Sailboat Parts Flashcards
Hull
The watertight structural shell of a boat.
Deck
The generally horizontal surface that encloses the top of the hull.
Transom
The more or less flat surface that closes the hull at the stern.
Keel
The main structural member along the bottom of a boat’s hull; on a sailboat often an appended fin-shaped structure that contains a ballast.
Ballast
Weight placed low in the boat to give stability.
Mast
A fixed vertical spar that holds up a sail or sails.
Boom
The spar that supports the foot of the mainsail.
Gooseneck
An articulated fitting that connects a boom to a mast.
Bow
The forward part of the boat.
Stern
The aft part of a boat.
Helm
The tiller or wheel with which the boat is steered.
Tiller
A lever used to control the angle of the rudder and thereby steer the boat.
Rudder
The movable appendage attached to a boat under the water and with which it can be steered.
Standing Rigging
Rigging such as shrouds and stays that support spars and that remain in place when a boat is not sailing.
Shroud
A wire that provides athwartships support to the mast.
Spreader
An athwartships strut on a mast that holds a shroud away from the mast.
Chainplate
Metal fabrication attached to the hull and to which a stay or shroud is connected.
Headstay/Forestay
The stay between the top of the mast and the bow.
Backstay
A wire support from the top of the mast to the stern.
Stanchion
A metal post that supports lifelines.
Lifeline
A wire supported on stanchion around the perimeter of the deck to prevent crew from falling overboard.
Pulpit
A guardrail at the bow or stern of a boat to which (usually) the lifelines are connected.
Winch
A device consisting of a gear-driven drum that is operated with a handle to provide mechanical advantage when hauling on a line; also used to snub a line.
Cleat
A fitting used to secure line under load.
