There are basic terms, e.g., port and starboard, that are worth learning for both safety and clarity.īefore you are taken aback by all the jargon (careful, “taken aback” means halted by a sudden shift of wind), learn the basics with these terms that can be used in everyday boating. Many are centuries old and apply to sailing and piloting ocean-going ships. Memorizing the entire Webster’s Dictionary is unnecessary for daily life, and the same goes for the dictionary of nautical terms. Here’s an example: Which of these nautical phrases is easiest to understand? Telling someone to put the boat on plane? Or instructing them to push the throttle just fast enough to raise the bow so the hull glides across the water? Stern: The back of the yacht’s hull is the stern.The language of boating jargon has a logical purpose-shorten phrases into single words of uniformity that can be clearly communicated-and understood-by anyone involved in the navigation or tending to of the vessel. Starboard: When you are standing or sitting on the yacht looking toward the front of the vessel, the right side is the starboard side. Rigging includes equipment such as the mast, boom, yards, and spreaders. Rig: The rig includes the sails and any devices needed to control the sails. Propellers: A motorized yacht has blades that spin fast, called propellers, that make it move through the water.
#Boat lingo windows
Porthole: Windows in a yacht or boat are called portholes. Port: If you are standing or sitting on a yacht looking toward the front of the vessel, the port side is the left side. Mooring: The mooring is the place on land where you secure a boat.
#Boat lingo how to
Sailors need to know how to tie proper knots in the lines to keep boats secure when they are docked. Line: Rope used on a boat or yacht is called line. A single nautical mile is the same as a little more than 1.15 regular miles, meaning that a boat traveling at 25 knots is going almost 29 miles per hour. Knots: Knots describe the speed of a boat in nautical miles per hour. The keel is considered the foundation or backbone of a boat. Keel: The keel is the part of the hull that runs down the middle from the bow to the stern.
A hull has framework inside it and a hard outer shell that you can see. Hull: The hull is the part of a yacht or boat that floats in the water. Helm: The steering mechanism of a yacht is the helm.
Head: The bathroom on a boat or yacht may be referred to as the head.
Hatch: The hatch is the opening that connects the deck of a boat with the cabins underneath. Gunwale: The gunwale is the upper edge of the side of a boat or yacht. Galley: Sailors call the kitchen of a boat the galley. However, no matter which type of boat you’re on, you’re likely to encounter some of the same features and terminology.Īft: Referring to the aft means in or toward the back of the yacht.Īnchor: The anchor is a heavy object that drops down into the water to keep a boat or yacht from moving.īeam: The beam is the widest point of a boat or yacht.īerth: The sleeping area of a yacht is the berth.īow: The front of the yacht’s hull is the bow.īridge: All of the controls of the yacht are located on the bridge, which is also sometimes called the cockpit.Ĭabin: Private rooms and living compartments in a yacht are called cabins.Ĭleat: The cleats are the metal or plastic fittings on boats where sailors attach lines.ĭeck: The part of the yacht where you can walk around outside is called the deck.ĭraft: The draft is the minimum depth of water needed for a boat to float. Other kinds of boats include fishing boats, which are boats built to be durable enough to withstand hours of fishing in either fresh or salt water, and rowboats, small boats often used in shallow water that are typically designed to be propelled with oars. These types of boats often have powerful motors that allow them to easily travel long distances, but they may be traditional sailing yachts powered by the wind. Yachts are usually used for recreation, and they are designed to be luxurious. Yachts can also be much larger than that: A mega-yacht is more than 100 feet long, while yachts more than 200 feet long are called super-yachts. But to be called a yacht, a boat has to be at least 35 feet long. A yacht is technically a boat, because it is a vessel that floats on the water. You might hear a yacht referred to as a boat, but not all boats are yachts.
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