Boating Terms | Definition |
HEADWAY SPEED | The slowest speed at which it is still possible to maintain steering |
IDLE SPEED | A speed at which the vessel does not produce a wake |
NO WAKE SPEED | A speed at which the vessel does not produce a wake |
SLOW-NO WAKE SPEED | speed at which the vessel does not produce a wake |
AGROUND | Touching or stuck on the bottom |
ALL-ROUND WHITE LIGHT | Combination of a masthead and sternlight into a single white light able to be seen by other vessels from any direction (also called an anchor light) |
ANCHOR | Device used to secure a boat to the bottom of a body of water |
BACKFIRE | Explosion of prematurely ignited fuel or of unburned exhaust gases in an internal combustion engine |
BAIL | To remove water by scooping it out with a bucket |
BEAM | Maximum width of a vessel |
BILGE | Interior of the hull below the floorboards; lowest part of a vessel's interior where the sides of the vessel curve in to form the bottom |
BOAT | Any type of vessel other than a personal watercraft |
BOW | Front of a vessel |
BOW LINE | A line (rope) used at the bow of a vessel |
BUNKS | Wooden supports on which the vessel rests while on the trailer |
BUOY | Anchored, floating device used as an aid to navigation |
CABIN | Enclosed living space |
CAPSIZE | To turn on the side or turn completely over |
CAST OFF | To undo all mooring lines (ropes) in preparation for departure |
CHANNEL | Portion of a waterway that is navigable and usually marked |
CHART | Map used for navigation |
CLEAT | Metal fitting on which a rope can be fastened |
COUPLER | The part of the trailer that attaches to the ball hitch on a towing vehicle |
COURSE | Direction that a vessel is steered through the water |
COWL | Hooded opening designed to scoop in air |
DECK | Covering of the hull |
DISPLACEMENT HULL | A hull designed to cut through the water with a minimum of propulsion |
DOCK | 1. Area of water between two piers where a vessel can be secured; 2. To guide a vessel alongside a float or pier in preparation for securing the vessel |
DOWNCURRENT | In the direction the current is flowing |
DOWNWIND | In the direction the wind is blowing |
DRAFT | Depth of water needed to float a vessel |
EMBARK | To go on board |
EPIRB | Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon—a small transmitter used in cases of distress |
FAIRWAY | Navigable channel |
FEDERALLY CONTROLLED WATERS | Waters on which vessels must observe federal requirements, including VDS requirements: these waters include: |
FENDERS | Cushioning device placed between vessels or between a vessel and a dock to prevent damage |
FLOAT PLAN | A written plan of an outing left with a relative, friend, or local marina to provide a description of the vessel, list of persons on board, the detailed route, and expected return time |
FORWARD | Toward the bow |
FREEBOARD | Distance from water to lowest point of the boat where water could come on board |
FURL | To roll up tightly and make secure |
GIVE-WAY VESSEL | The vessel that is required to take early and substantial action to keep well away from other vessels by stopping, slowing down or changing course |
GUNWALE | Upper edge of vessel's side (generally pronounced gunnel) |
HALYARDS | Lines (ropes) used to raise and lower sails |
HATCH | Closable opening in the deck |
HITCH | 1. A connection between a vehicle and a trailer. 2. Knot used to secure a rope fast to another rope or other object |
HULL | Body of a vessel; basic structure or shell |
IGNITION SAFETY SWITCH | A safety device that is designed to shut the engine down if the operator is thrown from the proper operating position |
IMPELLER | Device used to pump and force water under pressure through a steering nozzle at the rear of the vessel |
INBOARD ENGINE | A type of engine that has a motor mounted inside the hull's midsection or in front of the transom that turns a drive shaft that runs through the bottom of the hull and is attached to a propeller at the other end |
JET DRIVE ENGINE | A type of engine that uses a motor to power a strong water pump, which sucks up water and forces the water out the back to thrust the vessel forward |
JET SKI | Frequently used term for personal watercraft, which is a small vessel that uses an inboard jet drive as its primary source of propulsion, and is designed to be operated by a person or persons sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel rather than inside |
KEEL | Main centerline (backbone) of a vessel or the extension of hull that increases stability in the water |
LANYARD | Short cord used for fastening something or securing rigging; on a PWC and most powerboats, it attaches the ignition safety switch to the operator's wrist or life jacket |
LEEWARD | Direction toward which the wind is blowing, or downwind. Leeward vessel refers to the vessel that is downwind of the other. |
LENGTH OVERALL (LOA) | Length of the hull excluding any attachments |
MARINA | A facility providing vessel moorage space, fuel, or commercial services |
MAST | Vertical spar on which sails are set |
MASTHEAD LIGHT | White light that shines forward and to both sides |
MOOR | To keep a vessel in place by setting anchor or tying the vessel to a fixed object or buoy |
MOTORBOAT | Any vessel operated upon water that is propelled by sail or machinery, whether or not the machinery is the principal source of propulsion |
NAVIGATION LIGHTS | Lights shown by a vessel that indicate course, position, and type of vessel |
NAVIGATION RULES | The rules of the U.S. Coast Guard governing navigation lights, rules for vessels encountering other vessels and distress signals. For the purpose of the navigation rules, the following definitions apply: |
OPERATE | To steer, direct, or otherwise have physical control of a vessel that is underway |
OUTBOARD ENGINE | A type of engine that is a complete power unit (motor and propeller) mounted on the transom of the vessel |
OVERBOARD | Over the side or out of the vessel |
PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE (PFD) | A buoyant vest, coat, or suit designed to be worn or a buoyant ring or cushion designed to be grasped |
PERSONAL WATERCRAFT (PWC) | A small vessel that uses an inboard jet drive as its primary source of propulsion, and is designed to be operated by a person or persons sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel rather than inside the vessel |
PIER | Structure extending into the water from shoreline to allow vessels to dock |
PLANING HULL | A hull designed to rise up and glide on top of the water when enough power is supplied |
PORT | Left side of a vessel |
POWERBOAT | A vessel whose means of propulsion is an engine |
POWER-DRIVEN VESSEL | Any vessel propelled by machinery, including a sailboat using an engine |
PROPELLER | Rotating device that turns and powers a boat forward or backward |
PWC | A small vessel that uses an inboard jet drive as its primary source of propulsion, and is designed to be operated by a person or persons sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel rather than inside the vessel |
RAFT | A floating platform |
RIGGING | The lines (ropes) and gear used to support and control the sails on a sailboat |
RUDDER | Steering device, usually a vertical blade attached to a post at, or near, the stern of the boat |
SAFETY LANYARD | Short cord for attaching the ignition safety switch to your wrist or personal flotation device (life jacket) |
SAILING VESSEL | Any vessel under sail and with no engine in use |
SHEETS | Lines (ropes) used to control the angle of the sails to the wind |
SIDELIGHTS | Red and green navigation lights visible to another vessel approaching from the side or head-on (also called combination lights); red indicates a vessel's port side; green indicates a vessel's starboard side |
STAND-ON VESSEL | The vessel that must maintain its course and speed unless it becomes apparent that the give-way boat is not taking appropriate action; if you must take action, do not turn toward the give-way boat or cross in front of it. |
STARBOARD | Right side of a vessel |
STEERING CONTROL | Means of controlling the steering nozzle on a PWC |
STEERING NOZZLE | Device used for directing the stream of water to the left or right at the stern of the PWC, which steers the PWC |
STEM | Upright structural member or post of the bow |
STERN | Rear of a vessel |
STERN DRIVE | A type of engine that has a motor mounted inside the vessel and attached through the transom to a drive shaft that runs through the transom and turns a propeller at the other end; also called inboard/outboard engines (I/O) |
STERNLIGHT | White light seen only from behind or nearly behind the vessel |
STERN LINE | A line (rope) used at the stern of a vessel |
SWAMP | To fill with water |
SWIM PLATFORM | A deck extending from the transom at waterline position |
TIDE | The vertical rise and fall of ocean water resulting from the moon and sun exerting a pull on the earth |
TILLER | Lever used to turn a rudder to steer a boat |
TONGUE WEIGHT | The weight a loaded trailer places on the towing hitch |
TRANSOM | Vertical surface at the back of the hull |
TRIM | Term that refers to the running position of the engine drive unit |
UNDERWAY | Not anchored, tied to shore or aground; making progress through the water |
UNPOWERED VESSEL | Any sailboat under sail power alone and vessels that are paddled, poled or rowed |
UPSTREAM | In the direction that is against the current\ |
UPWIND | In the direction that is against the wind |
VESSEL | Every kind of watercraft capable of being used as a means of transportation on water, including seaplanes |
WAKE | Waves that a vessel leaves behind as it moves through the water |
WINCH | A geared drum turned by a handle and used to pull lines (ropes) such as those that connect a vessel to a trailer |
WINDWARD | Direction from which the wind is blowing, or upwind. Windward vessel refers to the vessel that is upwind of the other |