New to boating or just looking to brush up on your boating speak? You’ve come to the right place! We’ve compiled the most common terms you should know to speak like a captain.
Know Your Boat
The first step towards speaking like a nautical pro is knowing your way around a boat by learning the most commonly used terms. Here’s the top ones to know for a variety of vessels:
| Bow |
| The front of the boat |
| Stern |
| The back of the boat |
| Fore |
| At or toward the front (bow) of the boat |
| Aft |
| At or toward the back (stern) of the boat |
| Starboard |
| The right side of the boat, when facing the front (bow) |
| Port |
| The left side of the boat, when facing the front (bow) |
| Beam |
| The widest point of the boat |
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Additional Terminology
| Bilge |
| The lowest part inside the boat, where water usually collects |
| Bimini |
| A canvas or a hard top attached to a boat to provide protection from sun and the elements |
| Cleat |
| A metal or wood fitting used to tie a line. Typically anvil-shaped and on the gunnel |
| Fender |
| Stowable cushion you can place between the boat and dock to prevent damage |
| Gunwale/Gunnel |
| The upper outer edge of the boat's sides where the deck and hull come together |
| Hatch |
| An opening on the deck or cabin used as a door or a window |
| Helm |
| The steering station that houses the wheel, engine controls or joystick piloting |
| Hull |
| The body or shell of the boat |
| Line |
| Rope used on a boat, assigned to a specific task (i.e. fender line, anchor line)
Insider tip: Refer to any rope aboard a boat as a line |
| Navigation Lights |
| Lights for visibility when boating in low light or at night. Red lights are on portside and green on starboard |
| Prop |
| Short for propeller; a multi-blade device shaped like a fan, located at the bottom of the engine to propel a boat through water |
| Rode |
| Line, chain, cable or any combination used to connect the anchor to the boat.
Insider Tip: Always make sure you have enough rode to properly anchor a boat |
| Rudder |
| Vertical plate or fin mounted below the hull at the stern that allows you to control steering |
| Ski Pylon/Bar |
| Bar at the stern to connect a tow line used for watersports |
| Swim Platform |
| A platform fixed to the transom or aft that makes it easier to board the boat from the water or the dock |
| Transom |
| Area at the stern where the outboard is mounted |
Engines Types
| Inboard |
| An engine located inside the boat’s hull. Inboard engines are four-stroke automotive engines that have
been modified for use on the water |
| Outboard |
| A type of boat engine mounted at the transom (back, outside area of boat) that incorporates the motor, driveshaft and propeller |
| Sterndrive |
| Propulsion system composed of an inboard engine |
You’re Ready to Cast Off
You’re more knowledgeable than you were yesterday! Like learning any language - the more you use it, the more fluent you become.
