Sailing Terminology/Nautical Terms Flashcards
Keel
The centerline of a boat running fore and aft; the backbone of a vessel.
Abeam
At right angles to the keel of the boat, but not on the boat.
Aboard
On or within the boat.
Above Deck
On the deck (not over it - see ALOFT)
Aft
Toward the stern of the boat.
Aground
Touching or fast to the bottom.
Ahead
In a forward direction.
Alee
Away from the direction of the wind. Opposite of windward.
Aloft
Above the deck of the boat.
Amidship
In or toward the center of the boat.
Anchorage
A place suitable for anchoring in relation to the wind, seas and bottom
Astern
In back of the boat, opposite of ahead.
Athwardships
At right angles to the centerline of the boat; rowboat seats are generally athwart ships.
Batten Down
Secure hatches and loose objects both within the hull and on deck.
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.
Belay
Securing a line in a cleat fitting; order to ignore the previous order
Below
Beneath the deck
Boat
A fairly indefinite term. A waterborne vehicle smaller than a ship. One definition is a small craft carried aboard a ship.
Bow
The forward part of a boat.
Bow line
A docking line leading from the bow.
Bulkhead
A vertical partition separating compartments.
Bulwark
The sides of a ship above the decks.
Buoy
An anchored float used for marking a position on the water or a hazard or a shoal and for mooring.
Partition
a structure dividing a space into two parts, especially a light interior wall.
Shoal
a place where a sea, river, or other body of water is shallow.
Mooring
To dock a boat.
An arrangement for securing a boat to a mooring buoy or a pier.
Cabin
A compartment for passengers and crew.
Capsize
To turn over.
Cast off
To let go.
Chart
A map use by navigators.
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.
Cockpit
An opening in the deck from which the boat is handled.
Course
The direction in which a boat is steered.
Cuddy
A small shelter cabin in a boat.
Current
The horizontal movement of water.
Dead ahead
Directly ahead.
Aft
at or near or toward the stern of a ship
Dead astern
Directly aft.
Deck
A permanent covering over a compartment, hull or any part thereof.
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.
Draft
The depth of water a boat draws.
Ebb
A receding current.
Fathom
Six feet.
Fender
A cushion, placed between boats, or between a boat and a pier, to prevent damage.
Flood
A incoming current.
Floorboards
The surface of the cockpit on which the crew stand.
Following sea
An overtaking sea that comes from astern.
Fore-and-aft
In a line parallel to the keel.
Forepeak
A compartment in the bow of a small boat.
Forward
Toward the bow of the boat.
Fouled
Any piece of equipment that is jammed or entangled,
or dirtied.
Gunwale
The upper edge of a boat’s sides.
Freeboard
The minimum vertical distance from the surface of the water to the gunwale.
Gallery
The kitchen area of a boat.
Gangway
The area of a ship’s side where people board and disembark.
Gear
A general term for ropes, blocks, tackle and other equipment.
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.
Headway
The forward motion of a boat. Opposite of sternway.
Rudder
A vertical plate or board for steering a boat.
Helm
The wheel or tiller controlling the rudder.
Helmsperson
The person who steers the boat.
Hold
A compartment below deck in a large vessel, used solely for carrying cargo.
Hull
The main body of a vessel.
Knot
A measure of speed equal to one nautical mile (6076 feet) per hour.
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.
Leeward
The direction away from the wind. Opposite of windward.
Leeway
The sideways movement of the boat caused by either wind or current.
Line
Rope and cordage used aboard a vessel.
Log
A record of courses or operation. Also, a device to measure speed.
Longitude
The distance in degrees east or west of the meridian at Greenwich, England.
Midship
Approximately in the location equally distant from the bow and stern.
Piloting
Navigation by use of visible references, the depth of the water, etc.
Port
The left side of a boat looking forward. A harbour.
Quarter
The sides of a boat aft of amidships.
Rudder
A vertical plate or board for steering a boat.
Run
To allow a line to feed freely.
Running lights
Lights required to be shown on boats underway between sundown and sunup.
Scuppers
Drain holes on deck, in the toe rail, or in bulwarks or (with drain pipes) in the deck itself.
Seamanship
All the arts and skills of boat handling, ranging from maintenance and repairs to piloting, sail handling, marlinespike work, and rigging.
Sea room
A safe distance from the shore or other hazards.
Seaworthy
A boat or a boat’s gear able to meet the usual sea conditions.
Secure
To make fast.
Set
Direction toward which the current is flowing.
Ship
A larger vessel usually thought of as being used for ocean travel. A vessel able to carry a “boat” on board.
Sole
Cabin or saloon floor. Timber extensions on the bottom of the rudder. Also the moulded fibreglass deck of a cockpit.
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.
Stem
The forward most part of the bow.
Stern
The after part of the boat.
Stern line
A docking line leading from the stern.
Stow
To put an item in its proper place.
Thwartships
At right angles to the centreline of the boat.
Tide
The periodic rise and fall of water level in the oceans.
Topside
The sides of a vessel between the waterline and the deck; sometimes referring to onto or above the deck.
Transom
The stern cross-section of a square sterned boat.
Trim
Fore and aft balance of a boat.
Underway
Vessel in motion, i.e., when not moored, at anchor, or aground.
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.
