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Answers to our most commonly asked questions
Glossary of Nautical Terms
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L
M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W
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)
ABREAST - Side by side; by the side of.
AFT - Toward the stern of the boat.
AGROUND - Touching or fast to the bottom.
AIDS TO NAVIGATION - Artificial objects to supplement natural landmarks indicating safe and unsafe waters.
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, seas and bottom.
ASTERN - In back of the boat, opposite of ahead.
ATHWARTSHIPS - At right angles to the centerline of the boat; rowboat seats are generally athwart ships.
AWEIGH - The position of anchor as it is raised clear of the bottom.
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.
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.
BOAT HOOK - A short shaft with a fitting at one end shaped to facilitate use in putting a line over a piling, recovering an object dropped overboard, or in pushing or fending off.
BOOT TOP - A painted line that indicates the designed waterline.
BOW - The forward part of a 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 vessel is steered and its speed controlled. "Control Station" is really a more appropriate term for small craft.
BRIDLE - A line or wire secured at both ends in order to distribute a strain between two points.
BRIGHTWORK - Varnished woodwork and/or polished metal.
BULKHEAD - A vertical partition separating compartments.
BUOY - An anchored float used for marking a position on the water or a hazard or a shoal and for mooring.
BURDENED VESSEL - That vessel which, according to the applicable Navigation Rules, must give way to the privileged vessel. The term has been superseded by the term "give-way".
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 line from chafing on a rough surface.
CHART - A map for use by navigators.
CHINE - The intersection of the bottom and sides of a flat or v-bottomed boat.
CHOCK - A fitting through which anchor or mooring lines are led. Usually U-shaped to reduce chafe.
CLEAT - A fitting to which lines are made fast. The classic cleat to which lines are belayed is approximately anvil-shaped.
CLOVE HITCH - A knot for temporarily fastening a line to a spar or piling.
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.
COIL - To lay a line down in circular turns.
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.
DEAD ASTERN - Directly aft.
DECK - A permanent covering over a compartment, hull or any part thereof.
DINGHY - A small open boat. A dinghy is often used as a tender for a larger craft.
DISPLACEMENT HULL - A type of hull that plows through the water, displacing a weight of water equal to its own weight, even when more power is added.
DOCK - A protected water area in which vessels are moored. The term is often used to denote a pier or a wharf.
DOLPHIN - A group of piles driven close together and bound with wire cables into a single structure.
DRAFT - The depth of water a boat draws.
FATHOM - Six feet.
FENDER - A cushion, placed between boats, or between a boat and a pier, to prevent damage.
FIGURE EIGHT KNOT - A knot in the form of a figure eight, placed in the end of a line to prevent the line from passing through a grommet or a block.
FLARE - The outward curve of a vessel's sides near the bow. A distress signal.
FLOOD - A incoming current.
FLOORBOARDS - The surface of the cockpit on which the crew stand.
FLUKE - The palm of an anchor.
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.
FREEBOARD - The minimum vertical distance from the surface of the water to the gunwale.
GALLEY - 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.
GIVE-WAY VESSEL - A term used to describe the vessel which must yield in meeting, crossing, or overtaking situations.
GRAB RAILS - Hand-hold fittings mounted on cabin tops and sides for personal safety when moving around the boat.
GROUND TACKLE - A collective term for the anchor and its associated gear.
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 so constructed.
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.
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.
HOLD - A compartment below deck in a large vessel, used solely for carrying cargo.
HULL - The main body of a vessel.
INBOARD - More toward the center of a vessel; inside; a motor fitted inside a boat.
JACOBS LADDER - A rope ladder, lowered from the deck, as when pilots or passengers come aboard.
JETTY - A structure, usually masonry, projecting out from the shore; a jetty may protect a harbor entrance.
KEEL - The centerline of a boat running fore and aft; the backbone 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.
LUBBER'S LINE - A mark or permanent line on a compass indicating the direction forward parallel to the keel when properly installed.
MIDSHIP - Approximately in the location equally distant from the bow and stern.
MOORING - An arrangement for securing a boat to a mooring buoy or a pier.
NAUTICAL MILE - One minute of latitude; approximately 6076 feet - about 1/8 longer than the statute mile of 5280 feet.
NAVIGATION - The art and science of conducting a boat safely from one point to another.
OUTBOARD - Toward or beyond the boat's sides. A detachable engine mounted on a boat's stern.
OVERBOARD - Over the side or out of the boat.
PIER - A loading platform extending at an angle from the shore.
PILE - A wood, metal or concrete pole driven into the bottom. Craft may be made fast to a pile; it may be used to support a pier (see PILING) or a float.
PILING - Support, protection for wharves, piers etc.; constructed of piles (see PILE)
PILOTING - Navigation by use of visible references, the depth of the water, etc.
PLANING - A boat is said to be planing when it is essentially moving over the top of the water rather than through the water.
PLANING HULL - A type of hull shaped to glide easily across the water at high speed.
PORT - The left side of a boat looking forward. A harbor.
PRIVELEGED VESSEL - A vessel which, according to the applicable Navigation Rule, has right-of-way.
QUARTER - The sides of a boat aft of amidships.
RODE - The anchor line and/or chain.
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.
SCREW - A boat's propeller.
SCUPPERS - Drain holes on deck, in the toe rail, or in bulwarks or (with drain pipes) in the deck itself.
SEA COCK - A through hull valve, a shut off on a plumbing or drain pipe between the vessel's interior and the sea.
SEA ROOM - A safe distance from the shore or other hazards.
SECURE - To make fast.
SET - Direction toward which the current is flowing.
SLACK - Not fastened; loose. Also, to loosen.
SOUNDING - A measurement of the depth of water.
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.
SQUARE KNOT - A knot used to join two lines of similar size. Also called a reef knot.
STANDING PART - That part of a line which is made fast. The main part of a line as distinguished from the bight and the end.
STAND-ON VESSEL - That vessel 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 after part of the boat.
STERN LINE - A docking line leading from the stern.
STOW - To put an item in its proper place.
SWAMP - To fill with water, but not settle to the bottom.
TILLER - A bar or handle for turning a boat's rudder or an outboard motor.
TOPSIDES - 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.
V BOTTOM - A hull with the bottom section in the shape of a "V".
WAKE - Moving waves, track or path that a boat leaves behind it, when moving across the waters.
WATERLINE - A line painted on a hull which shows the point to which a boat sinks when it is properly trimmed (see BOOT TOP).
WAY - Movement of a vessel through the water such as headway, sternway or leeway.
WINDWARD - Toward the direction from which the wind is coming.