Aft
Rear half of the vessel
aground
touching bottom
Amidship
The area in the middle of the vessel
anchor
A forging or casting shaped to grip the bottom by means of a rope or chain.
beam
A vessel's width at the midsection.
bilge
The lowest internal part of the boats hull.
Bow
the front part of a boat
Can Buoy
Green or black in colorCan shapedOdd numberedMarks the left side of a channel when returning from sea
Capacity Plate
plate on the inside of the vessel that displays maximum weight capacity and horsepower rating
Capsize
to turn bottom side up, upsetsyn: upend, tip over
Cleat
A piece of wood or metal with projecting ends to which lines are made fast.
Come About
To change course, or tack, in a sailboat.
Current
The movement of water in a horizontal direction.
Deck
Any permanent covering over a compartment.
Displacement Hull
The type of hull that plows through the water.
Draft
The depth of the vessel below the water line, measured vertically to the lowest part of the hull.
Freeboard
The vertical distance measured on a boat's side from the waterline to the gunwale.
Give-way vessel
The vessel that is required to take early and substantial action to keep well away from other vessels by stopping, slowing down or changing course
gunwale
the upper edge of the side of a boat or ship
Helm
the wheel or tiller by which a boat is steered
Hull
Body of a boat
Hypothermia
A physical condition where the body loses heat faster than it can produce it.
keel
The permanently positioned, fore-and-aft backbone member of a boat's hull.
mooring
A permanently anchored device a boat can tie out to.
Nun Buoy
A Conical, red buoy bearing an even number and marking the starboard side of a channel from seaward.Remember - "red, right, returning
PFD
personal flotation device (life jacket)
Planing Hull
Type of hull that is shaped to lift out of the water at high speeds and ride on the surface.
port
the left side of the boat when facing the bow
privileged vessel
Stand on vesselMaintains course and speed
Starboard
The right side of the boat when facing the bow.
Stern
The aft or back of the boat.
tide
The alternate rise and fall of waters caused by the gravitational attraction of the sun and moon.
transom
The transverse planking which forms the back of small, square-ended boats.
trim
To arrange or adjust the weight of the boat to achieve the desired draft
Underway
A vessel in motion.
Vessel
Every kind of watercraft.
Wake
Moving waves created by a vessel's motion.
Well
Area at the rear of the boat where the motor may be located.