BOATERS BLOG

Whether you’re a new boat owner, getting your feet wet by sailing with friends, or need a vocabulary refresher, knowing your way around any boat is crucial from both a knowledge and safety standpoint. When the captain points out a dolphin on the starboard side, will you know where to look? If you plan on being behind the wheel, can you correctly identify navigation lights? Getting familiar with sailing terms and boat anatomy is a great skill to hone, regardless of whether you love being out on the water with friends and family or plan on becoming the captain of your own vessel. To help get you started, the experts at NBOA are here with your first vocabulary lesson: knowing the basic terms and parts of a boat. 

Front, Back, Left, & Right

Starting with the orientation of a boat, the four words you’ll need to remember are bow (the front), stern (the back), port side (left side of the bow), and starboard side (right side of the bow). These terms are crucial when giving direction to crew members, navigating during times of limited visibility, and when mooring and docking. Instead of using the basic, everyday terminology of front, back, left, and right (which can easily change depending on the direction a person is facing on a boat), these terms are concrete and remain constant, regardless of a person’s position.

The first few times you hear the words “port” and “starboard,” especially under pressure, it can be hard to remember which is which. Here are a few tricks to help differentiate the two. 

1. Port is a short four-letter word, just like left. 
2. Port wine can have a ruby or red color, just like the red light that is on the port side (or left side) of a boat. 
3. Remember this by using the phrase “There is no more red port left to drink!” 
4. A second phrase that might be helpful is “The ship has left port.” 
5. Starboard contains two letter rs, which is the same letter that “right” begins with. 

Navigation Lights 

This brings us seamlessly to navigation lights. Red and green sidelights, which are navigation lights positioned on the bow, help oncoming boats indicate the direction in which another vessel is approaching. As established above, the red light is on the port side, and the green light is on the starboard side. If one boat is behind another, a sternlight, or a white light seen from behind, will help indicate its presence and direction. A masthead light is mandatory for all power-driven vessels and illuminates a white light forward and to both sides. Finally, an all-around white light is a single light that combines a sternlight and masthead light. It can be seen in all directions by other boaters and can serve as an anchor light if the red and green sidelights are out of order. 

Boat Anatomy

It’s time to get into the nitty-gritty of boat anatomy. The hull, for example, refers to the entire body, shell, or structure of the boat, encompassing the bottom, sides, and deck. On the stern, connecting the hull bottom to the hull’s two sides, is a transom typically made from plywood, aluminum, or fiberglass. The transom’s primary function is to distribute the vessel’s weight and its equipment for optimal balance. 

The transom may also feature a swimming platform, a structure that aids when boarding the boat from the water or docking lines. Underneath the swimming platform and attached to the base of a motor is the propeller. The propeller is designed with blades that rotate to power or propel a boat either forward or backward. Since these blades are just as sharp as they are strong, it is the number one rule of swimming while boating that nobody jumps in the water or boards a boat while the propeller is in motion of any kind.

On the outermost upper edge of a boat’s hull, where the deck and side meet at a flat surface, is the gunwale. Gunwales are not only a great spot for fishing rods, but also serve as a sturdy surface, making them a popular spot to walk on and off a boat or to hold onto if the waters get rough. Also frequently found on the gunwale are cleats, which are metal fittings where ropes and lines can be fastened to the vessel. There are various types of cleats, such as cam cleats, open-base cleats, closed-base cleats, and horn cleats. These are the same or similar cleats that are found on docks. 

Steering Mechanisms 

In addition to the motor and propeller, there are a few other terms that an aspiring captain should know, not limited to helm and rudder. The helm refers to a vessel’s steering station, where the wheel, joystick, engine controls, navigation lights, radio, and other controls are positioned. As the captain turns the wheel, the rudder guides the boat through the water. The rudder can be defined as a type of appendage located below the waterline that steers the vessel in the direction indicated by the wheel. 

While this is certainly not a comprehensive list of boating terms, anatomy, and vocabulary, it’s an excellent start for novice boaters to dip their toes in. The next time you’re cruising with your friends and family who are seasoned boaters, you’ll be able to impress them with your newly learned jargon. You might also have the confidence to start shopping for your own vessel! Then, when you’re ready, the pros at NBOA will hook you up with the best boat insurance and marine coverage out there. 

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