Essential Vocabulary for Boaters

Boating has a long history and has played, and still does play, a crucial role in exploration, transportation, and recreation. With that kind of legacy comes a vast vocabulary developed to help people work and play in the marine environment. While there are entire dictionaries dedicated to boating terminology, here we will highlight some of the most important and common terms that most modern boaters should know.

Boating Terms

Abeam

At a right angle to the center line or keel of the boat, alongside the boat

Aft

A position closer to the stern or back of the boat

Amidships (Midships)

The center or central area of the boat

Beam

The widest part of the boat, the greatest width

Bow

The front or forward end of the boat, as opposed to the stern (mnemonic: “B” comes before “S” in the alphabet, just like the Bow of the boat comes before the Stern)

Bulkhead

A partition, usually structural, that separates compartments of a boat

Cabin

A main compartment, enclosed area, or living space for crew and passengers

Companionway

The set of steps or walkway that provides access from the deck to the below-decks areas of the boat

Console

A station to stand or sit at located on the deck which often contains the helm, an operator’s console

Deck

Usually the exterior flat surfaces of a boat that passengers and crew walk on, but can also refer to the levels of a vessel, as in “Deck 4”, which could be an interior or exterior level

Draft

The minimum depth of water a boat can float in, or the distance between the waterline and the bottom of the keel

Flybridge

A raised helm or navigation console, often above the cabin, from which the boat can be operated. It usually includes an area for entertaining or sitting as well

Freeboard

The vertical distance from the waterline to the lowest point at which water could enter the boat over the edge

Galley

The name for a boat’s kitchen

Gangway

A passage or ramp used to board or disembark a boat

Gunwale

The top edge of a boat’s sides

Hatch

A watertight cover or doorway in a boat deck or cabin top

Head

The name for a boat’s toilet

Heeling

The leaning of a sailboat as the wind pushes against the sails

Helm

A boat’s operating console, containing the wheel and engine controls

Hull

The body or shell of a boat that physically touches the water

Jib

The sail set forward of a sailboat’s masts and mainsail

Jibe

Steering a sailboat’s stern through the wind (as opposed to a tack)

Keel

The center ridge running bow to stern under a boat’s hull. In a sailboat the keel can run very deep to provide stability

Leeward

The same direction the wind is blowing (as opposed to windward)

Length Overall (LOA)

The length of a vessel from its farthest extent aft to its farthest extend forward including all attached tackle

Lifelines

Cables or lines running around a boat to prevent crew, passengers, or equipment from falling overboard

Locker

Any small compartment on a boat used for storage

Mainsail

The largest, main working sail of a boat attached to the main mast and controlled by a horizontal boom

Mast

A vertical pole that supports the sails of a sailboat

Point of Sail

The boat’s direction relative to the wind

Port

The left side of a boat when standing onboard, facing the bow (as opposed to starboard). Mnemonic: port has fewer letters than starboard just like left has fewer letters than right

Rudder

The vertical fin or plate at the back of a boat that extends into the water used for steering

Saloon

The main room for entertaining on a boat

Scuppers

Holes in the hull that allow water on the deck to drain overboard

Stanchion

Upright poles around a boat’s edge that support lifelines

Starboard

The right side of a boat when standing onboard, facing the bow (as opposed to port). Mnemonic:  starboard has more letters than port just like right has more letters than left

Stem

The forward most part of the bow

Stern

The back, or aft area of the boat

Swim Platform

A water-level platform at the stern of the boat used to enter and exit the water easily

Tack

Steering a sailboat’s bow through the wind (as opposed to a jibe)

Tiller

The handle connected to the rudder or an outboard motor used for steering

Transom

The flat surface forming a boat’s stern

Trim Tabs

Plates on the stern bottom of a boat’s hull that can be adjusted to change the vessel’s attitude, pitch, and roll while underway

Waterline

The point up to which water rises on a boat’s hull

Windward

The direction from which the wind is blowing (as opposed to leeward)