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Episode Show Notes
Captain Harley Hunt is the founder of How To Boating, teaching fundamental boating skills, navigation, and docking procedures through social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. With experience as a dive boat captain in Key West and yacht captain in Fort Lauderdale, Harley has built a following by breaking down complex maritime knowledge into accessible, practical lessons. In this conversation, he reveals the most common mistakes recreational boaters make that put them in danger, shares the navigation fundamentals that every captain should master before leaving the dock, and explains why understanding your boat's pivot point can transform your docking confidence. Whether you're a seasoned captain or just getting started, this episode delivers the kind of practical knowledge that keeps you safe and confident on the water.
What are the most important boating fundamentals every captain should know?
Every captain should master navigation basics including understanding navigation aids, chart reading, and situational awareness on the water. Docking fundamentals require knowing your boat's pivot point and how wind and current affect your vessel. Safety essentials include proper use of VHF radio, understanding right-of-way rules, and maintaining awareness of weather conditions and other vessels.
Who is Captain Harley Hunt?
Captain Harley Hunt is the founder of How To Boating, a platform dedicated to teaching fundamental boating skills through social media instruction. He previously worked as a dive boat captain in Key West and as a yacht captain in Fort Lauderdale, gaining extensive experience in vessel operation and maritime education before launching his educational content business.
Title Sponsor
This episode is brought to you by Star brite, the same marine care products that keep boats like Harley's and Tom's running smoothly and looking their best. When you're teaching boating fundamentals, proper vessel maintenance matters.
From Dive Boats to Digital Teaching
Harley Hunt's journey into boating education didn't start with a business plan—it started with hands-on experience running dive boats in the Keys and yachts in South Florida. His time as a working captain exposed him to the real-world challenges that recreational boaters face, from understanding navigation aids to mastering docking in tight marina slips. When he launched How To Boating on social media, he brought that practical experience to thousands of boaters who were hungry for straightforward instruction without the intimidation factor. The transition from working captain to digital educator revealed something important about how people actually learn maritime skills. Harley explains how his captain experience shaped his teaching approach in the opening minutes of the episode.
The Navigation Fundamentals Most Boaters Skip
Ask most recreational boaters about navigation, and they'll tell you they rely on GPS and chart plotters. But Harley reveals that understanding basic navigation aids—the markers, buoys, and channel systems that have guided mariners for generations—remains essential even in the digital age. He breaks down why knowing how to read these aids can keep you out of trouble when electronics fail or when you're entering unfamiliar waters. The conversation goes deep into what the different markers mean, how to interpret them in various waterways, and why situational awareness matters more than any piece of technology on your boat. There's a critical difference between following a line on a screen and actually understanding where you are and what's around you. The full navigation fundamentals discussion starts at the early part of the conversation.
Hear Harley break down the navigation mistakes that get recreational boaters in trouble
Mastering Your Boat's Pivot Point
If there's one concept that transforms how confidently you handle your boat, it's understanding the pivot point. Harley explains that every vessel rotates around a specific point—typically about one-third back from the bow—and once you understand this, docking becomes dramatically less stressful. Most boaters never learn this fundamental principle, which is why they struggle in tight spaces and blame their lack of docking skills on everything except the real issue: they don't know how their boat actually moves. The conversation covers how to find your boat's pivot point, how wind and current affect it, and why practicing this concept in open water before attempting a crowded marina can save you from expensive mistakes and embarrassing moments. Harley shares specific techniques for using this knowledge to your advantage. The pivot point masterclass and docking fundamentals start midway through the episode.
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VHF Radio Protocols and On-Water Communication
Having a VHF radio on your boat means nothing if you don't know how to use it properly. Harley walks through the essential radio protocols that every boater should know—from understanding which channels to use for different situations to knowing the proper language and etiquette for marine communication. This isn't just about following rules; it's about safety and being able to communicate effectively in emergencies or when coordinating with other vessels. The discussion covers the most common radio mistakes boaters make, when to use hailing channels versus working channels, and why practicing radio communication before you actually need it can make all the difference. There's also insight into how commercial captains use the radio differently than recreational boaters and what we can learn from that. The VHF radio fundamentals and communication protocols are discussed in the latter part of the conversation.
This conversation goes deep into the fundamentals that make you a better captain.
From navigation to docking to radio communication—practical knowledge you can use immediately.
Key Takeaways
- • Understanding your boat's pivot point—approximately one-third back from the bow—transforms docking from stressful to manageable
- • Navigation fundamentals including reading markers and buoys remain essential even in the age of GPS and electronic charts
- • Proper VHF radio protocols aren't just etiquette—they're critical safety knowledge that every boater should practice before needing them
- • How To Boating grew from Harley's hands-on captain experience in Key West and Fort Lauderdale, bringing real-world lessons to social media
- • Wind and current awareness isn't advanced knowledge—it's fundamental to every maneuver you make on the water
- • Situational awareness and understanding right-of-way rules prevent the majority of on-water incidents and near-misses
Final Thoughts from Tom
I've been around boats my entire life, and I still learned things from this conversation with Harley. What I appreciate most is how he breaks down concepts that seem complicated—like pivot points and navigation aids—into practical knowledge you can actually use the next time you're on the water. Too many boating resources either assume you already know everything or they dumb things down so much that you don't learn anything useful.
Harley hits that sweet spot of being educational without being condescending. His experience as a working captain gives him credibility, but it's his ability to teach that makes How To Boating valuable. Whether you're a weekend warrior or someone who spends every possible day on the water, the fundamentals he covers in this episode will make you a more confident and safer boater.
If you own a boat or spend time on one, this episode is worth your time. The navigation discussion alone could keep you out of trouble, and the docking techniques will save you stress and potentially money. Listen to the whole thing—you'll come away with knowledge you can apply immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is How To Boating?
How To Boating is an educational platform founded by Captain Harley Hunt that teaches fundamental boating skills through social media content on Instagram and TikTok. The platform covers navigation, docking procedures, safety protocols, and maritime knowledge for recreational boaters.
What is a boat's pivot point and why does it matter?
A boat's pivot point is the location around which the vessel rotates during turns and maneuvers, typically positioned approximately one-third of the way back from the bow. Understanding this point is crucial for docking confidence and maneuvering in tight spaces, as it determines how your boat responds to steering inputs.
What experience does Captain Harley Hunt have?
Captain Harley Hunt worked as a dive boat captain in Key West and as a yacht captain in Fort Lauderdale before founding How To Boating. This hands-on experience operating vessels in various conditions and teaching passengers safety procedures informs his educational approach to boating fundamentals.
Why are navigation fundamentals still important with modern GPS?
Understanding traditional navigation aids like markers and buoys remains essential because electronics can fail, and situational awareness requires knowing how to interpret the physical markers that define channels and hazards. These fundamentals provide backup knowledge and deeper understanding of waterway navigation beyond following a line on a screen.
What are the most important VHF radio skills for boaters?
Essential VHF radio skills include knowing which channels to use for different situations, understanding proper marine communication protocols and language, and practicing radio use before emergencies arise. Proper radio communication is a safety fundamental that every boater should master for both routine and emergency situations on the water.
Related Episodes
Episode: Fishing Knots and Rigging Fundamentals
Like navigation and docking, knot-tying is a fundamental skill that builds confidence on the water
Episode: Marine Systems and Boat Care
Understanding your vessel's systems is as important as knowing how to operate it safely
Episode: Weather Awareness and On-Water Safety
Situational awareness extends to understanding weather patterns and making safe decisions
Sponsors
Star brite
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People Mentioned
Captain Harley Hunt – Founder of How To Boating, former dive boat captain in Key West and yacht captain in Fort Lauderdale
Free Resource
Download the Tom Rowland Podcast Knot Guide – essential knots every angler and boater should know.
About this Guest
Captain Harley Hunt
Captain Harley Hunt is the founder of How To Boating, an educational platform that teaches fundamental boating skills through engaging social media content on Instagram and TikTok. With hands-on experience as a dive boat captain in Key West and a yacht captain in Fort Lauderdale, Harley brings real-world maritime knowledge to recreational boaters. His teaching approach breaks down complex concepts like navigation aids, docking procedures, VHF radio protocols, and boat handling into accessible, practical lessons. Through How To Boating, he's helped thousands of boaters gain confidence and competence on the water by focusing on the fundamentals that matter most for safety and enjoyment.
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About this Guest