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Glossary

Boating terminology

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A

  • Aboard - On or within the boat
  • Above deck - On the deck of the boat
  • Adrift - Not moored or anchored, sailing free
  • Aground - The bottom of the boat touching or stuck on the ground
  • Ahead - When the boat is moving in a forward direction
  • Alee - Sailing in the opposite direction to the wind
  • Astern - Going backwards, opposite of ahead

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B

  • Batten Down - Secure all loose objects to the deck or in the hull. This instruction may be used if the water becomes rough
  • Beam - The greatest width of the boat
  • Bearing - The angle between an object and a reference direction. Unless otherwise specified, the reference direction is usually the north
  • Below - When someone or something is beneath the deck
  • Bitter End - This term is used to describe the last part of a rope or chain
  • Boot Top - A painted line on the boat, indicating where the water level should ideally be
  • Bow - The foremost point of the hull of the boat
  • Bridge - The area or room where the ship’s navigational controls are stored along with any other equipment needed for the ship to operate
  • Buoy - These are anchored, floating objects that are placed in the water to mark a position or a hazard. They can also be used to moor a boat

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C

  • Cabin - This is where you and your fellow passengers can sit
  • Capsize - When the boat turns over and shows its bottom side
  • Cast Off - To undo all mooring ropes and lines in preparation for sail
  • Chart - Maps used by navigators to plan the route and direct the helmsman
  • Chock - This is a u-shaped fitting found on the side of the boat where the anchor or mooring lines are fed through
  • Cleat - A fitting used to make the lines of the boat secure
  • Clove Hitch - This is a knot that is used for temporarily fastening a line to a spar
  • Cockpit - The boat can be controlled from this part of the boat and it usually provides more protection than the open deck
  • Course - The direction in which the boat is steered
  • Current - The horizontal movement in the water

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D

  • Dead Ahead - When the boat is going straight forward
  • Dead Astern - When the boat is going straight backwards
  • Draft - Refers to the use of suction to remove water from the boat

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E

  • Ebb - The movement of the tide going out to sea

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F

  • Fender - To prevent damage a cushion called a fender is placed between boats or between a boat and the pier
  • Figure eight knot - A knot shaped like the figure eight is used to prevent a line from passing through a fitting
  • Flare - If trouble is experienced on a boat a flare can be used as a distress signal to reveal your location and get the attention of a passing boat
  • Fouled - When a piece of equipment becomes jammed or entangled
  • Freeboard - The vertical distance from the surface of the water to the boats side

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G

  • Galley - An onboard kitchen
  • Gangway - This is the area where people board and disembark the boat
  • Ground Tackle - This is a general term used to describe the anchor and its associated equipment
  • Gunwale - The upper edge of a boats side

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H

  • Helm - The wheel controlling the rudder therefore steering the boat
  • Hitch - This is another type of knot used to secure a rope to another object or another rope
  • Hull - The main body or frame of the boat. It essentially keeps the water from entering the boat and acts as the walls and floor of the vessel

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J

  • Jacobs Ladder - A rope ladder that can be used by passengers to board the boat
  • Jetty/Pier - Usually a wooden structure that projects out from the shore

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K

  • Keel - One of the main longitudinal beams of the hull, which can be extended vertically into the water to provide stability
  • Knot - A measurement of speed. 1 knot is equal to one nautical mile, which is 1851 metres per hour

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L

  • Latitude - The distance north or south of the equator of a point on the earth's surface
  • Lee - The side of the boat that is sheltered from the wind
  • Leeward - Sailing away from direction of the wind
  • Leeway - If the wind or a current moves the boat sideways
  • Line - A rope or cord used aboard the boat
  • Longitude - The distance measured east or west from meridian at Greenwich

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M

  • Mooring - When the boat is secured to a mooring buoy or pier

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O

  • Outboard - A detachable engine that is mounted at the back of the boat
  • Overboard - When a passenger or object falls over the side and out of the boat

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P

  • Planning - When a boat moves over the top of the water rather than through it
  • Port - When looking towards the front of the boat, port is the left hand side of the boat

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R

  • Rudder - Usually found at the stern of the boat, a rudder is a vertical plate or board that is used to steer the boat
  • Running lights - Navigational lights that are required to be used when a boat is in motion between sunset and sunrise

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S

  • Screw - The propeller of a boat
  • Scuppers - Small holes positioned around the boat and deck to drain any water
  • Sea Cock - A valve found in the hull, which is a shut off point between the vessels interior and the water
  • Sea Room - When a safe distance from the shore and other hazards is achieved
  • Set - Direction toward where the current is flowing
  • Sounding - used to measure the depth of the water
  • Spar - It is a rounded timber or metal pole used on a boat, for example masts and booms
  • Spinnaker - A large, light sail used in downward sailing
  • Spring Line - A rope used to prevent the boat from moving while it is moored
  • Squall - A sudden wind that is often followed by rain
  • Square Knot - A type of knot used to secure two lines that are a similar size, also known as a reef knot
  • Starboard - The right side of the boat when looking forward on the boat
  • Stern - The rear part of the boat, opposite to the stem

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T

  • Tide - The rise and fall of the sea, which is caused by gravitational attraction of the moon and sun
  • Tiller - Usually a handle or bar used for turning the rudder or the outboard motor

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U

  • Underway - When the boat is moving

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W

  • Wake - When a boat passes it causes waves, which are left behind
  • Way - Movement of the boat through the water
  • Windward - Sail towards the direction from which the wind is coming

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