| Abaft ......................... |
Aft of; towards the stern from a designated location
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| Aft .............................. |
Towards, at, or near the stern
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| Amidships ............... |
In the vicinity of the mid length of a vessel as distinguished from the ends
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| Anode ....................... |
An electrolyte carrying a positive charge
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| Ballast ...................... |
Any solid or liquid weight placed in a vessel to increase the draft, to change the trim, or to regulate stability
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| Beam ........................ |
The maximum breadth of the hull
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| Berth ......................... |
Where a vessel is docked or tied up
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| Bilge .......................... |
Intersection of bottom and side. The lower parts of holds, tanks and machinery spaces where bilge water may accumulate
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| Bow ............................ |
The forward end of a vessel
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| Broach ...................... |
To be turned 90 degrees off course, usually owing to a wave action from astern
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| Bulkhead .................. |
A term applied to the vertical partition walls that divide the interior of a vessel into compartments or rooms
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| Chine ......................... |
Abrupt change in the transverse shape where a vessel's side and bottom come together
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| Cleat .......................... |
A fitting having two arms or horns around which ropes may be made fast
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| Dead rise .................. |
Angle rise from the keel to the chine
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| Derrick ...................... |
A device for hoisting and lowering heavy weights, cargo, stores, etc.
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| Displacement Hull .. |
A hull that moves through water, displacing a weight of water equal to it's own weight
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| Dock .......................... |
A place for mooring a vessel, usually between two piers
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| Draft ........................... |
The depth of the vessel below the water line, measured vertically to the lowest part of the hull, propeller, or other reference point
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| Electrolysis .............. |
The effect of an electric current passing through an electrolyte in transferring ions from one part to another
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| Even Keel ................. |
A shop is said to be on an even Keel when the Keel is horizontal
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| Fathom ...................... |
Equivalent to 6 linear feet
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| Fender ....................... |
The term applied to devices built into or hung over the sides of a vessel to prevent rubbing or chafing against other vessels or piers
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| Ferro-cement .......... |
Structural material comprising a relatively thin layer of cement intimately reinforced with steel rods and mesh
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| Flukes ....................... |
The parts of an anchor that are intended to dig into the bottom
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Forecastle ................
(Fo'c's'le)
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A superstructure fitted at the extreme forward end of the upper deck
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| Founder ..................... |
Sink and go to the bottom
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| Freeboard ................. |
The distance from the water line to the upper surface of the freeboard deck at the side
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| Galley ......................... |
A cook room or Kitchen on a vessel
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| Gangway ................... |
A passageway, side shell opening, or ladder used for boarding or leaving a vessel
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| Gunwale .................... |
The upper edge of a boat's sides
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| Halyard ...................... |
Lines used in hoisting sails, signals, flags, etc.
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| Head ........................... |
Toilet; believed to be derived from 'vessels head' when a small platform outside the bulwarks near the bow was the only semblance of sanitary facilities
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| Helm ........................... |
The wheel or tiller controlling the rudder or outboard motor
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| Hull ............................. |
The structural body of a vessel
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| Keel ............................ |
Principal fore-aft component of a vessels framing, located along the centre line
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| Ketch ......................... |
A vessel with fore and aft sailing rig with two masts, the forward one being somewhat larger than the other
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| Knot .......................... |
1 Nautical mile per hour. Nautical mile = 1852 metres
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| Lee ............................ |
The side away from the wind
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| Mooring ..................... |
Securing a vessel at a pier or elsewhere by several lines so as to limit it's movement
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| Mooring Buoy ........... |
A floating structure firmly anchored to the bottom and to which a vessel may moor
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| Nautical Mile ............ |
1 nautical mile is an International measurement of distance at sea level (1.85 kms).
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| Planing Hull .............. |
A type of hull shaped to glide easily across the water at high speed
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| Poop ......................... |
A superstructure fitted to the after end of the upper deck
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| Port Side ................... |
The left hand side of a vessel when looking forward
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| Quartering Sea ........ |
A series of waves approaching a vessel at about 45 degrees off the bow or stern
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| Rigging ...................... |
Chains, wire ropes, fibre lines, and associated fittings and accessories used to support masts and booms used for handling cargo and stores and for other purposes
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| Rudder ...................... |
A device used to steer a vessel
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| Sacrificial Anode .... |
Metal parts fitted to the hull of a vessel to provide a transfer of ions to t he cathodic part of an electrolytic coupling and so protect other parts of the vessel that would otherwise waste away through electrolysis
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| Schooner .................. |
A sailing vessel fitted with two or more masts carrying fore and aft sails. When it is fitted with two masts, the forward may be shorter than the other
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| Scuppers .................. |
Drains from decks to carry off rain or sea water
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| Shank ........................ |
In an anchor, the straight section between the chain attachment and the flukes
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| Shoal Water .............. |
Shallow water
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| Sloop ........................ |
A sailboat with a single mast and fore and aft rig, usually with a single jib and mainsail
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| Spring Line ............... |
A mooring rope oriented at a small angle to the vessels centre line
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| Starboard Side ........ |
The right hand side of a vessel when looking forward
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| Stays ......................... |
Fixed wire ropes leading forward from aloft on a mast to the deck to prevent the mast from bending aft. Backstays lead from aloft to aft
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| Stern .......................... |
After end of a vessel
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| Stow ........................... |
To put away. To stow cargo in a hold
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| Tiller ........................... |
An arm, attached to rudder stock, which turn the rudder
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| Transom .................... |
The stern cross section of a square sterned boat
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| Windlass ................... |
The machine used to hoist and lower anchors
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| Yawing ....................... |
Weaving motion of a vessel to port and starboard off course
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