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Marine and Boating Terms
ABAFT - Toward the rear (stern) of the boat.
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.
ABREAST - Side by side; by the side of.
ADRIFT - Loose, not on moorings or towline.
AFT - Toward the stern of the boat.
AGROUND - Touching or fast to the bottom.
AHEAD - In a forward direction.
AIDS TO NAVIGATION - Objects used to indicate safe and unsafe areas.
ALEE - Away from the direction of the wind. Opposite of windward.
ALOFT - Above the deck of the boat.
AMIDSHIPS - In or toward the center of the boat.
ANCHORAGE - A place suitable for anchoring in relation to the wind, water and the bottom.
ASTERN - In back of the boat.
ATHWARTSHIPS - At right angles to the centerline of the boat.
AWEIGH - The position of anchor as it is raised clear of the bottom.
BATTEN DOWN - Secure hatches and loose objects on the boat.
BEAM - The 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.
BELOW - Beneath the deck.
BIGHT - The part of the rope or line, between the end and the standing part, on which a knot is formed.
BILGE - The interior of the hull below the floor boards.
BILGE PUMP - Used to pump water out of the boat.
BITTER END - The last part of a rope or chain.The inboard end of the anchor rode.
BIMINI TOP - A sun top on a boat that does not snap to the windshield.
BOAT HOOK - A pole with a hook at one end.
BOOT TOP - A painted line that indicates the designed waterline.
BOW - The forward part of a boat.
BOW COVER - A cover for the front area of an open bow boat.
BOW LINE - A docking line leading from the bow.
BOWLINE - A knot used to form a temporary loop in the end of a line.
BRIDGE - The location from which a boat is steered and its speed controlled.
BUGGY TOP - Used on pontoon boats, has the tails on the back.
BULKHEAD - A vertical partition separating compartments.
BUOY - An anchored float used for marking a position on the water or a hazard and for mooring.
CABIN - A compartment for passengers or crew.
CAPSIZE - To turn over.
CAST OFF - To let go.
CATAMARAN - A twin-hulled boat, with hulls side by side.
CHAFING GEAR - Tubing or cloth wrapping used to protect a rope from chafing.
CHART - A map used by people navigating a boat.
CHINE - The intersection of the bottom and sides of a flat or v-bottomed boat.
CHOCK - A fitting for anchor and dock ropes.
CLEAT - A fitting to tie ropes to.
CLOVE HITCH - A knot for temporarily tieing a rope to a post.
COAMING - A vertical piece around the edge of a cockpit, hatch, etc. to prevent water on deck from running below.
COCKPIT - An open area on the deck.
COCKPIT COVER - A cover that only covers the cockpit area.
COIL - To lay a line down in circular turns.
CONVERTABLE TOP - All weather vinyl top that snaps to the windshield.
COTTER PIN - Used to hold the propeller nut from working loose.
COURSE - The direction in which a boat is steered.
CUDDY - A small cabin in a boat.
CURRENT - The horizontal movement of water.
DEAD AHEAD - Directly ahead.
DEAD ASTERN - Directly aft.
DECK - A permanent covering over a compartment or hull.
DINGHY - A small open boat.
DISPLACEMENT - The weight of water displaced by a boat.
DISPLACEMENT HULL - A type of hull that plows through the water, displacing a weight of water equal to its own weight.
DOCK - A protected water area in which boats are moored.
DOLPHIN - A group of piles driven close together and bound with wire cables into a single piling.
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 dock, to prevent damage.
FIGURE EIGHT KNOT - A knot in the form of a figure eight, placed in the end of a rope.
FLARE - A distress signal.
FLOOD - A incoming current.
FLUKE - The palm of an anchor.
FOGGING OIL - A waxed based oil that coats the inside engine parts for winter stoarage.
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.
FREEBOARD - The minimum vertical distance from the surface of the water to the gunwale.
FUEL STABILIZER - A chemical that is mixed with gasoline to keep the compounds from separating during storage.
GALLEY - The kitchen area of a boat.
GANGWAY - The area of a ship's side where people board.
GEAR - A general term for ropes, blocks, tackle and other equipment.
GIVE-WAY VESSEL - A boat which must yield in meeting, crossing, or overtaking situations.
GRAB RAILS - Hand rails mounted on cabin tops and sides for moving around the boat.
GUNWALE - The upper edge of a boat's sides.
HARD CHINE - An abrupt intersection between the hull side and the hull bottom of a boat.
HATCH - An opening in a boat's deck fitted with a watertight cover.
HEAD - A marine toilet.
HEADING - The direction in which a boat's bow points at any given time.
HEADWAY - The forward motion of a boat.
HELM - The wheel or tiller controlling the rudder.
HELMSPERSON - The person who steers the boat.
HITCH - A knot used to secure a rope to another object or to another rope, or to form a loop or a noose in a rope.
HITCH - Used to connect the boat trailer to the car or truck.
HOLD - A compartment below deck in a large boat, used solely for carrying cargo.
HULL - The main body of a boat.
INBOARD - Motor inside the boat.
INBOARD-OUTBOARD - Motor is inside the boat and the Drive Unit is outside the boat.
INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY - ICW: bays, rivers, and canals along the coasts, connected so that boats may travel without going into the sea.
JACOBS LADDER - A rope ladder, lowered from the deck.
JETTY - A structure, usually concrete, projecting out from the shore.
KEEL - The centerline of a boat running fore and aft.
KNOT - A measure of speed equal to one nautical mile (6076 feet) per hour.
KNOT - A fastening made by tieing rope.
LATITUDE - The distance north or south of the equator measured in degrees.
LAUGHING - A common sound from people that are having a good time.
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.
LOA - Length Over All or Total length of the craft.
LOG - A record of courses or operation.
LONGITUDE - The distance in degrees east or west of the meridian.
LOWER UNIT - The housing that holds the drive gears and propeller shaft on outboard motors and IO's.
LUBBER'S LINE - A mark or permanent line on a compass indicating the direction forward parallel to the keel.
MARLINSPIKE - A tool for opening the strands of a rope while splicing.
MIDSHIP - Equally distant from the bow and stern.
MOORING - A boat secured to a mooring buoy, pier, or dock.
MOORING COVER- A boat cover made for use when boat is secured to a mooring buoy, pier, or dock.
NAUTICAL MILE - One minute of latitude; approximately 6076 feet - about 1/8 longer than the statute mile of 5280 feet.
NAVIGATION - The opperation of a boat safely from one point to another.
NAVIGATION RULES - The regulations governing the movement of boats in relation to each other.
OUTBOARD - A engine mounted on a boat's stern.
OVERBOARD - Over the side or out of the boat.
PIER - A dock extending at an angle from the shore.
PILE - A wood, metal or concrete pole driven into the bottom.
PILING - Support, protection for wharves, piers etc.
PILOTING - Navigating or opperating a boat.
PLANING - A boat is planing when it is moving over the top of the water rather than through the water.
PLANING HULL - A type of hull shaped to move over the top of the water at high speed.
POWER TRIM - Electric or hydrolic powered Engine Trim or Power Trim.
Trim out or up, will raise the Bow. Trim in or down will lower the bow of the boat.
PORT - The left side of a boat looking forward.
PORT - The name of a bar on Buckeye Lake
QUARTER - The sides of a boat aft of the center.
QUARTERING SEA - Sea coming on a boat's quarter.
RODE - The anchor line and chain.
ROPE - In general, rope or line.
RUDDER - A vertical board for steering a boat.
RUN - To allow a rope to feed freely.
RUNNING LIGHTS - Lights required to be shown on boats underway between sundown and sunrize.
SATELLITE NAVIGATION - A form of positioning useing satellites known as GPS.
SCREW - A boat's propeller.
SCUPPERS - Drain openings with rubber flaps to let water out.
SEA COCK - A through hull valve.
SEAMANSHIP - All the skills of boat handling, piloting, sailing, 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 exspected conditions.
SECURE - To make fast.
SET - Direction toward which the current is flowing.
SHIP - A large vessel usually used for ocean travel.
SLACK - Not fastened; loose. Also, to loosen.
SOUNDING - A measurement of the depth of water.
SPRING LINE - A pivot line used in docking to prevent the boat from moving forward or backward while in a dock, or tied to a pier.
SQUALL - A stiff wind and hard rain.
SQUARE KNOT - A knot used to join two lines of similar size.
STANDING PART - That part of a rope which is tied.
STAND-ON VESSEL - That boat which has right-of-way during a meeting, crossing, or overtaking situation.
STARBOARD - The right side of a boat when looking forward.
STEM - The forward most part of the bow.
STERN - The back part of the boat.
STERN LINE - A docking line leading from the stern.
STORAGE COVER - A boat cover made Storage purposes only.
STOW - To put an item in its proper place.
SWAMP - To fill with water.
THWARTSHIPS - At right angles to the centerline of the boat.
TIDE - The periodic rise and fall of water level in the ocean.
TILLER - A handle for turning a boat's rudder or an outboard motor.
TOPSIDES - The sides of a boat between the waterline and the deck.
TOWING COVER - A boat cover made for Over the Road or Highway use.
TRANSOM - The stern cross-section of a boat.
TRIM - Fore and aft balance of a boat. Also refers to the Engine Trim or Power Trim.
Trim out or up, will raise the Bow. Trim in or down will lower the bow of the boat.
THRUST WASHER - In front of the propeller, to hold the force from the propeller presure.
UNDERWAY - A boat moving along in the water.
V BOTTOM - A hull with the bottom section in the shape of a "V".
WAKE - Moving waves that a boat leaves behind it.
WATERLINE - A line painted on a hull which shows the point to which a boat sinks when it is properly trimmed.
WAY - Movement of a boat through the water such as headway, sternway or leeway.
WINDWARD - Toward the direction from which the wind is coming.
WINTERIZING - To make boat ready for winter storage
YACHT - A large pleasure boat.
YAW - To swing or steer off course.
