Oil Check Tip for Spring

We know you checked your oil this spring, but as you did, we hope you used that dipstick for linkage lube. If not, check it again-and before replacing the dipstick, dab the oily end on your control cable linkages to keep them well-lubed for the rest of the season.

Cleat Hitch Knot

In order to secure the boat to a dock or secure a line to the boat you will probably use the cleat hitch.

1. Take the line to the ear of the cleat furthest from where the line comes from the boat (or load).
2. Take one wrap around the base of the cleat and then start a figure eight across the top of the opposite ear.
3. Finish with a half hitch turned under so that the line is coming away from the cleat in the opposite direction from which it came in.

Boat Launching Etiquette

1. Prior to backing down the ramp have everything that needs to be transferred from the tow vehicle placed in the boat. Trailer boaters who wait until their vessel is in the water cause delays and get nasty stares.

2. Concrete and fiberglass don't mix. Unhook the boat from the winch after the vessel is in the water, not before. Once your boat is splashed, have your crew secure it to the dock while you park your tow vehicle and trailer, leaving the ramp open for the next launch.

3. Don't make others wait while you're having a discussion with your crew on where to go or else those waiting in line behind you will happily offer suggestions.

4. Offer assistance if someone needs help. If you have never backed down a ramp, practice in a large parking lot prior to launching.

5. If you're on the ramp and would like help, be succinct. This is not the time to ask questions about bleeding the brakes or to debate the advantages of bias ply tires.

6. Trailer parking spaces are for tow vehicles and trailers only. Guests should park elsewhere.

7. Get into a routine at the ramp and use a checklist. It will make your life easier.

8. When returning to a ramp, drop off the person who will get the tow vehicle and trailer from the parking lot first and wait for them in an out-of-the-way location while they retrieve the vehicle.

9. Once the boat is on the trailer, secure safety chain to the bow eye and move up the ramp. Secure the remaining tie downs and transfer stuff back to the tow vehicle when you get to the parking lot - not on the ramp.

10. If you'd like to talk to other boaters about launch ramp etiquette, your experiences at boat ramps or other boating related issues, go to the messages boards at BoatUS.com.

10 Beginner Sailing Terms Everyone Should Know

While our glossary page provides a comprehensive list of boating terms, we’ve also compiled this short list of 10 beginner sailing terms that everyone should know. If you’re just learning how to sail, these handy terms can provide a helpful overview of sailing basics you need to become familiar with.

1. Aft - The back of a ship. If something is located aft, it is at the back of the sailboat. The aft is also known as the stern.

2. Bow - The front of the ship is called the bow. Knowing the location of the bow is important for defining two of the other most common sailing terms: port (left of the bow) and starboard (right of the bow).

3. Port - Port is always the left-hand side of the boat when you are facing the bow. Because “right” and “left” can become confusing sailing terms when used out in the open waters, port is used to define the left-hand side of the boat as it relates to the bow, or front.

 

4. Starboard - Starboard is always the right-hand side of the boat when you are facing the bow. Because “right” and “left” can become confusing sailing terms when used out in the open waters, starboard is used to define the right-hand side of the boat as it relates to the bow, or front.

 

5. Leeward - Also known as lee, leeward is the direction opposite to the way the wind is currently blowing (windward).

 

6. Windward - The direction in which the wind is currently blowing. Windward is the opposite of leeward (the opposite direction of the wind). Sailboats tend to move with the wind, making the windward direction an important sailing term to know.

 

7. Boom - The boom is the horizontal pole which extends from the bottom of the mast. Adjusting the boom towards the direction of the wind is how the sailboat is able to harness wind power in order to move forward or backwards.

 

8. Rudder - Located beneath the boat, the rudder is a flat piece of wood, fiberglass, or metal that is used to steer the ship. Larger sailboats control the rudder via a wheel, while smaller sailboats will have a steering mechanism directly aft.

 

9. Tacking - The opposite of jibing, this basic sailing maneuver refers to turning the bow of the boat through the wind so that the wind changes from one side of the boat to the other side. The boom of a boat will always shift from one side to the other when performing a tack or a jibe.

 

10. Jibing - The opposite of tacking, this basic sailing maneuver refers to turning the stern of the boat through the wind so that the wind changes from one side of the boat to the other side. The boom of a boat will always shift from one side to the other when performing a tack or a jibe. Jibing is a less common technique than tacking, since it involves turning a boat directly into the wind.