Owner`s manual

9.1
9 BOATING TERMINOLOGY
Abaft Toward the stern.
Abeam Amidships, at a right angle to the keel.
Aboard On, in or into a boat.
ABYC American Boat and Yacht Council, Inc., the
organization that sets voluntary safety and
construction standards for small craft in the
U.S.
Adrift Without motive power and without anchor or
mooring.
Afloat On the water.
Aft Describing the after section of a vessel or
things to the rear of amidships and near the
stern.
Aground Touching bottom.
Amidships In the center; the center portion of a vessel.
Anchor A forging or casting shaped to grip the sea
bottom and, by means of a cable or rope,
hold a boat in a desired position.
Anchorage A customary, suitable and (usually)
designated harbor area in which vessels
may anchor.
Astern Toward the stern. An object that is aft of a
boat is said to be astern of the boat.
Athwart Across.
Aweigh Off the bottom, said of an anchor.
Aye Yes, while aboard a boat or ship. Means
“I understand.”
Bail (Bale) To remove water from a boat by pump or
bailer.
Ballast Heavy material such as iron, lead or stone
placed in the bottom of the vessel.
Beacon A post or buoy placed over a shoal or bank
to warn vessels. Also a signal mark on land.
Beam Imaginary line amidships at right angles to
keel of vessel. Also vessel’s width amidships.
Bearing The direction or point of the compass in
which an object is seen.
Belay To make fast to a cleat or belaying pin; to
cancel an order.
Below Beneath or under the deck. One goes below
when going down into the cabin.
Bend To fasten by means of a bend or knot.
Berth A position, as a place to sleep or in which a
vessel may be made fast; a margin of safety,
as “a wide berth.”
Bilge The lower internal part of a boat’s hull.
Bollard A strong post for holding lines fast.
Bow The forward part or front of the boat.
Boater 101 An educational program that combines a
variety of multimedia tools to promote water
safety, boating education, environmental
awareness, and careers within the marine
industry.
Breakers Waves cresting as they reach shallow water,
as at or on a beach.
Breakwater A structure, usually stone or concrete, built to
create a harbor or improve an existing one.
Bulkhead Vertical partition in a boat.
Burdened Former term for the vessel which must
Vessel stay clear of vessels with the right-of-way.
Calking Forcing filler material into the seams of
(Caulking) the planks in a boat’s deck or sides to make
them watertight.
Camber The arch of a deck sloping downward from
the center toward the sides.
Capsize To turn over.
Carburetor Required equipment on all motorboats except
backfire flame outboards and diesels.
Reduces chance of fire arrestor caused by
backfires in internal combustion engines.
Cardinal Points The four main points of a compass; north,
east, south and west.
Ceiling The inside lining of the hull.
Certificate Government paper, such as a boat’s license.
Chart A map of a body of water that contains
piloting information.
Chine The intersection of sides and bottom of a
boat.