Parts of a Boat & Nautical Terms Flashcards
Backstay
15
A piece of standing rigging that runs from the mast to either the transom or rear quarter, counteracting the forestay and jib. It is an important sail trim control and has a direct effect on the shape of the mainsail and the headsail.
Main Sail
1
A sail rigged on the main mast of a sailing vessel
Rope Tidy Bag
Storage Bag for Ropes to Keep Cockpit Tidy
Cockpit Locker
Storage compartment in the cockpit
Kedge Anchor
A kedge anchor is the secondary anchor onboard a yacht.
The primary anchor is usually located on the bow on a bow roller or, alternatively, in the anchor locker. Kedge anchors are usually one size down from the yacht’s primary anchor and as such they are generally easier to use and recover.
Sheet winch
A mechanical device that is used to pull in (wind up) or let out (wind out) a rope attached to a sail
Lifebuoy
The lifebuoy is usually ring- or horseshoe-shaped and has a connecting line allowing the casualty to be pulled to the rescuer in a boat.
Danbuoy
A danbuoy is a piece of safety equipment designed for the purpose of marking a boat/yacht’s location and therefore the approximate location of the casualty when the skipper, a member of crew or a passenger falls overboard.
Pushpit
On the stern end of the boat the railing system is often called a “pushpit”, which is a play on words referring to the Pulpit end.
Transom
The aft-most section of a boat that connects the port and starboard sections of the hull. “Most people put a boat’s name on the transom, though some put it on the hull sides.”
Boarding Ladder
Ladders that allow boaters to get in and out of the water from the deck or swim step of a boat and aid in boarding from a dinghy.
Ensign
An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate citizenry.
Rudder
A rudder is a primary control surface used to steer
Binnacle
A waist-high case or stand on the deck of a ship, generally mounted in front of the helmsman, in which navigational instruments are placed for easy and quick reference as well as to protect the delicate instruments.
Cockpit Sole
Floor of Cockpit
Dinghy Painter
A rope that is attached to the bow of a dinghy, or other small boat, and used for tying up or towing.
Dodger
A hood forward of a hatch or to the side of a cockpit to protect the crew from wind and spray
Portlight
A window installed in a vessel’s hull. Any shape other than round, which would be called a porthole.
Halyard winch
A winch that controls the halyard (rope) connected to a sail
Guardrail
Barrier to keep from falling off the boat
Bulb Keel
The bulb is a shoal draft fin keel. Basically, you saw off a deep fin keel and attach a torpedo shaped bulb of lead to the keel bottom.
Keel
A keel balances a monohull in the water.
Skeg
A sternward extension of the keel of boats and ships which have a rudder mounted on the centre line.
Bear away
Turn away from the wind
Cleat
A stationary device used to secure a rope aboard a boat
DSC
Digital Selective Calling
A standard for transmitting pre-defined digital messages via the medium-frequency (MF), high-frequency (HF) and very-high-frequency (VHF) maritime radio systems. It is a core part of the Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS).
Fairlead
A ring or hook used to keep a line running in the correct direction or to prevent it fouling.
Flaking
Lay out a rope or chain in loose coils to prevent it tangling.
Fractional rig
A foresail that does not reach the top of the mast.
Halyard
Line used to raise the head (top) of a sail
Head up
Change direction to point closer to the wind
MMSI
A Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) is a series of nine digits which are sent in digital form over a radio frequency channel in order to uniquely identify ship stations, ship earth stations, coast stations, coast earth stations, and group calls.
Overfall
Steep and breaking sea due to opposing currents and wind in a shallow area, or strong currents over a shallow rocky seabed.
Preventer
Sail control line originating at some point on the boom leading to a fixed point on the boat’s deck or rail to prevent or moderate the effects of an accidental jib.
Propwalk
The tendency for a propeller, when rotating, to push the stern sideways.
Ram’s horn
Hook attached to the gooseneck to aid mainsail reefing
Reef
Temporarily reduce the area of a sail exposed to the wind
Roller furling
Method of furling or reefing by rolling a sail around a stay or rotating spar
Shrouds
Pieces of rigging that hold the mast up
Spreader
A spar used to deflect the shrouds to allow them to support the mast
Warp
Rope or cable used when moving a boat in a confined space
Wind indicator
Swiveling device used to determine the direction of the wind in relations to the boat’s heading
