- A -

ABAFT - Toward the rear (stern) of the boat. Behind.

ABEAM - At right angles to the keel of the boat, but not on the boat.

AFT - Toward the stern of the boat.

AIDS TO NAVIGATION - Artificial objects to supplement natural landmarks indicating safe and unsafe waters.

ALEE - Away from the direction of the wind. Opposite of windward.

ATHWARTSHIPS - At right angles to the centerline of the boat; rowboat seats are generally athwart ships.

AWEIGH - The position of anchor as it is raised clear of the bottom.

- B -

BEAM - The greatest width of the boat.

BEARING - The direction of an object expressed either as a true bearing as shown on the chart, or as a bearing relative to the heading of the boat.

BIGHT - The part of the rope or line, between the end and the standing part, on which a knot is formed.

BILGE - The interior of the hull below the floor boards.

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.

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.

BRIGHTWORK - Varnished woodwork and/or polished metal.

BUOY - An anchored float used for marking a position on the water or a hazard or a shoal and for mooring.

- C -

CAPSIZE - To turn over.

CAST OFF - To let go.

CHART - A map for use by navigators.

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.

COAMING - A vertical piece around the edge of a cockpit, hatch, etc. to prevent water on deck from running below.

COURSE - The direction in which a boat is steered.

CURRENT - The horizontal movement of water.

- D -

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.

DOCK - A protected water area in which vessels are moored.The term is often used to denote a pier or a wharf.

DOLPHIN - A group of piles driven close together and bound with wire cables into a single structure.

DRAFT - The depth of water a boat draws.

- E -

EBB - A receding current.

- F -

FATHOM - Six feet.

FENDER - A cushion, placed between boats, or between a boat and a pier, to prevent damage.

FLARE - The outward curve of a vessel's sides near the bow. A distress signal.

FLOOD - A incoming current.

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.

- G -

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.

GRAB RAILS - Hand-hold fittings mounted on cabin tops and sides for personal safety when moving around the boat.

GUNWALE - The upper edge of a boat's sides.

- H -

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.

HELM - The wheel or tiller controlling the rudder.

HELMSPERSON - The person who steers the boat.

HULL - The main body of a vessel.

- I -

INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY - ICW: bays, rivers, and canals along the coasts (such as the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts), connected so that vessels may travel without going into the sea.

- J -

JETTY - A structure, usually masonry, projecting out from the shore; a jetty may protect a harbor entrance.

- K -

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.

- L -

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.

LINE - Rope and cordage used aboard a vessel.

LONGITUDE - The distance in degrees east or west of the meridian at Greenwich, England.

- M -

MIDSHIP - Approximately in the location equally distant from the bow and stern.

MOORING - An arrangement for securing a boat to a mooring buoy or a pier.

- N -

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.

- O -

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.

- P -

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.

PORT - The left side of a boat looking forward. A harbor.

- R -

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.

RUN - To allow a line to feed freely.

RUNNING LIGHTS - Lights required to be shown on boats underway between sundown and sunup.

- S -

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 ROOM - A safe distance from the shore or other hazards.

SECURE - To make fast.

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.

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.

STARBOARD - The right side of a boat when looking forward.

STERN - The after part of the boat.

STOW - To put an item in its proper place.

- T -

TIDE - The periodic rise and fall of water level in the oceans.

TRANSOM - The stern cross-section of a square sterned boat.

TRIM - Fore and aft balance of a boat.

- U -

UNDERWAY - Vessel in motion, i.e., when not moored, at anchor, or aground.

- V -

V BOTTOM - A hull with the bottom section in the shape of a "V".

- W -

WAKE - Moving waves, track or path that a boat leaves behind it, when moving across the waters.

WAY - Movement of a vessel through the water such as headway, sternway or leeway.

WINDWARD - Toward the direction from which the wind is coming.

- Y -

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.

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