|
Glossary Term |
Glossary Definition |
| ABAFT |
Toward the rear of the boat. Behind. |
| ABEAM |
At right angles to the keel of the boat, but not
on the boat. |
| ABOARD |
On or within the boat. |
| ABOVE DECK |
On the deck. |
| ABREAST |
Side by side; by the side of. |
| ADRIFT |
Loose, not on moorings or towline. |
| AFT |
Toward the rear of the boat. |
| AGROUND |
Touching or fast to the bottom. |
| AHEAD |
In a forward direction. |
| AIDS TO NAVIGATION |
Markers on land or sea which are located to
enable navigators to avoid danger and fix their position |
| ALEE |
Away from the direction of the wind. Opposite
of windward. |
| ALOFT |
Above the deck of the boat. |
| AMIDSHIPS |
In or toward the center of the boat. |
| ANCHOR LINE |
A line used to hold a vessel fast to the anchor |
| ANCHORAGE |
A suitable place for anchoring in relation to the
wind, seas and bottom. |
| ASTERN |
Towards the back of the boat, opposite of ahead. |
| ATHWARTSHIPS |
At right angles to the centerline of the boat. |
| AWEIGH |
Off the bottom of an anchor |
| BATTEN DOWN |
Secure hatches and loose objects both within
the hull and on deck. |
| BEAM |
The greatest width of the boat. |
| BEARING |
The direction of an object (vessel, buoy, etc.)
from an observer; bearings can be visual, or by radio or radar. |
| BELOW |
Beneath the deck. |
| BIGHT |
The part of the rope or line, between the
end and the standing part, on which a knot is formed. |
| BILGE |
The lowest point of a vessel's interior hull. |
| BILGE BLOWER |
The electric fan that blows gasoline fumes
out of the bilge. |
| BITTER END |
The extreme end of any line. The inboard end
of the anchor rode. |
| BLOWER |
A device that blows fuel vapors trapped inside
the vessel to the outside. Blowers should be run for about 5 minutes prior to starting
a boat's inboard engine to reduce the risk of explosion. |
| BOAT |
A fairly indefinite term. A waterborne vehicle
smaller than a ship. One definition is a small craft carried aboard a ship. |
| BOAT HOOK |
A short shaft with a fitting at one end shaped
to facilitate use in putting a line over a piling, recovering an object dropped overboard,
or in pushing or fending off. |
| BOOT TOP |
A painted line that indicates the designed
waterline. |
| BOW |
The forward part of a boat. |
| BOW LINE |
A docking line leading from the bow. |
| BOWLINE |
A knot used to form a temporary loop in the
end of a line. |
| BRIDGE |
The location from which a vessel is steered and
its speed controlled. "Control Station" is really a more appropriate term for small craft. |
| BRIDLE |
A line or wire secured at both ends in order
to distribute a strain between two points. |
| BRIGHTWORK |
Varnished woodwork and/or polished metal. |
| BULKHEAD |
A vertical partition separating compartments. |
| BUOY |
An anchored float used for marking a position
on the water or a hazard or a shoal and for mooring. |
| BURDENED VESSEL |
That vessel which, according to the applicable
Navigation Rules, must give way to the privileged vessel. The term has been superseded
by the term "give-way". |
| CABIN |
A compartment for passengers or crew. |
| CAPACITY PLATE |
A placard permanently mounted on the stern
describing the total weight limit allowed onboard. Includes people, engine, fuel &
gear that can be safely carried. |
| CAPSIZE |
To turn over. |
| CARBURETOR BACK FLAME
ARRESTOR |
A safety device made of a mesh construction to
prevent explosion from engine exhaust backfire. |
| CAST OFF |
Undo mooring lines in preparation for departure. |
| CATAMARAN |
A twin-hulled boat, with hulls side by side. |
| CHAFING GEAR |
Tubing or cloth wrapping used to protect a line
from chafing on a rough surface. |
| CHART |
A sea going map for use by navigators. |
| CHINE |
The intersection of the bottom and sides
of a flat or v-bottomed boat. |
| CHOCK |
A fitting through which anchor or mooring
lines are led. Usually U-shaped to reduce chafe. |
| CLEAT |
A fitting to which lines are made fast. The
classic cleat to which lines are belayed is approximately anvil-shaped. |
| CLOVE HITCH |
A knot for temporarily fastening a line to a
spar or piling. |
| COAMING |
A vertical piece around the edge of a cockpit,
hatch, etc. to prevent water on deck from running below. |
| COCKPIT |
An opening in the deck from which the boat
is handled. |
| COIL |
To lay a line down in circular turns. |
| COURSE |
The direction in which a boat is steered. |
| CUDDY |
A small shelter cabin in a boat. |
| CURRENT |
The horizontal movement of water. |
| DANGER ZONE |
The area encompassed from dead ahead of
your boat to just abaft your starboard beam. You must stand clear of any boat in
the "danger zone". |
| DEAD AHEAD |
Directly ahead. |
| DEAD ASTERN |
Directly aft. |
| DECK |
A permanent covering over a compartment,
hull or any part thereof. |
| DINGHY |
A small open boat. A dinghy is often used as
a tender for a larger craft. |
| DISPLACEMENT |
The weight of water displaced by a floating
vessel, thus, a boat's weight. |
| DISPLACEMENT HULL |
A type of hull that plows through the water,
displacing a weight of water equal to its own weight, even when more power is added.
|
| DOCK |
A protected water area in which vessels are
secured. The term is often used incorrectly to denote a pier or a wharf. The dock is
the water adjacent to a pier or wharf. |
| DOLPHIN |
A group of piles driven close together and
bound with wire cables into a single structure. |
| DOWNWIND |
A direction leeward, with the wind. |
| DRAFT |
The minimum depth of water in which a vessel
will float. |
| EBB |
A receding current. |
| FATHOM |
Six feet. |
| FENDER |
A cushion, placed between boats, or
between a boat and a pier, to prevent damage. |
| FIGURE EIGHT KNOT |
A knot in the form of a figure eight, placed
in the end of a line to prevent the line from passing through a grommet or a block.
|
| FLARE |
A pyrotechnic device used to signal a distress.
The outward curve of a vessel's sides near the bow. |
| FLOOD |
A incoming current. |
| FLOORBOARDS |
The surface of the cockpit on which the crew
stand. |
| FLUKE |
The part of an anchor that is designed to dig
in to the bottom. |
| FOLLOWING SEA |
An overtaking sea that comes from astern. |
| FORE-AND-AFT |
In a line parallel to the keel. |
| FOREPEAK |
A compartment in the bow of a small boat. |
| FORWARD |
Toward the bow of the boat. |
| FOULED |
Any piece of equipment that is jammed or
entangled, or dirtied. |
| FREEBOARD |
The minimum vertical distance from the surface
of the water to the gunwale. |
| GALLEY |
The kitchen area of a boat. |
| GANGWAY |
The area of a ship's side where people
board and disembark. |
| GEAR |
A general term for ropes, blocks, tackle and
other equipment. |
| GIVE-WAY VESSEL |
A term used to describe the vessel which
must yield in meeting, crossing, or overtaking situations. |
| GLOBAL POSITIONING
SYSTEM (GPS) |
A form of position finding using radio
transmissions from satellites with sophisticated on-board automatic equipment. |
| GRAB RAILS> |
Hand-hold fittings mounted on cabin tops
and sides for personal safety when moving around the boat. |
| GROUND TACKLE |
A collective term for the anchor and its
associated gear. |
| GUNWALE |
The upper edge of a boat's sides. |
| HARD CHINE |
An abrupt intersection between the hull side
and the hull bottom of a boat so constructed. |
| HATCH |
An opening in a boat's deck fitted with a
watertight cover. |
| HEAD |
A marine toilet. Also the upper corner of a
triangular sail. |
| HEADING |
The direction in which a vessel's bow points
at any given time. |
| HEADWAY |
The forward motion of a boat. Opposite of
sternway. |
| HELM |
The wheel or tiller controlling the rudder. |
| HELMSPERSON |
The person who steers the boat. |
| HITCH |
A knot used to secure a rope to another
object or to another rope, or to form a loop or a noose in a rope. |
| HOLD |
A compartment below deck in a large vessel,
used solely for carrying cargo. |
| HORSEPOWER |
The equivalent of a lift of 550 pounds one foot
in one second. |
| HULL |
The main body of a vessel. |
| INBOARD |
More toward the center of a vessel; inside; a
motor fitted inside a boat. |
| INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY |
ICW: bays, rivers, and canals along the coasts
connected so that vessels may travel without going into the sea. |
| JACOBS LADDER |
A rope ladder, lowered from the deck, as when
pilots or passengers come aboard. |
| JETTY |
A structure, usually masonry, projecting out
from the shore; a jetty may protect a harbor entrance. |
| KEEL |
The centerline of a boat running fore and aft;
the backbone of a vessel. |
| KNOT |
A measure of speed equal to one nautical
mile (6076 feet) per hour. |
| KNOT |
A fastening made by interweaving rope to
form a stopper, to enclose or bind an object, to form a loop or a noose, to tie a
small rope to an object, or to tie the ends of two small ropes together. |
| LATITUDE |
The distance north or south of the equator
measured and expressed in degrees. |
| LAZARETTE |
A storage space in a boat's stern area. |
| LEE |
The side sheltered from the wind. |
| LEEWARD |
The direction away from the wind. Opposite
of windward. |
| LEEWAY |
The sideways movement of the boat caused
by either wind or current. |
| LINE |
Rope and cordage used aboard a vessel. |
| LOCK |
A structure having movable gates for ships and
boats to pass up and down to different water levels in a canal, river, or tidal basin. |
| LOG |
A record of courses or operation. Also, a device
to measure speed. |
| LONGITUDE |
The distance in degrees east or west of the
meridian at Greenwich, England. |
| LUBBER'S LINE |
A mark or permanent line on a compass indicating
the direction forward parallel to the keel when properly installed. |
| MARLINESPIKE |
A tool for opening the strands of a rope while splicing. |
| MIDSHIP |
Approximately in the location equally distant
from the bow and stern. |
| MONOHULL |
Single hull boat in contrast to a multihull such
as a catamaran or a trimaran. |
| MOORING |
An arrangement for securing a boat to a
mooring buoy or a pier. |
| MOORING LINES |
Wire, manila, or nylon rope used to secure a
ship; named from forward aft: number one bow line, number two after bow spring,
number three forward bow spring, number four breast line, number five after quarter
spring, number 6 forward quarter spring, number seven stern line. |
| NAUTICAL MILE |
One minute of latitude; approximately 6076
feet - about 1/8 longer than the statute mile of 5280 feet. |
| NAVIGATION |
The art and science of conducting a boat
safely from one point to another. |
| NAVIGATION RULES |
The regulations governing the movement of
vessels in relation to each other, generally called steering and sailing rules. |
| OUTBOARD |
Toward or beyond the boat's sides. A detachable
engine mounted on a boat's stern. |
| OVERBOARD |
Over the side or out of the boat. |
| OVERTAKING |
Said to happen when on vessel is passing
another from behind. |
| PIER |
A loading platform extending at an angle from
the shore. |
| PILE |
A wood, metal or concrete pole driven into the
bottom. Craft may be made fast to a pile; it may be used to support a pier (see PILING)
or a float. |
| PILING |
Support, protection for wharves, piers etc.;
constructed of piles (see PILE) |
| PILOTING |
Navigation by use of visible references, the
depth of the water, etc. |
| PLANING |
A boat is said to be planing when it is essentially
moving over the top of the water rather than through the water. |
| PLANING HULL |
A type of hull shaped to glide easily across
the water at high speed. |
| PORT |
The left side of a boat looking forward. A harbor. |
| POWER WINCH |
A powered device on deck, on a spar or
otherwise mounted which is used to haul a line. |
| PRIVELEGED VESSEL |
A vessel which, according to the applicable
Navigation Rule, has right-of-way (this term has been superseded by the term
"stand-on"). |
| QUARTER |
The sides of a boat aft of amidships. |
| QUARTERING SEA |
Sea coming on a boat's quarter. |
| RIGGING |
The wire rope, rods, lines, hardware, and other
equipment that support and control the spars and sails; standing rigging is
semi-permanent once set up; running rigging is continually adjusted as the sails
are hoisted, doused, trimmed, or reefed. |
| RODE |
The anchor line and/or chain. |
| ROPE |
In general, cordage as it is purchased at the
store. When it comes aboard a vessel and is put to use it becomes line. |
| RUDDER |
A vertical plate or board for steering a boat. |
| RUN |
To allow a line to feed freely. |
| RUNNING LIGHTS |
Lights required to be shown on boats underway
between sundown and sunup, and during periods of reduced visibility. |
| SCOPE |
Technically, the ratio of length of anchor rode
in use to the vertical distance from the bow of the vessel to the bottom of the water.
Usually seven to one for calm weather and more scope in storm conditions. |
| SCREW |
A boat's propeller. |
| SCUPPERS |
Drain holes on deck, in the toe rail, or in bulwarks
or (with drain pipes) in the deck itself. |
| SEA COCK |
A through hull valve, a shut off on a plumbing or
drain pipe between the vessel's interior and the sea. |
| SEAMANSHIP |
All the arts and skills of boat handling, ranging
from maintenance and repairs to piloting, sail handling, marlinespike work, and rigging.
|
| SEA ROOM |
A safe distance from the shore or other hazards. |
| SEAWORTHY |
A boat or a boat's gear able to meet the usual
sea conditions. |
| SECURE |
To make fast. |
| SET |
Direction toward which the current is flowing. |
| SHIP |
A larger vessel usually thought of as being
used for ocean travel. A vessel able to carry a "boat" on board. |
| SLACK |
Not fastened; loose. Also, to loosen. |
| SOLE |
Cabin or saloon floor. Timber extensions
on the bottom of the rudder. Also the molded fiberglass deck of a cockpit. |
| SOUNDING |
A measurement of the depth of water. |
| SPRING LINE |
A pivot line used in docking, undocking, or
to prevent the boat from moving forward or astern while made fast to a dock. |
| SQUALL |
A sudden, violent wind often accompanied by
rain. |
| SQUARE KNOT |
A knot used to join two lines of similar size.
Also called a reef knot. |
| STANDING PART |
That part of a line which is made fast. The
main part of a line as distinguished from the bight and the end. |
| STAND-ON VESSEL |
That vessel which has right-of-way during a
meeting, crossing, or overtaking situation. |
| STARBOARD |
The right side of a boat when looking forward. |
| STEM |
The forward most part of the bow. |
| STERN |
The back part of the boat. |
| STERN LINE |
A docking line leading from the stern. |
| STOW |
To put an item in its proper place. |
| SWAMP |
To fill with water, but not settle to the bottom. |
| TENDER |
A small boat accompanying a yacht or other
pleasure vessel, used to transport persons, gear, and supplies; sometimes called a
dinghy. Most commonly refers to one who tends to a drawbrdige. Boaters
contact the bridge tender to get the bridge raised so they can pass under. |
| THROTTLE |
Regulates the flow of fuel, and thus the speed,
of an internal combustion engine. |
| THWARTSHIPS |
At right angles to the centerline of the boat. |
| TIDE |
The periodic rise and fall of water level in the
oceans. |
| TILLER |
A bar or handle for turning a boat's rudder or
an outboard motor. |
| TOPSIDES |
The sides of a vessel between the waterline
and the deck; sometimes referring to onto or above the deck. |
| TOWING |
Assisting a vesel unable to maneuver by
pulling, pushing or towing alongside. |
| TRANSOM |
The stern cross-section of a square sterned boat.
|
| TRIM |
Fore and aft balance of a boat. To set and
adjust sails. |
| UNDERWAY |
Vessel in motion, i.e., when not moored, at
anchor, or aground. |
| UNDERWRITER'S
LABORATORIES |
One of the chief testing organizations, helping
to set US safety standards. |
| V BOTTOM |
A hull with the bottom section in the shape
of a "V". |
| WAKE |
Moving waves, track or path that a boat
leaves behind it, when moving across the waters. |
| WATERLINE |
The imaginary line drawn on the hull by the
water's surface where a boat settles when loaded normally. |
| WAY |
Movement of a vessel through the water such
as headway, sternway or leeway. |
| WINDWARD |
Toward the direction from which the wind is coming. |
| YACHT |
A pleasure vessel, a pleasure boat; in American
usage the idea of size and luxury is conveyed, either sail or power. |
| YAW |
To swing or steer off course, as when running
with a quartering sea. |
