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Abaft	Toward the rear (stern) of the boat. Behind
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
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	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
Avast	Command meaning "stop what you're doing"
Backstay	A wire support for the mast, usually running from the stern to the head of the mast
Baggywrinkle	Clumps of frayed rope that protect the sails from chafing against the lines
Bale	A fitting on the end of a spar, such as the boom, to which a line may be led
Ballast Weight	usually metal, placed low in a boat to provide stability
Barber Hauler	A line attached to the jib or jib sheet, used to adjust the angle of sheeting by pulling the sheet toward the centerline of the boat
Batten Down	Secure hatches and loose objects both within the hull and on deck
Battens	Flexible strips of wood or plastic, most commonly used in the mainsail to support the aft portion, or roach, so that it will not curl
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
Belay	To temporarily secure a line to a cleat, or as a command "disregard the last order"
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	A rounding of the hull along the length of the boat where the bottom meets the side
Bilge Boards	Similar to centerboards, and used to prevent lee way
Bilgeboards	are on either side of the centerline at the bilges
Binnacle	A support for the compass, raising it to a convenient position
Bitter End	The last part of a rope or chain. The inboard end of the anchor rode
Board boat	A small boat, usually mono rig. May have a shallow cockpit well. Typically has almost no freeboard
Boat	A fairly indefinite term. A waterborne vehicle smaller than a ship. One definition is a small craft carried aboard a ship. A submarine
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
Bobstay	Wire Stay underneath the bowsprit. Helps to counteract the upward pull exerted by the forestay
Boom Crutch	Support for the boom, holding it up and out of the way when the boat is anchored or moored. Unlike a gallows frame, a crutch is stowed when boat is sailing
Boom	free swinging spar attached to the foot of the sail with forward end pivoting on the mast
Boom Crutch	Support for the boom, holding it up and out of the way when the boat is anchored or moored. Unlike a gallows frame, a crutch is stowed when boat is sailing
Boom Vang	A system used to hold the boom down, particularly when boat is sailing downwind, so that the mainsail area facing the wind is kept to a maximum. Frequently extends from the boom to a location near the base of the mast. Usually tackle- or lever-operated
Boomkin (bumpkin)	Short spar extending aft from the transom. Used to anchor the backstay or the sheets from the mizzen on a yawl or ketch
Boot Top	A painted stripe that indicates the waterline
Bow	The forward part of a boat
Bowline	Knot used to form a temporary loop in a line
Bow Line	A docking line leading from the bow
Bowsprit	A short spar extending forward from the bow. Normally used to anchor the forestay
Brale	Partially furling sails to lessen wind resistance or partially unfurling sails to make them ready for instant use. On a square sail this is accomplished with leech and clew lines. See "Scandalize"
Bridge	The location from which a vessel is steered and its speed controlled. "Control Station" is really a more appropriate term for small craft
Bridge Deck	The transverse partition between the cockpit and the cabin
Bridle	A short length of wire with a line attached at the midpoint. A bridle is used to distribute the load of the attached line. Often used as boom travelers and for spinnaker down hauls
Brightwork	Varnished woodwork and/or polished metal
Bulkhead	An interior partition commonly used to stiffen the hull. May be watertight
Bullseye	A round eye through which a line is led, usually in order to change the direction of pull
Bulwark	A vertical extension above deck level designed to keep water out of and sailors in the boat
Bunk	Sleeping Berth
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
Cap	A piece of trim, usually wood, used to cover and often decorate a portion of the boat, i.e., caprail
Capsize	To turn over
Capstan	drum like part of the windlass used for winding in rope, cables, or chain connected to cargo or anchors
Cast Off	To let go
Catamaran	A twin-hulled boat, with hulls side by side
Centerboard	A board lowered through a slot in the centerline of he hull to reduce sideways skidding or leeway. Unlike a daggerboard, which lifts vertically, a centerboard pivots around a pin, usually located in the forward top corner, and swings up and aft
Chafing Gear	Tubing or cloth wrapping used to protect a line from chafing on a rough surface
Chain plate	The fitting used to attach stays to the hull
Charley Noble	Galley stove pipe
Chart	A map for use by navigators
Chine	The intersection of the bottom and sides of a flat or v-bottomed boat
Chine	A line, running along the side of the boat, where the bottom forms an angle to the side. Not found on round-bottom boats
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
Clew	For a triangular sail, the aftmost corner
Clove Hitch	A knot for temporarily fastening a line to a spar or piling
Coach Roof	Also trunk. The cabin roof, raised above the deck to provide headroom in the cabin
Coaming	A vertical extension above the deck to prevent water from entering the cockpit. May be broadened to provide a base for winches
Cockpit	An opening in the deck from which the boat is handled
Coil	To lay a line down in circular turns
Companionway	The main entrance to the cabin, usually including the steps down into the cabin
Counter	At the stern of the boat, that portion of the hull emerging from below the water, and extending to the transom. Apr to be long in older designs, and short in more recent boats
Course	The direction in which a boat is steered
Coxswain	Sailor in charge of and steering a small boat
Crosstrees	Horizontal members attached to the mast acting as spreaders for the shrouds
Cuddy	A small shelter cabin in a boat
Cunningham	A mainsail control device, using a line to pull down the mainsail a short distance from the luff to the tack. Flattens the sail
Current	The horizontal movement of water
Daggerboard	A board dropped vertically through the hull to prevent leeway. May be completely removed for beaching or for sailing downwind
Danger Zone	The area encompassed from dead ahead of your boat to just abaft your starboard beam. You must stand clear of any boat in the "danger zone"
Davits	Small cranes used to raise or lower small boats and light items from deck to water level
Dead Ahead	Directly ahead
Dead Astern	Directly aft
Dead-Eyes	Blocks in the shroud rigging used to adjust tension
Deadlight	Either a cover clamped over a porthole to protect it in heavy weather or a fixed light set into the deck or cabin roof to provide light below
Dead Reckoning	also Ded Reckoning. Sometimes believed to be an abbreviation of Deduced Reckoning
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	The weight of water displaced by a floating vessel, thus, a boat's weight
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
Ditty Bag	Small bag used for carrying and stowing small personal items or kits
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
Dodger	A screen, usually fabric, erected to protect the cockpit from spray and wind
Downhaul	A line used to pull a spar, such as the spinnaker pole, or a sail, particularly the mainsail, down
Draft	The depth of water a boat draws
Dry Sailing	When boats, especially smaller racers, are kept on shore instead of being left anchored or moored, they are dry sailed. The practice prevents marine growth on the hull and the absorption of moisture into it
Ebb	A receding current
Fairlead	A fitting used to alter the direction of a working line, such as a bullseye, turning block, or anchor chock
Fathom	Six feet
Fender	A cushion, placed between boats, or between a boat and a pier, to prevent damage
Fid	Tool used by riggers in splicing line
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. Or A distress signal
Flood	A incoming current
Fluke	The palm of an anchor
Fo'c'sle	An abbreviation of forecastle. Refers to that portion of the cabin which is farthest forward. In square-riggers often used as quarters for the crew
Following Sea	An overtaking sea that comes from astern
Foot	For a triangular sail, the bottom edge
Fore And Aft	In a line parallel to the keel
Foremast	vertical spar most forward
Forepeak	The compartment farthest forward in the bow of the boat. Often used for anchor or sail stowage. In larger ships the crews quarters
Foresail	lowest square sail on the foremast
Forestay	Wire, sometimes rod, support for the mast, running from the bowsprit or foredeck to a point at or near the top of the mast
Foretriangle	The triangle formed by the forestay, mast, and fore deck
Forward	Toward the bow of the boat
Fouled	Any piece of equipment that is jammed or entangled, or dirtied
Fractional Rig	A design in which the forestay does not go to the very top of the mast, but instead to a point 3/4~ 7/8's, etc., of the way up the mast
Frames	Ribs that form the shape of the hull
Freeboard	The distance between the deck and the waterline. Most often it will vary along the length of the boat. (see: Shear)
Gaff	a free swinging spar attached to the top edge of a sail
Galley	The kitchen area of a boat
Gangway	The area of a ship's side where people board and disembark
Garboard	Used in conjunction with strake. Refers to the planks, or strakes, on either side of and adjacent to the keel
Give-Way Vessel	A term used to describe the vessel which must yield in meeting, crossing, or overtaking situations
Give Way Together	Command used by Coxswain in larger rowing boats
Gollywobbler	A full, quadrilateral sail used in light air on schooners. It is flown high, between the fore and main mast, and is also known as a fisherman's staysail
Gooseneck	The fitting that connects the boom to the mast
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
Gunter Rig	Similar to a gaff rig, except that the spar forming the "gaff" is hoisted to an almost vertical position, extending well above the mast
Gunwale	Most generally, the upper edge of the side of a boat
Guy	A line used to control the end of a spar. A spinnaker pole, for example, has one end attached to the mast, while the free end is moved back and forth with a guy
Halyards	Lines used to hoist or lower sails or flags
Halyards	lines used to haul up the sail and the wooden spars (boom and gaff) that hold the sails in place
Hard Chine	An abrupt intersection between the hull side and the hull bottom of a boat so constructed
Hatch	an opening in the deck for entering below
Head	For a triangular sail, the top corner. Also a marine toilet
Headfoil	a grooved rod fitted over the forestay to provide support for luff of the sail or help support the forestay
Head Knocker	A block with a jam cleat, located on the boom and used to control the main sheet on small boats
Heading	The direction in which a vessel's bow points at any given time
Headsails	Any sail forward of the foremast
Headway	Forward motion of boat opposite to sternway
Helm	The wheel or tiller controlling the rudder
Helmsman	Sailor who steers the boat
Hiking Stick	An extension of the tiller that enables the helms man to sit at a distance from it
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 vessel, used solely for carrying cargo
Hull	The main body of a vessel
Inboard	More toward the center of a vessel, inside, an engine fitted inside a boat
Inspection port	A watertight covering, usually small, that may be removed so the interior of the hull can be inspected or water removed
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
Jettison	To throw overboard
Jib	A triangular foresail in front of the foremast
Jiffy reefing	A fast method of reefing. Lines pull down the luff and the leech of the sail, reducing its area
Jumper Stay	A short stay supporting the top forward portion of the mast. The stay runs from the top of the mast forward over a short jumper strut, then down to the mast, usually at the level of the spreaders
Jumbo	The larger of the headsails
Keel	the timber at the very bottom of the hull to which frames are attached
Keelson	A structural member above and parallel to the keel
Kick-up	Describes a rudder or centerboard that rotates back and up when an obstacle is encountered. Useful when a boat is to be beached
Knockabout	A type of schooner without a bowsprit
Knot	A measure of speed equal to one nautical mile (6076 feet) per hour
Knot	A fastening made by interweaving rope to form a stopper, to enclose or bind an object, to form a loop or a noose, to tie a small rope to an object, or to tie the ends of two small ropes together
Lapper	A foresail which extends back of and overlapping the mast, such as a 110% genoa jib
Latitude	The distance north or south of the equator measured and expressed in degrees
Lazarette	A storage space in a boat's stern area
Lazy Jack	Light lines from the topping lift to the boom, forming a cradle into which the mainsail may be lowered
Lead	Refers to the direction in which a line goes. A boom vang, for example, may "lead to the cockpit."
Leech	The aft edge of a triangular sail
Leech Line	A line running through the leech of the sail, used to tighten it
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
Lee Boards	Pivoting boards on either side of a boat which serve the same function as a centerboard. The board to leeward is dropped, the board to windward is kept up
Lines	Rope or cordage used for various purposes aboard a boat
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
Loose-Footed	Describes a mainsail attached to the boom at the tack and clew, but not along the length of it's foot
Lubber Line	A mark or permanent line on a compass indicating the direction forward parallel to the keel when properly installed
Luff	The forward edge of a triangular sail. In a mainsail the luff is that portion that is closest to the mast
Luff or Luffing	when the vessel is brought too far into the wind the trailing edge or Leech of the sail begins to shiver or shake
Mainmast	the tallest mast of the ship, on a schooner, the mast furthest aft
Mainsail	The lowest square sail on the mainmast
Marline	A light twine size line which has been tarred
Marline Selling	A tool for opening the strands of a rope while splicing
Mast	Main vertical spar used to support sails and their running rigging and in turn is supported by standing rigging
Mast Step	Fitting or construction into which the base of the mast is placed
Masthead Rig	A design in which the forestay runs to the peak of the mast
Mechanical advantage (or purchase)	A mechanical method of increasing an applied force. Disregarding the effects of friction, if a force of 100 pounds applied to a tackle is magnified to a force of 400 pounds, the purchase or mechanical advantage is said to be four to one, or 4:1
Midship	Approximately in the location equally distant from the bow and stern
Mizzen	A fore and aft sail flown on the mizzenmast
Monkey Deck	A false deck built over a permanent deck. Often used in the bow of larger sailing ships, forward of the anchor windlass and provides a working platform around the portion of the bowsprit as it attaches to the ship
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
Navigation Regulations (or COLREGS)	The regulations governing the movement of vessels in relation to each other, generally called steering and sailing rules
Oar	Device used to propel small boats by rowing
Outboard	Toward or beyond the boat's sides. A detachable engine mounted on a boat's stern
Outhaul	Usually a line or tackle, an outhaul is used to pull the clew of the mainsail towards the end of the boom, thus tightening the foot of the sail
Overhaul	Straightening out misaligned or partially fouled sails and rigging
Overboard	Over the side or out of the boat
Pay Out	to feed line over the side of the boat, hand over hand
Pedestal	A vertical post in the cockpit used to elevate the steering wheel into a convenient position
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)
Pilothouse	a small cabin on the deck of the ship that protects the steering wheel and the crewman steering
Planking	wood boards that cover the frames outside the hull
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
Priveledged Vessel	A vessel which, according to the applicable Navigation Rule, has right-of-way (this term has been superseded by the term "stand-on")
Pulpit	A metal framework on deck at the bow or stern. Provides a safety railing and serves as an attachment for the lifelines
Pushpit	pulpit located on the stern
Quarter	The sides of a boat aft of amidships
Quartering Sea	Sea coming on a boat's quarter
Queen topsail	small stay sail located between the foremast and mainmast
Rake	The fore or aft angle of the mast. Can be deliberately induced (by adjustment of the standing rigging) to flatten sails, balance steering, etc. Normally slightly aft
Reef points	A horizontal line of light lines on a sail which may be tied to the boom, reducing the area of the sail during heavy winds
Rigging	the lines that hold up the masts and move the sails (standing and running rigging)
Roach	The curved portion of a sail extending past a straight line drawn between two corners. In a mainsail, the roach extends past the line of the leech between the head and the clew and is often supported by battens
Rocker	The upward curvature of the keel towards the bow and stern
Rode	The anchor line and/or chain
Rope	In general, cordage as it is purchased at the store. When it comes aboard a vessel and is put to use it becomes line
Roller reefing	Reduces the area of a sail by rolling it around a stay, the mast, or the boom. Most common on headsails
Rub-rail	Also rubbing strake or rub strake. An applied or thickened member at the rail, running the length of the boat, serves to protect the hull when alongside a pier or another boat
Rudder	A vertical plate or board for steering a boat
Run	To allow a line to feed freely
Running Backstay	Also runner, or preventive backstay. A stay that supports the mast from aft, usually from the quarter rather than the stern. When the boat is sailing downwind, the runner on the leeward side of the mainsail must be released so as not to interfere with the sail
Running rigging	The adjustable portion of the rigging, used to control sails and equipment
Running Lights	Lights required to be shown on boats underway between sundown and sunup
Sail	a piece of cloth that catches or directs the wind and so powers a vessel
Sailing Rig	the equipment used to sail a bost, including sails, booms and gaffs, lines and blocks
Scandalize	On a gaff rig the sail is made loose footed, the clew is brought forward along the boom and the sail cloth is drawn up in folds along the gaff and mast. From this position the sail is instantly available for use
Schooner	Sailing ships with at least 2 masts (foremast and mainmast) with the mainmast being the taller. Word derives from the term "schoon/scoon" meaning to move smoothly and quickly. ( a 3-masted vessel is called a "tern")
Scope	Technically, the ratio of length of anchor rode in use to the vertical distance from the bow of the vessel to the bottom of the water. Usually six to seven to one for calm weather and more scope in storm conditions
Screw	A boat's propeller
Scupper	Drain in cockpit, coaming, or toe-rail allowing water to drain out and overboard. When in toe rail, properly known as "freeing port"
Scuttle	A round window in the side or deck of a boat that may be opened to admit light and air, and closed tightly when required
Seat Locker	A storage locker located under a cockpit seat
Sea Cock	A through hull valve, a shut off on a plumbing or drain pipe between the vessel's interior and the sea
Seat locker