|
LGYCOne thing you will find in the boating world is that it has a vocabulary all its own. Why is that? Speculation is that over the centuries, mariners were isolated for months and even years at a time, so they developed a common language somewhat independent of the rest of society. For whatever reason, it can seem like there is another word for everything in the boating world. Knowing the right terms can help you understand what others might be telling you, and to be understood by other boaters and officials on the water.
Line = Rope
It is not a rope: it is a line. The origin of this term is still a mystery. Some boaters are very particular and if you ask them to help you with your ropes will act like they do not know what you are talking about. Annoying? Yes. You have been warned!
Bow and Stern = Front and Back
The front of the boat is called the bow. The rear is the stern. If someone asks you to “throw me the bowline,” you should toss him the rope at the front of the boat.
Head = Bathroom
A bathroom on a boat is called a head. Again, how did this term come about? One theory is that the crew went to the bow (the front) of the boat to do their business. At any rate, if you have a toilet on the boat it will be called a head by just about everyone.
Galley = Kitchen
Any cooking area is called galley. Some believe that mariners of old cooked meals on a “gallery” of heated stones, and that “galley” evolved from poor English over the centuries.
Fender = Bumper
The rubber tube hanging off the sides of a boat to protect them from docks and other boats is called a fender. As with ropes, calling these “bumpers” can invite haughtiness, so remember—there are no bumpers on boats.
Port and Starboard = Left and Right
Port is left and starboard is right. To create a universal distinction between left and right, sailors have adopted the terms port and starboard to indicate the left and right sides of the boat from the perspective of the captain (looking forward). This can prevent confusion, for example, when two boats are approaching one another and the captain on the radio says, “please move to the starboard.” There’s no confusion about whose left and whose right is being addressed.
Saloon = Living room
The social area of a larger boat is called the saloon. However, it is pronounced “salon.”
Stateroom = Bedroom
Boats do not have bedrooms. They have staterooms. This is thought to originate from the days when only officers or important people “of state” or status had private rooms on a ship.
Helm = Steering wheel
Helm is the term that refers to the area from which the boat is steered and otherwise commanded. The term comes from an older English word that means “rudder.”
Knots per hour = Miles per hour
Knots are the way boat speed is often measured — more so on larger crafts than on speed or ski boats. Knots measure nautical miles per hour (1.151 MPH).
There are many more terms unique to the boating world, some of which have made their way into our popular vernacular. Examples of such seafaring phrases used today are bail out or clear the decks that indicates a sweeping change.
Do not be intimidated. It is a learning process. These terms did not become standard boat language overnight; it took hundreds of years. It might take you a little while to remember them all. Even though some boaters can be diffident about these things, you will find that the majority of your fellow boaters love to explain things and are happy to help. After all, part of the allure of boating is the connection to an era of adventure. So untie your lines, pull in your fenders, take the helm, and have fun!
PARTS OF A BOAT
Perhaps the most important terms you can know as a boater are the words that identify the many different parts and pieces that make up a boat. Whether you’re asking someone to shut the door to the head or secure a piece of gear in the aft locker, having a basic knowledge of the following boat terms will go a long way to advancing your nautical lingo.
Ballast: Weight added to a boat to enhance stability. “The J/24 has 950 pounds of lead ballast.”
Berth: A sleeping area on a boat. Also, a place where a boat is tied up. “We slept in the forward berth while John and Amy slept in the quarter berth” or “We keep our boat in a berth at McDoodle’s Marina.”
Bilge: The lowest section of a boat where water typically collects. “The shower sump is located in the bilge.”
Bimini: A type of folding canvas top used to shield occupants from rain and sun. “It was nice and cool in the aft cockpit under the Bimini top.” You can watch one being set up and see how it works when deployed, in our Cruisers Sport Series 258 video boat review.
Bow: The forward end of any boat. “John went up to the bow to lower the anchor.”
Bulkhead: Typically a transverse structural component in a boat that often supports a deck. “The aft bulkhead separates the main saloon from the engine room.”
Cabin: An enclosed and protected area on a boat. “The boat’s cabin was wide and roomy with plenty of space for relaxing out of the weather.” It can range from a small “cuddy cabin” to large living spaces with multiple rooms, which themselves may be referred to as cabins.
Cabintop: The flat or curved deck surface above an enclosed structure on a boat. “There is plenty of space up on the cabintop to stow the dinghy.”
Casting Platform: A raised, open deck on a fishing boat used for casting a fishing rod. You can see a great example of casting platforms on the Pathfinder 2600 HPS.
Chine: The part of a boat where its hull sides and bottom intersect. “The boat’s chines were sharp and angled, which gave it an aggressive look.”
Cleat: A metal or plastic fitting used to securely attach a line. “Peter tied off the fender to the starboard amidships cleat.”
Coaming: Raised edges, or sides, designed to help keep waves and water from entering a certain area of a boat. “The cockpit has an ample coaming to keep the area dry and give it a secure feeling.”
Cockpit: Any semi-enclosed, recessed area that is lower than the surrounding decks, such as the cockpit of a sailboat or a center-console powerboat. “The cooler was stowed in the aft cockpit.”
Companionway: An entryway that provides access to the below-decks spaces on a boat. “The galley is located just below the companionway, to port.”
Console: A raised area above the deck or cockpit that occupants often sit or stand behind while the boat is underway. “John drove the boat from the helm, which is located in the starboard console.”
Deck: Essentially any exposed, flat exterior surface on a boat that people stand on. “The decks were awash with salt water after the wave crashed over them.”
Dinette: An area for dining on a boat, typically with a table set between two seating areas. “The main saloon has a huge dinette to starboard.” There’s a great photo of one in our Prestige 620 S Flybridge review.
Flybridge: A steering station, sometimes with a small entertaining space, built atop a boat’s cabin. It’s also sometimes called a ‘flying bridge’. “We ran the boat from up in the flybridge, which gave us a great view out over the ocean.”
Foredeck: The forward-most deck on a boat. “The anchor windlass is located up on the bow; you can access it from the foredeck.”
Galley: An area on a boat where food is prepared. “John steamed up the lobsters on the stove in the galley.”
Gunwale: The top edge of a boat’s hull sides. “The fishing rod racks are located along the starboard gunwale.”
Hardtop: A supported fiberglass or composite roof-like external structure that covers a portion of a boat. “We mounted the radar dome on the hardtop” or “The hardtop covers the center console unit.”
Hatch: The cover or door that closes over any opening in a boat’s deck or cabintop. “The forward hatch allowed lots of natural light inside the boat.”
Head: The bathroom on a boat. “An enclosed head is fitted underneath the center console, for when nature calls.”
Helm: The area of a boat where the steering and engine controls are located. “Betsy steered the boat from the helm.”
Hull: The physical portions of a boat that sit in the water. “The Jones Brothers Cape Fisherman 23 has a hull shape that cuts through waves with ease.” See our Boat Hull Basics video, to learn about different hull shapes.
Inboard Engine: An engine that is mounted inside the hull of a boat. “The boat has a 237-horsepower gasoline inboard engine.” Boats may be called inboards whether they have a straight shaft running through the hull (such as the Marlow Pilot 34), a stern-drive going through the transom (like the Monterey 218SS), or pod drives going through the bottom of the boat (as in the case of the Sea Ray L590).
Jib: Generally the smaller of two or more sails on a sailboat, flown forward of the mast. "Gael trimmed the jib in tight as she sailed a course against the wind."
Jump Seats: Small, pop-up seats usually located in the aft cockpit of a powerboat. “The Everglades 243cc has twin pop-up jump seats in the aft cockpit.”
Lifelines: Cables or lines used to prevent people or gear from falling overboard. “Andrea grasped the lifelines firmly as she walked forward on the starboard deck.”
Livewell: A specialized compartment on a boat designed to keep fish, shrimp, and other fishing bait alive. “Fred stocked the livewell with a bunch of minnows.”
Locker: An area on a boat where gear is stowed. “The tackle boxes are in the aft stowage locker.”
Mainsail: Generally the largest sail on a sailboat. “Eve hoisted the mainsail as John pointed the boat into the wind.” (See Basic Sailing and Seamanship: Making Sense of Sails to learn more about the different sails found on sailboats).
Mast: A vertical structure, usually made of aluminum, which supports sails on a sailboat. “We hoisted the mainsail up the mast before raising the jib.”
Keel: The lowest portion of a boat’s hull as it sits in the water. Also, a hull appendage that improves stability. “The Bristol 24 has a full keel that helps improve its lateral stability.”
Outboard Well: A recessed area on a boat just forward of where an outboard engine is mounted. “The outboard well filled with water when we backed the boat down into a set of waves.”
Outboard Engine: An engine that is generally mounted to the transom of a boat that has a self-contained engine block, transmission, and lower drive unit. “The boat has a 350-horsepower outboard engine on its stern.” You can learn more about different engines and drive systems by reading Marine Engines and Power Systems.
Pod Drives: Inboard engines mounted above articulating drive units that protrude through the bottom of the boat. “Pod drives provide excellent handling and maneuverability.” Read All About Pod Drives to learn more.
Propeller: A rotating device that is paired with an engine to propel a boat through the water. “The outboard has a stainless-steel propeller.” Watch our How do Propellers Work video to learn more about propellers (also called ‘props’).
Rigging: The lines and wires that support and help control a spar or mast. “The backstay, forestay, and side stays are some of the rigging that supports the mast.”
Rubrail: A protective outer element on the hull sides that helps protect the hull from damage. “The rubrail rested against the piling, protecting the boat’s hull.”
Rudder: A vertical hull appendage that controls steering. “The Farr 40’s long, slender rudder makes the boat highly maneuverable.”
Saloon: A room in the cabin on a boat that’s usually the primary entertaining area. “We served cocktails in the main saloon; it was a great area for entertaining our guests.”
Scuppers: Deck drains that channel water from rain and spray overboard. “The cockpit filled with water, but was quickly drained by the scuppers.”
Sheer Line: The outline of a boat’s deck at the gunwale or hull-deck joint from bow to stern. “The boat has a sheer line that rises gracefully toward the bow.”
Stateroom: An enclosed cabin in a boat with sleeping quarters. “The master stateroom had luxurious accommodations, including a queen-size berth.”
Stern: The aft-most section of a boat’s hull. “We mounted the swim ladder on the boat’s stern.”
Stern Drive: A propulsion system consisting of an inboard engine with a steerable drive system that is mounted to the transom. “The boat was fitted with twin MerCruiser inboard gas engines coupled to stern drives.”
Swim Platform: A structure on the stern of a boat designed to make getting in and out of the water easier. “Janie sat on the swim platform with her legs dangling in the water.”
T-Top: A metal structure on a boat that is usually topped with a section of canvas or a hard top to protect occupants from sun, spray, and rain. “George and his crew huddled under the T-top during the rainstorm.”
Tiller: A wood, metal, or composite handle that is connected to the rudder(s) or a small outboard and used to steer a boat. “As the wind increased, Blair pulled hard on the tiller to keep the boat on course.”
Toerail: A wood or fiberglass rail or fiddle located around the outside edge of a boat’s deck, usually situated near where the hull sides meet the deck. “The boat’s teak toerail was beautifully varnished.”
Topsides: The portion of a boat’s hull that is above the waterline. “Jenny polished the topsides to a beautiful shine.”
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.”
Trim Tabs: Adjustable metal plates on a powerboat’s hull bottom or transom that help adjust the boat’s running attitude, pitch, and roll as it moves through the water. On a sailboat, a single trim tab may be located on the aft edge of the keel to help the boat steer better in certain conditions. “Jim adjusted the trim tabs to make the powerboat’s bow ride farther down in the water.”
V-Berth: A berth that is situated in the bow of a boat. “Fred took a nap in the V-berth.”
Waterline: The line around a boat’s hull where it intersects the water. “We spent all day scrubbing the boat’s waterline.”
BOAT MEASUREMENTS
The best way to get an idea of what a boat is designed for and how it will act in the water is to take a look at some of its key measurements and specifications. Know these terms and you’re on your way to being able to identify the key characteristics of any given boat you come across in person, or in a review or video.
Beam: The measurement of a boat’s width at its widest point. “The Boston Whaler 320 Outrage has a 10-foot, two-inch beam.”
Deadrise: The angle of a powerboat hull’s “V” shape, usually measured in degrees at the transom. “The boat has a whopping 24-degree transom deadrise, which makes it extremely capable in rough water.”
Displacement: The weight of water displaced by a boat’s hull. “The boat displaces 18,200 pounds.” A boat’s displacement is equal to its weight at any given time, with any given load.
Draft: The total distance a boat penetrates the water, from waterline to keel or appendage bottom. “The Schenectady 54 has a draft of four feet, six inches.”
Dry Weight: The weight of a boat without fuel or water onboard. “The boat has a dry weight of 3,456 pounds.”
Freeboard: The distance between a boat’s waterline and the top of its gunwales. “The boat’s high freeboard made us feel secure in the big waves.”
Length Overall: The overall length of a boat, as measured from its aft-most to forward-most appendages. Sometimes abbreviated “LOA.” “The boat had a length overall of 21 feet, five inches, from its swim platform to the bow sprit.”
Waterline Length: The length of the hull where it intersects the water, from bow to stern. Sometimes shortened to “LWL.” “The superyacht has a waterline length of 102 feet.”