USA Boating
Parts of a Sailboat & Sailing Terminology
August 7, 2024
A sailboat consists of several key components that work together to harness wind power and navigate through water. Anyone learning to sail or interested in the mechanics of sailboats should know what these parts are called and what they do. Main parts of a sailboat While not all sailboats have exactly the same structure, … Read more ›
All About Safe Boating with Infants and Children
If you love boating, you may be wondering how soon you can take your infant or child out on the water with you. Here are tips for boating with kids, and especially for deciding if, when and how to take your infant, toddler or child on a boat with you. Safe boating with infants … Read more ›
Boat Right of Way Rules and Power-Driven Vessel Path Crossing
July 2, 2024
Safe boating involves knowing the rules of navigation by heart. When you’re approaching another boat, or another boat is approaching you, there’s no time to check your rulebook! Keep reading to learn the rules of right-of-way for power-driven pleasure craft. Important terms for understanding right-of-way First, get to know the difference between port and starboard. … Read more ›
What is Needed for Steering Control on a PWC?
Steering a PWC takes some practice! The more you know about how your PWC works, the better you will be able to adjust to different situations and avoid problems. Let’s take a look at how PWC steering works and what it takes to maintain control of your watercraft. How a PWC works Personal Watercraft (PWC) … Read more ›
Downstream vs Upstream in a Boat: What’s the Difference?
May 29, 2024
When you’re boating on a river, you need to know which way you are going so you can correctly interpret buoys and avoid accidents. To be sure that you can follow signs and signals correctly, you need to know the difference between upstream and downstream. Upstream vs downstream What’s the difference between upstream and … Read more ›
Boat Propeller Strike: Avoiding Injuries and Accidents
Boat propellers pose a serious safety risk. A typical 3-blade propeller running at the average speed of between 1200 and 3200 RPM can inflict 150 impacts per second and travel from head to toe on a human being in less than a tenth of a second. Swimmers, divers, anglers, people enjoying water sports and people … Read more ›
Starboard Side and Port Side Explained
No matter where you are in the US, standardized symbols and codes keep boat operators safe and confident in their ability to navigate and communicate effectively. “Port” and “starboard” are two terms that are used across the nation to refer to the left and right sides of a boat, respectively. Remembering the difference between port … Read more ›
Water Skiing Hand Signals
Every year, over 3 million Americans go water skiing. This popular water sport has existed for over 100 years and is still going strong. Whether you’re enjoying recreational water skiing or plan to compete, you’ll need to learn the basic hand signals that allow skiers and boat operators to communicate. 13 Water skiing hand signals … Read more ›
Water Skiing & Towed Water Sports Safety Guidelines
May 7, 2024
Every year, nearly forty percent of Americans who go boating also participate in some form of towed watersport. Waterskiing and wakeboarding take some practice to master, both for the person being towed and the boat operator. Tubing is easier, as long as you use the right gear. Regardless of your age or level of experience, … Read more ›
Written Boating Accident Report Requirements
Federal Law specifies that you have to file an accident report following many types of recreational boating accidents. Not filing a required report could result in large fines or even jail time, so it’s a task that you need to take seriously! Types of boat accidents that need to be reported The United States Coast … Read more ›