Guides, organized the way you sail.

Life jacket location and how to put one on, the engine kill switch, head/toilet use, what to do if someone falls in, VHF channel 16, and where the fire extinguisher and first aid kit are. Two minutes, every trip, every guest — even the ones who've been aboard before. Full briefing script →

Check the capacity plate near the helm — required on most boats under 20 ft — for the maximum person count and weight. No plate? A common USCG estimate is length × beam ÷ 15. Never guess; overloading is one of the most cited causes of capsizing. Full capacity worksheet →

Fit is checked, not guessed: lift the jacket by the shoulders — a properly fitted one won't ride up over a child's chin or ears. Weight-rated sizing (infant, child, youth, adult) matters more than age alone. Full sizing guide →

A one-page checklist beats memory every time: gear locations, the kill switch, the MOB procedure, and a headcount before departure and after every stop. Get the checklist →

Beyond a VHF MAYDAY: orange smoke by day, red flares by day or night, SOS in Morse (light or sound), a square flag with a ball above or below it, or slowly and repeatedly raising and lowering outstretched arms. Full distress-signal reference →

Bilge dry, fuel and battery checked, lines and fenders ready to release in order, engine warmed up, float plan filed with someone ashore, weather and VHF checked. Full pre-departure protocol →

Rig a spring line first — it lets the boat pivot off the dock under its own engine power without you fending off by hand. Release bow and stern lines last, and keep the spring line on until the boat is already moving clear. Full single-handed protocol →

Let the wind help, not fight it. Blowing you off the dock? Use minimal power and let it do the work. Pinning you on? A spring line with reverse power will walk the stern out before you release the rest. Full departure protocol →

Give a trusted person ashore your route, expected return time, number of people aboard, and boat description — then actually update them if plans change. It's the fastest way search-and-rescue finds you if something goes wrong. Float plan template →

Flush after every saltwater run, check the fuel/water separator monthly, change gearcase oil annually, and replace the impeller every 2–3 years regardless of how it looks — it's the part that fails silently until it doesn't. Full maintenance schedule →

Fog the cylinders, stabilize or drain the fuel, change the gearcase oil (milky oil means water intrusion — catch it now, not in spring), and store the motor upright or per the manufacturer's tilt spec. Full winterizing protocol →

Approach slow, into whichever of wind or current is stronger, with lines and fenders ready before you're close. Plan to stop using reverse thrust — not hands or feet against the dock. Full docking protocol →

Drop the anchor well off the berth, reverse in slowly while keeping the rode taut, secure stern lines to the quay, then tension the anchor rode to hold the bow off. Full mooring protocol →

Identify whichever force is stronger and let it work for you, not against you — approach on whichever side the wind or current will naturally push you onto, using minimal throttle. Full docking protocol →

Four lines minimum — bow, stern, and two springs. Fenders go at the hull's widest point and wherever it will actually contact the dock, not just spaced evenly. Full setup diagram →

A vessel at anchor outside a designated anchorage shows a single all-round white light visible from all directions — forward if under 50m, or fore and aft if longer. Anchored inside a marked anchorage, local rules may waive this.

Plan roughly 3 liters of water per person per day beyond tank capacity, non-perishables for the first and last two days when fresh food runs low, and always 30% more than your estimate — passages run long more often than short. Full provisioning workbook →

Favor one-pot meals prepped before getting underway and reheated at sea — a rolling boat with multiple pans on the stove is a hazard, not a convenience. Full meal-planning system →