Sea School Recreational and Commercial Marine Training

Better Boating Tips

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INTRODUCTION

There's just so much information on boating safety we could talk about, with the most important and comprehensive on this web site. Over 200 pages and 80,000 words on better boating tips, channel markers, research, the fastest boat and even the bizarre!

Boaties are just like tradesmen, all having a different view on how to complete the job. Just please follow the international and local rules of the waterways... you don't want to be known as a crazy boater! Then talk, read and learn all you can on being a better prepared skipper, while following the standards in safe boating practices.

We hope these Better Boating Tips will result in an uneventful and relaxing day on the water with your family and friends, and with all this knowledge we know you will handle your vessel and passengers with confidence, skill and knowledge.

Boating Tips Index

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Index by Subject

In-Depth Index

THE BOAT
The Boat
Boating Terminology
Boat Types
How To Measure Length
Hull Designs And Uses
Types Of Hulls
Propulsion Requirements
Boat Capacity Plate
Stability and Trim
Boating Jargon to learn
WHAT BOAT TO BUY
In short, find out:
How big a boat can I handle by myself?
Buying Your Own Boat
Talk To An Old Salt
New vs. Used
Marine Dealers
Become a Boat Detective
To Buy Or Not To Buy - That Is The Question
Boat Ownership - Keeping It Yours
Boat Bandit Security
NSW LICENSING, REGISTRATION
NSW Boat Licence - Get Legal
Adult Boat Licence
Young Adult Boat Licence
Interstate & Overseas Visitors
Boat Licence Offences
Accidents and Incidents
Boating Incident Report Forms
Alcohol and drug offences
Permissible alcohol
NSW Water Skiing Regulations
NSW PWC Regulations
NSW requirements for boat registration
Commercial Vessels
Registration Numbers
Boat Code Certificate
SAFETY EQUIPMENT
NSW Safety Equipment
Use of Equipment
Stuff to Have on Your Small Boat
Visual Distress Signals
Marine Radio
Signal Flags
"Dressed Overall"
Australian Flag Protocol for Boats
The Australian Red Ensign 1908
Royal Australian Navy White Ensign 1967
Nautical Flag Etiquette
Club Flags and Size
Off shore contact
Cone of Protection from Lightning
New fines boost maritime safety
PRE-TRIP CHECKLIST
Weather Watch
Wind Watch
Tide Watch
Search and rescue
Your not home yet after a day out on the boat
Can I put the boat in?
How Can the Moon Affect Tides?
How do the effects of the sun and the moon affect tide?
The boat checklist
Essential Spare Parts
Voyage Planning
Tips For On Board Guests
Bow Riding
Are you the "co-pilot" aboard ?
Children... Ask the Skipper
Going aboard small boats
Pets On Board
RULES OF THE ROAD
Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
It pays to take care
Terms in Rules of the Road
Steering and Sailing Rules
Proper Lookout
Commercial Vessel Situations
Right of Way Sydney Harbour
Fishing vessels
Divers Below
Joint emergency action
Responsibilities between vessels
Harbour Master's Directions
Reminder on the Road Rules
Steering Safety Points
Sound Signals
Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility
Steering rules in restricted visibility
NSW Speed Limit Areas
Maneouvering Underway
NSW Boat Wash - No Wash Zones
Other types of recreational boating
Local Knowledge
NAVIGATION, LIGHTS
Getting there and back
Night on the water
Navigation Lights... in brief
Restricted Visibility
Recognition of lights
Visibility of lights
Types of Lights
Divers Below
Nautical Poem
Chart Reading 101
Taking Bearings On a Small Boat
Your nav lights are probably wrong
Night Fishing
Waterproof your charts
How far is the horizon ?
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
CHANNEL MARKERS, BUOYS, BEACONS
Daymarks for vessels
Direction of buoyage
Lights on Channel Markers
Port Marker - Red
Starboard Marker - Green
Cardinal marks
Cardinal Mark Features
East Cardinal
South Cardinal
West Cardinal
Remember the clock
Safe Water Marks
Isolated danger marks
Special Marks
LAUNCH, RECOVER, ANCHOR, MOOR
Trailer Features
Trailer Check List
Pre-Launch
Launching
Recovery
Why is it hard to back the boat trailer?
Close encounter at the boat ramp.
Ramp Courtesy
Is the Bung In?
Anchoring
Steps to smooth anchoring
Small Boat Anchoring
Lowering the anchor
Anchor Line, Chain
Night Anchoring
Scope
Weighing Anchor
Mooring
Leaving a Mooring
Picking up a Mooring
Mooring in a windy bay
DOCKING, BERTHING, KNOTS (larger file)
Getting Underway
Line Handling
Undocking Plan
Docking Plan
Maneouvering Underway
Port-side-to -- a docking dissected
Docking Broadside to the Wind
Around an Obstacle in a Cross Wind
Boat Docking in a Quartering Wind
Stern To
Alongside in a Headwind
"Back and Fill" in Narrow Channels
A tight marina berth
Quick Tip - Go astern
How do you tie up the boat
Don't turn off your engine
Dockside Do's and Don'ts
Knots, Marlinespike
Knots to Know
Bowline - "The Boater's King of Knots"
Hitches
SEAMANSHIP, BOAT HANDLING
Good seamanship
Act Like a Captain
Boater's Judgment and Maturity
Boating Etiquette
Marina Manners
Skipper Check List
Maneouvering Underway
Navigating Entrances and Bars
Bar Crossing
Watch Out for Barges and Tugboats
Life on the Bridge of a Big Ship
Bridge Procedures
Towing for fun... ha!
Sydney Harbour
Accepting a Tow
Towing
Running Aground
Sailing ? Another Tip on Running Aground
How to handle rough weather
Preparation For Heavy Weather
Handling Waves
Wind and Waves
Crazy Boaters
Are Single-Handed Sailors in Conflict with the Rules?
EMERGENCIES, RESPONSIBILITIES
Accidents
Visual Distress Signals
Man Overboard
Who's in charge?
Essential Man Overboard Tip
Overboard Turn
Procedure for Abandoning Ship
Fires On Board
Procedures for Fighting a Fire Onboard
Fire check list
Don't Panic
LP Gas
Emergency Procedures For LPG
Ambulance Service
Rescue by helicopter
Flood
After the flood arrives
When you hear a flood warning:
First Aid
Tips to Prevent Drowning
Avoid Hypothermia
Shock
Bleeding
Burns
Broken Bones
Feeling loopy
How To Recognize Cardiac Arrest:
CPR - You can do it
Hooked?
What can you say about Seasickness?
The Do's and Don'ts of Boating Safety
Booze and Boating Just Don't Mix
Dangers on the Reef and First Aid
ENGINE FAILURE, MAINTENANCE
Vessel emergency repairs
Essential Spare Parts
Engine Systems
Semi Annual Safety Checklist
Learn How to Start Manual or Pull Start Outboards
Electrolysis Can Eat Your Prop
Through-hull Fittings
Guard Against Fire
Bright Ideas To Help You With Your Boating Chores
Tips for very small boats
Sail care
Simple Boat Repairs
What do Prop Pitch numbers mean?
How often should my trailer bearing be serviced?
How often should the bottom be cleaned?
How often should I change my water pump impeller?
How long can I run my motor without a water supply going to it?
How often should I changed my trim tab zinc anode?
How many times can my Prop be rebuilt?
Will a damaged Prop effect my performance?
How often should I change my engine oil?
Head Maintenance
Wet ropes
Security
WATER SKI AND PWC SAFETY
Environmental Guide for Small Boats and PWC's
Water Skiing
Water Skiing Check List
Safety Hints
NSW Water Skiing Regulations
NSW PWC Regulations
WHALE WATCHING AND BOATING
Whale Watch
Humpback Whales
Communication and Song
Whale Watching Tips
The rules of Whale Watching
Military sonar may give whales the bends
Killer clicks
ANGLERS, BOATING
Night Fishing
Fishing vessels
Get the lead out
Non-lead alternatives for fishing tackle
You Think You've Caught a World Record Fish
Hooked?
SAILING TIPS
Quick Sailing Tips and Techniques
The 5 most important tips for a first-time sailor
Sailing ? Tip on Running Aground
Windsurfing
Wet ropes
Are Single-Handed Sailors in Conflict with the Rules?
Sailing - Monohull Vs Multi-hull
Sail care
NAUTICAL TERMS
Nautical Poem
Weather Proverbs
Is it a coincidence that port is 4 letters long and left is 4 letters long?
How does a heavy boat float?
Does SOS represent 3 words?
"Why are Boats Referred to as "She"?"
Everyday phrases with Nautical Origins
Talking Nautical with a twist
WHAT A GOOD IDEA
Boat Insurance
Renaming your boat
Mozzie Murder
Bright Ideas To Help You With Your Boating Chores
Bird Nuisance
SCUTTLEBUTT AND RESEARCH
The Capsize
S.S. Halliburton
Cakes and Ale?
Inventive Chairman
Hydrofoil
Big Balsa
Summer Romance
Mission: Impossible 3?
Seawater 'salt pump' threatens drinking water
Rocket explosives aid cross-Pacific windsurfer
Pirates put Antarctic sea life in peril
'Wonky holes' blamed for coral death
"Elephant of the reefs" seeks protection
Alien species colonise on plastic rafts
Inflatable dam to protect Venice is approved
Bog bodies
Salmon skin
Killer clicks
Bermuda Triangle Fact Sheet
Finding the Eye of the Whirlpool
Tsunami
Swallowing ships
Top Ten List of Silliest Questions asked on a Cruise Ship
Fatal Boating Incidents 2001-2002 NSW Maritime (Waterways)
Boating accidents - interesting results
BOATING RECORDS
Fastest Car Ferry
Fastest Propeller-Driven Boat
Fastest Submarine
Greatest Distance By Pedal Boat
Largest Aircraft Carrier
Largest Car Ferry
Largest Container Ship
Containers
Largest Guns On A Ship
Largest Cargo Vessel
Largest Sail
Largest Sailing Ship
Largest Square Rigger Sailing Ship In Service
Largest Indoor Waterpark
Lowest Road
Worst Yacht Racing Disaster
Worst Single Ship Disaster
Worst Single-Ship Disaster During A War
Largest Tie-Up Of Boats
Earliest Use Of Marine Mammals In Defence
Longest Ocean Swim
Most America's Cup Appearances
Youngest World Diving Champion
Longest Water-Skiing Marathon
Furthest Distance Walking On Water
Bath Tub paddling

Your tip

Over time, we would like contributions from both the public, marine dealers and those in the boating industry. It may be an important tip we've missed, or that miracle life saving event or funny story.

Brief tips or photos, contact jenny@seaschool.com.au.