Parts of a Boat & Nautical Terms

Question 1

Backstay

Answer 1

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.

Question 2

Main Sail

Answer 2

1

A sail rigged on the main mast of a sailing vessel

Question 3

Rope Tidy Bag

Answer 3

Storage Bag for Ropes to Keep Cockpit Tidy

Question 4

Cockpit Locker

Answer 4

Storage compartment in the cockpit

Question 5

Kedge Anchor

Answer 5

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.

Question 6

Sheet winch

Answer 6

A mechanical device that is used to pull in (wind up) or let out (wind out) a rope attached to a sail

Question 7

Lifebuoy

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

Danbuoy

Answer 8

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.

Question 9

Pushpit

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

Transom

Answer 10

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.”

Question 11

Boarding Ladder

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

Ensign

Answer 12

An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate citizenry.

Question 13

Rudder

Answer 13

A rudder is a primary control surface used to steer

Question 14

Binnacle

Answer 14

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.

Question 15

Cockpit Sole

Answer 15

Floor of Cockpit

Question 16

Dinghy Painter

Answer 16

A rope that is attached to the bow of a dinghy, or other small boat, and used for tying up or towing.

Question 17

Dodger

Answer 17

A hood forward of a hatch or to the side of a cockpit to protect the crew from wind and spray

Question 18

Portlight

Answer 18

A window installed in a vessel’s hull. Any shape other than round, which would be called a porthole.

Question 19

Halyard winch

Answer 19

A winch that controls the halyard (rope) connected to a sail

Question 20

Guardrail

Answer 20

Barrier to keep from falling off the boat

Question 21

Bulb Keel

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

Keel

Answer 22

A keel balances a monohull in the water.

Question 23

Skeg

Answer 23

A sternward extension of the keel of boats and ships which have a rudder mounted on the centre line.

Question 24

Bear away

Answer 24

Turn away from the wind

Question 25

Cleat

Answer 25

A stationary device used to secure a rope aboard a boat

Question 26

DSC

Answer 26

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).

Question 27

Fairlead

Answer 27

A ring or hook used to keep a line running in the correct direction or to prevent it fouling.

Question 28

Flaking

Answer 28

Lay out a rope or chain in loose coils to prevent it tangling.

Question 29

Fractional rig

Answer 29

A foresail that does not reach the top of the mast.

Question 30

Halyard

Answer 30

Line used to raise the head (top) of a sail

Question 31

Head up

Answer 31

Change direction to point closer to the wind

Question 32

MMSI

Answer 32

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.

Question 33

Overfall

Answer 33

Steep and breaking sea due to opposing currents and wind in a shallow area, or strong currents over a shallow rocky seabed.

Question 34

Preventer

Answer 34

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.

Question 35

Propwalk

Answer 35

The tendency for a propeller, when rotating, to push the stern sideways.

Question 36

Ram’s horn

Answer 36

Hook attached to the gooseneck to aid mainsail reefing

Question 37

Reef

Answer 37

Temporarily reduce the area of a sail exposed to the wind

Question 38

Roller furling

Answer 38

Method of furling or reefing by rolling a sail around a stay or rotating spar

Question 39

Shrouds

Answer 39

Pieces of rigging that hold the mast up

Question 40

Spreader

Answer 40

A spar used to deflect the shrouds to allow them to support the mast

Question 41

Warp

Answer 41

Rope or cable used when moving a boat in a confined space

Question 42

Wind indicator

Answer 42

Swiveling device used to determine the direction of the wind in relations to the boat’s heading