Boating Terminology
It is important that everyone onboard speaks the same nautical language. Here is a list of common boating terms.
| Abaft | Aft (or abaft): at, or towards, the stern or after part of a ship, the opposite of the bow
e.g. Abaft the beam |
| Aft | Towards, at, or near the stern
e.g. I’m going aft |
| Amidships | The longitudinal centerline of a ship, i.e. in the vicinity of the mid length of a vessel as distinguished from the ends |
| Anode | An electrolyte carrying a positive charge |
| Beam | The maximum breadth of the hull |
| Berth | Where a vessel is docked or tied up |
| Bilge | Inside the bottom of a vessel’s hull where water collects |
| Bow | The forward end of a vessel |
| Broach | When a boat running downwind slews broadside to the wind and heels dangerously. It is caused by heavy following seas or helmspersons’ error. |
| Bulkhead | A term applied to the vertical partition walls that divide the interior of a vessel into compartments or rooms |
| Chine | Abrupt change in the transverse shape where a vessel’s side and bottom come together |
| Cleat | A fitting having two arms or horns around which ropes may be made fast |
| Derrick | A device for hoisting and lowering heavy weights, cargo, stores, etc. |
| Displacement Hull | A hull that moves through water, displacing a weight of water equal to it’s own weight |
| Dock | A place for mooring a vessel, usually between two piers |
| Draft or Draught | The depth of the vessel below the water line, measured vertically to the lowest part of the hull, propeller, or other reference point |
| Even Keel | A ship is said to be on an even Keel when the Keel is horizontal |
| Fender | The term applied to devices built into or hung over the sides of a vessel to prevent rubbing or chafing against other vessels or piers |
| Founder | Sink or run aground |
| Freeboard | The distance from the water line to the upper surface of the boat where water can enter |
| Gangway | A passageway, side shell opening, or ladder used for boarding or leaving a vessel |
| Gunwale | Top edge of a vessel’s side |
| Head | The toilet |
| Helm | The wheel or tiller controlling the rudder or outboard motor |
| Hull | The structural body of a vessel |
| Keel | The main backbone of the boat to which a ballast keel is bolted or through which the centre-board passes |
| Knot | 1 Nautical mile per hour (One nautical mile = 1852 metres |
| Lee | The side away from the wind (comes from lee meaning ‘place without wind’) |
| Mooring Buoy | A floating structure firmly anchored to the bottom and to which a vessel may moor |
| Nautical Mile | 1 nautical mile is a nautical measurement of distance 1.85 kilometres
|
| Planing Hull | A type of hull shaped to glide easily across the water at high speed |
| Poop | A superstructure fitted to the after end of the upper deck |
| Port Side | The left hand side of a vessel when looking forward (red light)
|
| Quartering Sea | A series of waves approaching a vessel at about 45 degrees off the bow or stern
|
| Rigging | Chains, wire ropes, fibre lines, and associated fittings and accessories used to support masts and booms |
| Rudder | A device used to steer a vessel |
| Scuppers | Drains from decks to carry off rain or sea water |
| Shoal Water | Shallow water |
| Spring Line | Spring lines are docking lines that lead in a diagonal direction relative to the centerline of the boat. Spring lines are named by the way the lead from the boat to the pier and the point of attachment on your boat. |
| Starboard Side | The right hand side of a vessel when looking forward (Green light) |
| Stern | Rear or back of boat (aft end of vessel) |
| Stow | To put away. To stow cargo in a hold |
| Transom | The surface that forms the stern of a vessel |
| Windlass | The machine used to hoist and lower anchors |
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