Sailing, Boating, Nautical Terminology

What is a .......  and what does it mean?

Parts of the boat, ship or yacht:

Bow - The front or pointy end of the boat.

Stern - The back or blunt end of the boat.

Port side - The left hand side of the boat when you are in the boat facing forward. Note: Port Wine is Red and so is the navigation light shown on the port beam of a vessel underway at night, "Port" is also a four letter word and so is the word "left) To remember this "Port is Red Wine Left Over"

Starboard side - The right hand side of the boat when you are in the boat facing forward.

Hull - The outside, underside of your boat.  The bit that touches the water.

Deck - The floor

Gunwale - The top edge of the sides of your boat.

Beam - The widest part of your boat.

Amidships - The centre of your boat

Athwartship - across the centre of your boat

Thwart - The bench seat that goes across your boat (in a tinny or small boat).

Centreline - An imaginary line down the centre of your boat from the bow to the middle of your stern.

Keel - Along the underside of the hull down the centreline

Freeboard - The height of your boat from the waterline to the top of the side of your boat.

Draught - The amount of your boat from the waterline to the lowest part of your boat in the water.  (how deep in the water is she or how much water do you need to float.)

Transom - The vertical 'wall' at the back of your boat where the motor is bolted on. (part of the hull)

Cabin - The enclosed (or partially enclosed) living area of your ship.

Heads - The toilet.

Head - The forward part of the boat, also the ship's head is the direction you are traveling or the course you are steering.

Headway - Movement through the water in a forward  direction.

Galley - The kitchen.

Bulkhead - The walls.

Hatch - An opening in the deck to allow access to the accommodation area.

Ropes

There are many different words used to describe ropes which often depend on the job they do. Generally, ropes on a sailing yacht are referred to as "lines".

Painter - The rope attached to the bow of your boat that you hold on to so the boat does not drift away when you launch her.

Rode - The length of rope between the bow of your boat and the chain that holds the anchor.

Sheets - The ropes used to adjust sails in and out so as to catch the best breeze.

Halyards - The ropes (steel & fibre) that are used to raise and lower sails and flags.

Warp - Heavy ropes used for mooring or towing

Twine - Light rope used for sewing or binding (whipping).

Bight - a loop in a rope

Mooring lines - Rope used to secure a boat at a dock, jetty or marina berth.

Springs or Springers - Rope used to fasten a boat to prevent it from moving forward or backwards.

Ground Tackle - A general term used to describe all the gear used when anchoring. Includes rope, chain, cable and anchor.

Direction away from the ship

AHEAD - Over the bow or directly in front of the boat.

ASTERN - Directly behind the boat over the stern.

ABEAM - Out to the sides of the boat on either side.

STARBOARD BEAM - Out to the side off the Starboard side of the boat.

PORT BEAM - Out to the side off the Port side of the boat.

STARBOARD BOW - 45 degrees from the bow, around the Starboard side. (half way between ahead and abeam)

PORT BOW - 45 degrees from the bow, around the Port side. (half way between ahead and abeam)

STARBOARD 1/4 - 45 degrees forward of dead astern on the Starboard side. (halfway between astern and abeam)

PORT 1/4 - 45 degrees forward of dead astern on the Port side. (halfway between astern and abeam)

When in a man-overboard retrieval situation, it is common to use the position of the numbers on a clock as they are relative to the sides of your boat to indicate direction of the person in the water.  For example directly ahead would be 12 o'clock, off the Starboard Beam would be three o'clock.  Astern is 6 o'clock and off the Port Beam is 9 o'clock.  This system is quicker and simpler when in this situation as the boat is continuously changing direction as the skipper brings her back around to retrieve the person in the water.