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I'm heads up most times, especially in tight spaces. Less time needed to make a course change without having to think about seeing the boat upside down. I use North Up and the compass for drifting wrecks since it's easier to get back to a wreck using the compass heading than seeing your map going in circles.

You really need to stop half assing it and write a script, your babbling is confusing and makes you sound amateurish and lazy.

Does your depth readout take tide into account or is it chart datum?

Such important information Chief. Thanks

Port is also tawny. Wine snob that i am. Lol

Thanks Sean. Amen to this great content

First, thank you for your service both in the Coast Guard and LEO. I am a recently retired LEO and have taken up sailing full time, it’s my absolute passion and want to share it with Admiral and grandkids. With this in mind i read, watch and take anything i can get my hands on regarding safety and safe operation on the water. So glad i found your channel, awesome, real content from the mouth of babes😂. Really though, you are continuing your service to the community, and that is special!! I subscribed, rang the bell and anxiously await more content. In the meantime i will make sure i watch all your previous videos. -Jim

My sailboat is so small, I could swim in to dock and no one would be the wiser. Great advice for all. Using the wind as your friend, I find that over steering or understeering with careful speed control makes the pivot work to your advantage. Just practice and enjoy the moment

want to clarify for others below NORTH UP vs Head up. say you see east cardinal mark right in front of you . if you had north up , you just steer right , its very easy to. if you had head up but actual heading was south, then you have to steer left, if heading was west then you have to stop. its just one of the cases. but I have 2 screens, top screen north up, and bottom is heading up so its always updating. I had gps where north up map was updating and boat centered this one boat moves off the screen and I have to drag map back

Update from Bodega Bay California… Another boat with 5 onboard has capsized in high seas and high winds. 4 lives were saved, but another has been lost. In less than 3 weeks 3 boats have capsized and 9 people have lost their lives! Pay attention to what this man is telling you!

Thank you Captain Shawn for this video! As a recreational boater hailing out of Stamford CT, I am astounded by how many people, both novices and seasoned boaters do not turn on and/or monitor their radios when going out. Instead, they turn on and 'amp up' their stereo paying no or little attention to their VHF radio. When going out on my 31' Ranger Tug, I never leave the dock without turning on and listening to Channel 16 before casting off any dock lines.

Sailor LEFT his RED PORT wine ashore

Thank you so much. This was a fantastic explanation!

I want you to come aboard my vessel and what if me! (Not yet though.) : )

One thing that I want to say that is a compliment to your channel. Inadvertently or on purpose you are emphasizing visual is really important. Don’t over rely on electronics. I was a destroyer sailor and navigator from 87-91 ans still reserves for a while. My belief is sailors over rely on electronics. Use your eyes and ears. And agree put yourself In his pilot house (and sadly assume he is asleep unalert or unmanned). Sorry too cynical

Love the videos, thank you. I live in Northern California and crab season just opened up. This first weekend out at Bodega Bay, two boats capsized. Eight souls went into the water, so far only two have come out; an eleven year old boy found the following day alive on a beach, the other the body of an older male. Both boats were twenty-one feet. The conditions were not good, poor as matter of fact, with gale force winds and large seas (14 feet I believe). According to the eleven year old,everyone onboard his boat had life jackets, however there was no mention of any other safety equipment or a radio. The second boat I have no information on. I can’t understand for the life of me why people don’t have EPIRB’s or PLB’s and a radio. There are enough good, free weather apps available online too. Had either of these boats had been equipped with a rescue beacon and radio perhaps all lives could have been saved. Safe boating starts with knowing what you’re up against and being prepared! People need to understand that although beautiful the ocean is also deadly and emotional decisions when conditions are iffy are not good and usually don’t end well. Just because you’ve spent a several hundred dollars traveling to go get a few crabs doesn’t mean you need to go out if conditions aren’t suitable. I’ll be going out in a few days when conditions are better, and this time, unfortunately, I’ll be looking for one additional type of navigational hazard.

Thanks sir.

I always have the COG projection vector enabled but regrettably don't have a fluxgate compass so heading vector is not available to me 😢

What a great video! In my cop job, we call those "teachable moments" A real stand-up guy always shares so others may learn. You are that stand-up guy.

Here in Melbourne, Australia the rules don't seem to matter to many boaters. Just like with cars, never a shortage of aggressive assholes driving boats. Dashcams are needed just as much in boats as they are in cars.

I enjoy your videos and you are a lot more current than i am. But as an ex-Destroyer Navigator i was surprised you mentioned so much about speed in the first scenario particularly. Speed changes are hard to detect (though they meet your obligation). Course changes over 15 degrees i personally think are better. It clear what is going on. (Assuming the other vessel has even bothered to maintain a watch at night ). Obviously you picked it up in the last scenario in the meeting situation. That meeting scenario was scary. A lot idiots.

@Boat Training Online. Good video. I sailed ocean going ships (42KDWT to 240KDWT tankers) for years. We used to call manila (less than 1/2" dia.) "Small stuff". We often used 3/8" or 1/2" to secure small gear on deck prior to heavy WX. Would cut it off when needed to get that gear (easier, faster than untying wet manila). Our mooring lines were all High Modular Synthetics (Kevlar is a brand name not a material). Advantage of these was strength and nearly zero stretch-so if one "parted" less chance of injury. Ran lots of small craft too. KISS is important in all aspects of marine operations. I dont think small boat recreational people typically understand the danger of parting lines or pulling a cleat off a deck/gunwale under strain.

Dude. I really appreciate you. Thanks for sharing your wisdom and knowledge. I'm gonna look for you on the water when I get up your way and brag about how safe I am : )

Hey, Capt. Shawn. Glad to get an update from you. Looking forward to the content from you in the near future. Don't put us off too long, or you may lose interest in the process of YouTubing. I hope not. Fair sails and calm water. Regards.

You left out a few minor things, like: In order to have a heading line that compensates for drift and current, you need a heading sensor and a water speed indicator. As far as navigational draft, I have not seen that setting available on chartplotters, but I'll look more into that. On new chartplotters, on the fishing charts, you can change the color of depths. I have yellow set for 2 feet below the keel and red at keel depth. For North, I use both heads up. Close to land, heads up is better. Offshore, in wide-open water, North up is better because at a glance, you can see if you have gone too far off course. It's like using a wind vane for steering.

Lookout for the idiot.

Information sailing good. Coming keep it.

Had a similar "barge" experience but it was underway not being towed. I was running a 35 ft cruiser on the Mississippi and coming back at night...really dark... met a barge at a bridge and couldn't see it. I "felt" something wasn't right and shut down. I edged the channel and found myself mid ship astride the barge before I knew it was there. Scared the daylights out of me.

I use heads up for navigation, right is right, left is left, when planning routes and such, north up, 108k miles, 3300 days on the water, 200 ton USCG merchant marine, should always have a compass

Can't say without knowing where the wind is blowing from. The boat on the starboard tack has the right of way.

Like your videos... Keep them coming..... I have not owned a boat for many years now and getting back into it. These videos are clicking memories that I have forgotten plus all new stuff there is... Thanks

THEY SHOULD MAKE TRAINING MADITORY IF YOUR BUY A BOAT. ANY BOAT

"If on Starboard red appears, tis your duty to keep clear!" One of the things I remember from my 1977 "O" Level in Seamanship.

And Japan

Helpful stuff. Thanks

There are thousands of yahoos who need to watch this, you can't trust the other boat to do the right thing. Right does not mean safe in any vessel traffic.

🎉😊

This one hits home Shawn, well done my friend! In the Command Center we deal with it on a daily basis. Thanks for doing this!

Seems to be solid advice. I'm going to try it on our next outing. Now, let's see your videos about trailering a single engine ONTO a trailer with a T-Top under windy conditions. That what really be something else useful. I appreciate the authoritative and informative videos you produce. They are well made and keep me engaged and entertained.

Wrong!! The boat with the biggest balls, loudest horn and brighter lights takes all the road, f-em all, nobody plays by the rules anymore,

Just a note to Great Lakes boaters- if you're in Canadian waters, you are required by law to be a licensed VHF operator (ROC-M, or equivalent) to broadcast on marine frequencies. The ROC-M certification is quite simple, full of valuable knowledge, and well worth your time.

Another way of thinking Red, Right, Return is going upstream. Rivers like to head to the sea which is “down river” so when you are going against the current Red!Right, Return.

Captain, thank you so very much for this video. For many years ive questioned how the bouy system is laid out in the waterways in the area that I live in. Starting at 5:35 to 11:35 of your video, you just cleared up years of confusion and wrong answers Ive been told. Now that ive watched your video, the lightbulb went off and PRESTO, I totally understand now. Thank you sir!

great video !

I’ve always been interested to know how falling in with waders on and the inflatable pfd. I duck hunt and always say I’m going to try during the summer but have yet to do so. Thanks for highlighting your experience.

So my boat came with cleats at positions 1 & 3… I need to set up cleats at position 2 port & Starboard. Or maybe an eye at position 2 port & Starboard… I have an 18 foot G3 Flat-bottom Aluminum boat. It has a track system on the gunnels. I think an eye would be less obtrusive than a cleat. I’ll have to see what I can come up with. Cheers! From Southeast Texas!

If there 2 millions boats in north America, you should have 3 millions vues because a lot out there don't get it at first view...lol It's good everywhere! Great video.

Another really good video, and don’t disagree with anything you’ve said . . . but, in the right circumstances / room you can get off the dock going forwards, using opposite side aft cleat, you may be already familiar with this technique? But if you’re not, maybe worth finding a ‘spronging off’ video, really useful manoeuvre 😊

Im disabled an on the Tennessee River so if I go in the water getting back on the boat is probably not going to happen. Unless the boat was drifting when it happened or a second person is on the boat to cut the anchor an chase me, I am headed down river away from the boat. And even if my boat had a ladder, its hard to climb one with one hand. So I wear a higher end inflatable meant for off shore racing. It fits tight, has crotch straps an lift points. And a waterproof radio attached. So if I do have someone to throw me a rope an drag me back on board, I am equipped for that. But if not, I swim to shore an radio for help reuniting me an my boat who are probably several miles apart at that point.

Here in Tasmania, if your boat is under 5m, you must wear a life jacket anytime the vessel is under way! I never take mine off, no one on my boat does! A life jacket won’t save you if it’s stored in an inaccessible hatch somewhere!