour, using your own anchor or a lazy line, with practical steps for preparation, approach and securing the boat.

All boaters

Technical sketch of a boat with a metal deck fitting in the foreground, illustrating the components of a boat.

Parts of a Boat: A Complete Guide

Learn the main parts of a boat, from bow, stern and hull to keel, rudder, mast, engine and deck fittings, with clear definitions for beginners.

All boaters

Sailboat on open water in hazy conditions with limited visibility.

Rule 19: Collision Avoidance in Restricted Visibility

Understand COLREG Rule 19, safe speed in fog, radar collision assessment, course alterations, and what to do when another vessel cannot be seen.

All boaters

Close-up of a sail filled by the wind, with its seams and rigging visible.

Sails and Wind: Choosing the Right Sail Plan

Learn how to choose the right sail plan for different wind strengths and directions, from light-air sails to reefing and storm sails.

Sailors

Sailboat bow throwing spray as it sails fast through the waves.

Tacking and Gybing Explained

Learn the difference between tacking and gybing, when to use each manoeuvre, and how to change direction safely under sail.

Sailors

Aerial view of sailboats and motorboats in a turquoise marina.

Types of Boats Explained

Explore the main types of boats, from sailboats and motorboats to catamarans, RIBs, fishing boats and cruisers, and learn what each is designed for.

All boaters

Handheld VHF marine radios in their holders on a boat.

VHF Marine Radio: Channels and Procedures

Learn how to use a marine VHF radio, understand key channels, make routine calls, and send a distress or urgency message at sea.

All boaters

Document

Exporting logs, track analysis, and official record keeping.

Sextant and wristwatch resting on a nautical chart with plotting tools.

Best Practices for a Sailing Logbook

Learn how to keep a useful sailing logbook with consistent entries, accurate navigation records, weather observations, and practical routines. Discover how a digital logbook can simplify the process.

All boaters

Sailboat helm and steering wheel overlooking the sea, representing recording a voyage at the helm.

Digital vs. Paper Sailing Logbook

Compare digital and paper sailing logbooks, from GPS tracking and trip history to reliability and ease of use. Find the right format for your sailing and discover Skipper for iPhone.

All boaters

Sailors sitting together aboard a boat and documenting their time on the water.

How to Document Your Sailing Experience

Learn how to document your sailing experiences with a logbook, GPS tracks, photos, and trip notes. Build a personal record of your sailing adventures and progress over time.

All boaters

Sailboat gliding on calm turquoise water near a wooded shoreline

How to Keep a Sailing Logbook

Learn how to keep a sailing logbook with a simple routine, practical entries and tips for recording every trip consistently.

All boaters

Sailboat listing heavily in the water after an incident, illustrating the importance of recording boating accidents.

How to Record a Boating Incident

Learn how to document a boating incident clearly and accurately, from the timeline and conditions to damage, witnesses, and follow-up actions.

All boaters

Sailboat sailing across the sea at sunset, viewed from beneath its sail.

Sailing Logbook Examples

Explore practical sailing logbook examples for day sails, longer passages, changing weather, and incidents. Learn what to record and how to structure your entries.

All boaters

View along a sailboat's deck and rigging toward the clear blue sea.

Sailing Logbook Template

Use this sailing logbook template to record boat trips, navigation, weather, crew, and important events. Includes a practical format for day sails and longer passages.

All boaters

Sailboat sailing across blue water with its white sails raised.

What to Write in a Sailing Logbook

Learn what to record in a sailing logbook, from date and position to weather, crew, engine hours and important events, with practical examples.

All boaters

Sailboat cruising through clear turquoise coastal water near a green shoreline.

Why Keep a Boat Logbook?

Discover why keeping a boat logbook matters, from documenting sailing trips and improving your skills to tracking boat usage and preserving memories.

All boaters

Improve

Engine maintenance, seamanship skills, and long-term habits.

Calculator and financial documents on a desk, used to review and calculate boat ownership expenses.

Boat Expenses: A Complete Budget Guide

Learn how to track boat expenses, organize maintenance and fuel costs, build an annual boating budget, and calculate the true cost of owning a boat.

All boaters

Marine fuel pump at a waterside dock, illustrating boat refuelling and fuel tracking.

Boat Fuel Log: How to Track Fuel Consumption

Learn how to keep a boat fuel log, calculate fuel consumption and cost per hour, compare trips, and plan fuel reserves with a practical tracking template.

All boaters

Hand checking items on a boat inventory checklist with a pen.

Boat Inventory Checklist: Everything to Keep Track of on Board

Use this boat inventory checklist to organize safety equipment, tools, spare parts, documents and supplies, and keep your onboard inventory up to date.

All boaters

Marine maintenance products and consumables arranged together, including bottles, sprays, and lubricants.

Boat Maintenance Consumables: What to Keep on Board

Discover the essential boat maintenance consumables to stock, from engine oil and filters to lubricants, sealants, electrical supplies, and cleaning products.

All boaters

Sailboat hauled out of the water with a worker beside its hull.

Boat Maintenance Schedule

Build a practical boat maintenance schedule with recurring checks for the hull, engine, batteries, safety equipment, rigging and onboard systems.

All boaters

Close-up of a marine engine with belts and pulleys.

Boat Spare Parts: What to Carry on Board

Build a practical boat spare parts kit with essential engine, electrical, plumbing, and sailing components. Learn what to carry based on your boat and cruising plans.

All boaters

Sailboat hauled out in a boatyard at the end of the sailing season, ready for inspection and storage.

End-of-Season Boat Checklist

Use this end-of-season boat checklist to prepare your boat for winter, protect its systems, organize maintenance, and get ready for next season.

All boaters

Boats moored in a marina, illustrating the ongoing costs of owning and maintaining a boat.

How Much Does It Cost to Own a Boat?

Discover the real cost of owning a boat, from purchase price and marina fees to insurance, maintenance, fuel and unexpected repairs. Build a realistic annual budget.

All boaters

Sailboat resting on stands in a boatyard with a ladder against the hull, illustrating boat care and maintenance.

How to Keep a Boat Maintenance Log

Learn how to keep a boat maintenance log, record repairs and engine hours, organize receipts, track replacement parts, and build a reliable service history.

All boaters

Hand resting on a paper nautical chart of a coastline.

How to Review a Sailing Season

Learn how to review your sailing season, analyse your trips, measure progress, identify lessons, and prepare your boat and crew for next year.

All boaters

Close-up of a marine engine instrument panel with an analog gauge and hour meter.

How to Track Engine Hours on a Boat

Learn how to track boat engine hours, read an hour meter, record operating time, calculate maintenance intervals, and keep an accurate engine service history.

All boaters

Remember your days at sea

Skipper is a ship’s log app for sailboats and powerboats, available on iPhone and iPad. It records every trip with GPS and keeps your whole sailing history in one searchable logbook. Free for your first three trips.