Terminology Flashcards
Aft
The aft – Also known as the afterdeck – is at the rear of the boat, also called the stern.
Flybridge
A flybridge refers to an open bridge deck from which the vessel can be fully controlled while providing all round, open air visibility.
Port
Port is left.
Starboard
Starboard is right
Bow
The bow is the name for the hull at the front of a vessel.
Stern
The stern is the hull at the back
Astern
If you are astern, you’re at the back of the vessel or behind it
Beam
The beam is the width of the craft at its widest point
Hull
The hull is the watertight body of a yacht.
Keel
The keel is the lengthwise main structural member or backbone of a vessel.
Vee-Hull
A V-Hull is a hull of a ship that forms a V shape in cross-section instead of a rounded shape, the V being a better shape for offshore craft because it offers more stability.
Deck
The deck is the part of the yacht you walk on.
Deckhead
The deckhead is the underside of the deck above.
Bulkheads
The bulkheads are the dividing walls between cabins and areas belowdecks.
Head
The head is the toilet.
Rudder
The rudder is underwater, at the stern end, and is used to steer the vessel.
Propeller
The propeller propels the vessel through the water, powered by the motor.
Sterngear
The sterngear refers to the watertight aperture through which the shaft, from the motor, connects to the propeller.
Nautical Mile
A Nautical Mile is 1.852 km, 2025 yards, 1.1508 miles.
Knot
A knot is a measurement of speed on water, namely one nautical mile per hour.
Draft
The draft of a vessel is the vertical distance between the waterline and the bottom of the hull (keel).
Displacement
Displacement means the weight of water that a craft pushes aside when floating, made up of the weight of the vessel and its contents.
Ballast
Ballast refers to material used to provide stability. Some vessels (e.g. ships) use ballast tanks to hold water as ballast.
Bilge
The Bilge is the lowest internal area of a vessel. It is where water tends to collect and bilge pumps are used to expel the water.
Bearing
A bearing is a direction in degrees. This might be an absolute bearing, which is the direction relative to north (true bearing relates to true north and magnetic bearing relates to magnetic north) or relative bearing which is the bearing relative to the direction of the vessel. For example, you might determine the relative bearing of a lighthouse which would be the clockwise angle from the heading of the vessel.
Three-masted vessels
In three-masted vessels the masts are called the foremast, mainmast and mizzenmast. The foremast is at the front of the vessel, at the bow end.
Forecastle. (Foksol)
The forecastle (fo’c’stle) is the name for an upper deck at the forward part of a ship or vessel. Historically this was where a castle structure would have been used by archers, hence the name.
Berth. (3)
A berth can be a bed or sleeping compartment on a vessel. The term is also used to refer to where vessels are moored in harbours and marinas. And the term is also used to refer to the distance between vessels as they pass one another or pass a fixed object (‘give a wide berth’).
Moorings
Moorings are places where you can moor – tie up – a vessel.
Quay
A quay is the edge of a harbour.
Breakwater
A breakwater is a barrier built into the ocean to protect landward vessels and structures from the sea.
Buoy
A buoy is a marker out at sea often warning vessels of danger. They come in many different sizes and have different meanings.
Gunwale
The gunwale is the top edge of the boat’s side.
Helm
The helm is the steering apparatus, in particular the wheel or tiller.
Main Deck
The main deck is the uppermost complete deck that stretches all the way from bow to stern.
