Dictionary

It behooves anyone considering a boat purchase to become thoroughly familiar with the terminology associated with boating. Not only will it make you feel at ease discussing boats, but it also serves to warn others that you are an individual to be reckoned with. Here are some definitions for the nautical terms you will undoubtedly encounter in quest for your new boat. Take time to learn them now!

Many everyday sea-doing terms are used only in connection with boats and are quite foreign to the layman. In many cases, these words have no counterpart in our shoregoing vocabulary, and it is necessary, in order to understand and be understood, that we become familiar with at least a few of the more commonly-used words. Here are some of them:

Great Circle Route: the course followed while familiarization cruise students are working out their TVMDC and 60DST.
Hatch: a container on board in which to keep eggs.
Headway: what you are making if you can get the toilet to work.
Heel: a command from the captain, usually ignored.
Heaving line: a rope to hang on to while being sick.
Knot meter: an instrument for measuring the speed with which any line will become entangled.
Landlubber: anyone on board who wishes he/she were not.
Latitude: the number of degrees off course allowed a guest at the helm.
Life preserver: a mildewed device for emergency use, stored under the extra lines and anchors.

(Source: "A Landlubber's Glossary of Nautical Terms" by Gerald Bryson. Students should note that Boating Course examiners seem to prefer the Glossary in the course handbook.)

The Following is courtesy of the Nanoose Squadron's "Nanoose Rudder"

Lt. Patrick Durrant, Editor. e-mail: marpat@bcsupernet.com

Aboard - A piece of lumber that may be used to repair your boat.

Aft - Acronym for Automatic Flotation Thing. The Coast Guard requires that you have a personal flotation device for each member on board; these are the ones that inflate automatically when you hit the water (and you will) to prevent drowning.

Adrift - A method of moving across the water when nothing on your boat works. You normally do not have a lot of input as to where you are actually going, but you can get there.

Amidships  - condition of being surrounded by boats.

Anchor - A mechanical device that is supposed to keep the boat in one place (see dragging). These devices are sometimes used to submerge expensive anchor lines and chain when used without proper termination at both ends of the anchor line.

also

A device designed to bring up mud samples from the bottom at inopportune or unexpected times.

Anchor light- A small light used to discharge the battery before daylight.

Astern - A type of look. Your spouse gives you astern look when you attempt to buy things for your new boat.

Berth - a small person's idea of a bed.

Bilge - This is a storage area in the bottom of the boat for all the things you dropped and can not find. Also a mixing area for water, fuel and head output.

Bilge pump - An electrical device designed to remove the charge from your batteries. These devices only operate when the boat is not taking on water.

Boom - sometimes the result of a surprise jibe.

Bottom Paint - what you get when the cockpit seats are freshly painted.

Bow - This is what you do in front of your banker when you are asking for more money to spend on your boat. As your boat will surely cost much more than what you initially asked for, it is imperative that you learn how to do this quickly.

Bridge - Something you cross to get to the other side of a body of water when you do not have a boat available. Can also used for removing masts of sailing vessels if the bridge is low enough.

Capsize - They ask you this when you go to buy a hat or baseball cap.

Chart - a type of map that tells you exactly where you are aground.

Clew - an indication from the skipper as to what he will do next.

Companionway - a double berth.

Crew - This term refers to the people working on your boat. They are usually friends or acquaintances who do not find out about the "work" part of the ride until you are away from the dock. Crews have a high turnover rate, they normally will never want to see you again, let alone set foot on your boat.

Dead reckoning - a course leading directly to a reef.

Deadrise - getting up to check the anchor at 0300.

Deck - This is what your spouse will do to you after discovering how much money you have spent on the boat without first obtaining permission.

Deviation - any departure from the captain's orders.

Dinghy - the sound of the ship's bell.

Displacement - when you dock your boat and can't find it later.

Dock - A medical professional, not sure why the term shows up in a nautical dictionary.

Dragging - A method of moving about when the anchor is deployed (see anchor). 

Estimated position - a place you have marked on the chart where you are sure you are not.

First Mate - a crew member necessary for the captain to practice shouting orders to.

Foul wind - a breeze produced by an upwind crew member with gas.

Freeboard - food and liquor provided by the owner at no charge.

GPS - An electronic device that allows you to navigate out of sight of landmarks before the batteries expire.

Hatch - A device similar in nature to a mousetrap, in that it will drop down on your head or hand without warning. Also an opening for admitting water into the boat.

Head - It is the part of your body that sits on top of your neck; you should not be buying a boat unless you already know this. Also useful for storing items like hats, sunglasses and such.

Headway - what you are making if you can't get the toilet to work.

Hull - A famous hockey player (Bobby).

Jibe - either you understand this form of speech or you don't.

Keel - A stopping device for your boat. It works by contacting the bottom of the water body you are in, thus inhibiting forward motion.

Keys - These items are used for opening locks and lockers aboard your boat, starting the engine and such. Keys can usually be found in the water beneath your boat. Also a place in Florida.

Landlubber - anyone on board who wishes he weren't.

Latitude - the number of degrees off course allowed a guest.

Mast - religious ritual performed before setting sail.

Mizzen - an object you can't find.

No Wake Zone - An area of a waterway in which you are prohibited from waking people who may be sleeping.

Overboard - A term describing the final resting-place for anything expensive dropped while on board a boat.

PFD - Acronym for Personal Floatation Device. This is a multifunction device normally used as a cushion, packing material or sponge. The Coast Guard requires one for each person on board to ensure they have something soft to sit on in case standard seating is limited. 

Port - This is what you drink when you are on the boat. 

Propeller - A metal thing that looks like a fan and is attached to your motor. Propellers typically do not have the same number of blades they came with. The propeller is a dual-purpose item. It both propels your boat through the water and catches stray dock and rigging lines before they can harm wildlife.

Ram - an intricate docking maneuver sometimes performed by experienced  skippers.

Rhumb line - two or more crew members waiting for a drink.

Rudder - This is the device that steers your boat. The rudder is usually the first part of your boat to come off when you hit a rock.

Rock - These are devices used to remove rudders from boats. Also what your boat does just after you fill all your glasses to the brim with port. 

Sheet - a cool, damp, salty night covering.

Shroud - a sheet used in connection with a wake.

Starboard - a special board used for navigation.

Stern - The flat, back end of your vessel, included so you have a place to paint the name of your boat. This does not apply to Hans Christian and similar boats because they have points on both ends and you don't want to risk sounding incompetent when trying to determine which is which.

Swell - a wave that's just great.

Square rigger - any rigger over 30

Through-the-hull fitting - A leak. 

Wake - This event is part of a funeral and often confused with boating. Also what boaters participate in when they

 

Last growth spurt on February 12, 2008