Nautical Terms Glossary

There are certain nautical terms that you should know, even if you are a passenger on a boat. While there are many more boat terms than the ones listed here, these will get you off to a good start.

A

• Aboard: On the boat
• Above Deck: On the deck
• Abreast: Next to (your boat is abreast of your friend's boat)
• Aft: Toward the stern of the boat
• Alee: Away from the direction of the wind. If the wind is blowing west, east is alee.
• Amidships: Near the center of the boat
• Astern: In the back of the boat

B

• Batten down: Secure the hatches and all loose objects on the boat
• Bearing: The direction of an object, such as north or northwest. Can be a true bearing or a bearing on the map.
• Below: Beneath the deck
• Bow: The forward tip of the boat
• Bridge: The control station of the boat

C

• Capsize: To turn over
• Cast off: To let go. Cast off the lines means remove the lines from the moorings.
• Cleat: A fitting to which lines are tied
• Current: The horizontal movement of the water

D

• Draft: The depth of water a boat displaces

E

• Ebb: A receding current

F

• Fathom: A nautical measurement of distance from the surface of the water. One fathom is equal to six feet.
• Fender: A cushion, usually made from rubber, plastic or Styrofoam, that is placed between the boat and the pier to prevent damage to the boat when the boat is docked.
• Fore: Toward the bow of the boat

G

• Galley: The kitchen on a boat
• Gear: A general term used for ropes, tackle, blocks and other equipment

H

• Hatch: The opening in a boat's deck. It is fitted with a watertight cover. On larger boats, this can also refer to the openings between compartments below deck.
• Head: The toilet
• Heading: The direction the boat's bow is pointing toward
• Hull: The outer walls of the boat

L

• Line: Rope and cords on a boat

N

• Nautical mile: A nautical measurement of traveling distance, equal to one minute of latitude, or about 6,076 feet. It is about 1/8 mile longer than the statute mile used on land, which is 5,280 feet.

P

• Port: The left side of the boat, when looking forward, toward the bow

S

• Screw: A boat's propeller
• Sea cock: A valve that extends through the hull. It is a shut off on a plumbing or drain pipe between the boat's interior and the sea.
• Starboard: The right side of the boat, when facing forward toward the bow
• Stern: The back end of the boat

W

• Wake: Moving waves created by a vessel
• Windward: Toward the direction of the wind