| Term |
Definition |
| Aft |
In a direction towards the
stern of the craft. |
| Aground |
When a boat has touched the
bottom. |
| Ahead |
The direction in front of the
boat or pleasure craft. |
| Alee |
Away from the direction that
the wind is going in. |
| Astern |
The direction behind the boat
or pleasure craft. |
| Backsplice |
A way in which the rope is
weaved to avoid fraying. |
| Beam |
Refers to the width of a boat. |
| Boom |
The part of a sailboat that
gives the bottom of the sail its shape. |
| Bow |
The front part of a boat. |
| Capsize |
When a boat flips over. |
| Draft |
This is the amount of water
that a boat requires to float freely in the water. |
| Eye
of the Wind |
This is the direction that
the wind is blowing. |
| Hail |
The act of calling another
pleasure craft or boat. |
| Helm |
The steering wheel of a boat. |
| Hull |
This refers to the 'body' of
the boat. |
| Landlocked |
Describing a place which is
surrounded by land. |
| Lay
Up |
To prepare a boat for its winter
storage. |
| Mast |
The vertical part of a sailboat
that gives the sail its shape vetically. |
| Rudder |
A plate which is used to steer
and is attached vertically to the boat. |
| PFD |
Personal Flotation Device. |
| Pleasure
Craft |
A boat, ship or vessel that
is used exclusively for pleasure. A pleasure craft is
not used for any commercial purpose. |
| Port |
When looking forward this is
the left side of the boat. |
| Radio
Beacon |
A transmitter which is stationary
and allows boats to determine their position. |
| Radio
Waves |
Invisible waves which are used
by boats for communication and navigation. |
| Sailboat |
A boat whos primary propulsion
system is wind. |
| Sailcloth |
A fabric which is used in the
construction of sails. |
| Spar |
Any part of a sailboat which
gives the sail its shape (namely the mast and boom). |
| Starboard |
When looking forward this is
the right side of the boat. |
| Stern |
The rear part of the boat. |
| Tanker |
A ship which carries some sort
of liquid cargo. |
| Tether |
A line with shackled ends that
is used to attach the boat to a safety harness of some
sort. |
| Tide |
The rising and lowering of
the water level which occurs in oceans. |
| Underway |
When the craft is in motion
or not moored to something ashore. |
| V-Bottom |
A boat in which the hull is
in the shape of a 'V'. |
| Wake |
The water which is put in motion
after the passage of a boat. |
| Windward |
In the direction that the wind
is travelling. |
| Yacht |
A vessel designed for pleasure,
usually with many amenities. |
| Yaw |
When a boat stears off course. |
