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Boating terminology for first-time cruisers.

Post by Becky at Dockwa - Published on 02/16/22 5:00 AM

Whether you're hopping aboard for your first cruise or want to brush up on your boat terminology ( LOA, anyone ? ), this cheat sheet will help you to decipher some on-the-water lingo. Read on to familiarize yourself with some of the more frequently used words and phrases translated into everyday English.  (Not your first rodeo? Please share this with someone who might need a leg up for their first outing)

Marina Terminology

If you're more of a stowaway than a skipper, finding ways to make yourself useful can go a long way. Researching and securing dockage or helping keep watch while underway is a great place to start. Some terms to know as you help float plan: 

What is a float plan?  

A float plan is a document detailing the intended agenda for the boat, including vessel, crew, and equipment information, date of departure, date(s) of arrival, fuel stops, overnights, and dockage/anchorage reservations.

What's the difference between a slip and a dock?  

A slip is a dock section in which captains park their boats. The dock can refer to the general area of the marina where the boats tie up ("Let's head down to the dock") as well the actual flat floating structure itself ("This dock is badly damaged") . A marina's docks can encompass its slips, linear dockage, fuel dock, dinghy dock, and sometimes the ship's store or office. You may find cleats (ideally), electrical hookups, or water hookups near your slip. In addition, you may find a dock cart for toting gear or provisions, an ice machine, and bathrooms down the dock. 

What is linear dockage?

As opposed to a slip a boat pulls into, linear dockage is a marina configuration that docks boats by lining them up end to end along the dock, one boat's bow to another boat's stern. 

What is a mooring ball?

Also casually referred to as "a mooring," a mooring ball floats on the water's surface and is secured to the harbor bottom typically via a large, heavy, and permanently-installed anchor, cement block, or another immovable weight. Attached to a mooring ball generally, is a pennant, which is a length of rope with a loop at the end – the loop not only helps you grab the mooring ball's pennant using the boat's boat hook, it also is the loop through which a line will run to secure the boat to the mooring. Different harbors label their mooring balls in different ways, and they vary by the size of vessel they can accommodate. 

What is a dock piling?  

A piling is a heavy post, like a telephone pole embedded into the seafloor and used to secure docks in place or to which boats can be tied.

What does VHF stand for?

VHF stands for "very high frequency." On boats, the VHF is the onboard radio transmitter. Marinas (and other boaters, harbor patrols, and the Coast Guard) monitor specific VHF channels. Once you've reserved your dockage, a captain will put out a radio call on the marina monitors channel to let them know he is approaching, request a slip assignment if not provided via the app's Chat function, or ask for assistance. 

Boat Measurement Terminology

What is loa (length overall)  .

This definition is somewhat controversial. For any captain who has made a marina manager's day more hectic because they fibbed or fudged the numbers, this one's for you: When reserving dockage, if the marina asks for your vessel's Length Overall (LOA), they're asking for–wait for it–the overall length of the boat. The whole enchilada. No skimping, no "Oops, when did I get a swim platform?" The boat's branding, marketing materials, or the boat documentation that was done pre-customization may no longer have any bearing on reality. However, in the context of reserving a dock space or mooring, the marina needs to know your boat's literal LOA as measured from its aft-most to forward-most appendages, from the tip of your bowsprit to the back of your swim platform. ( Read more about why LOA matters .)

What is a boat's waterline length?

The length of a boat's hull where it intersects with the water.

What is a boat's draft?

A boat's draft is the vertical distance between the boat's waterline and the bottom of its keel. This measurement determines the minimum depth of water over which a ship can safely navigate. So when you hear "What does she draw?" the question at hand is, "What depth of water is required for the boat to float?" 

As a captain requests dockage from a marina, the marinas will likely ask for a boat's draft as they take the reservation details and often post Mean Low Water of its harbor and slips so that potential guests can make the call without an extra VHF or phone call. 

What is your boat's beam :

Your boat's beam is the vessel's width at its widest point. A marina needs to know this to determine the size of the slip they can offer based on the width of your beam. For example, if a marina has only single-vessel slips for boats up to a 16' beam, a large catamaran will not fit and will need to go on the linear dockage if available. In other contexts, you may hear beam: If a vessel or landmark is abeam, that means it is directly to port or starboard of your boat. If you are sailing on a beam reach, you are sailing a course 90° off the wind, with the wind abeam.

Boating Terminology

What does mob stand for  .

"Man Overboard!" (abbreviated as MOB) is the term to indicate to a boat's crew and passengers that someone has gone in the water. If you hear it and have not been assigned another job in the case of this happening, you can assist by simply finding the MOB and keeping a finger pointed at them at all times until rescued. You may be instructed to hit the Man Overboard button, sometimes labeled "MOB," on a boat's control panel. 

What is a lifering?

The lifering–also known as a ring buoy or lifebuoy – is orange, red, or white ring secured to the boat's stern and designed to be thrown to a person in the water to provide buoyancy and prevent drowning. Some modern liferings are outfitted with water-activated lights and tracking devices to aid rescue at night. Unlike throwable, liferings have a long line attached to them which connects to the boat so that once a MOB catches it, they can be pulled in with less exertion.

What is a throwable?

A throwable is a personal flotation device (PFD) that can be thrown at someone in the water to help prevent them from drowning. On recreational boats, they serve a second function as seat cushions. 

What is a Boat Boom?

The boom on a sailboat is a spar (pole) along the foot of the mainsail, which improves sail shape and serves as an attachment point for sail control lines. The boom is above the cockpit, which means it's above the crew in the cockpit. Therefore, when sailing, be mindful of where the boom is. If someone screams "BOOM!" or "DUCK!" don't look; duck immediately to avoid injury. 

What is a lifeline?

A lifeline is a wire or cable that runs outside the deck, supported by stanchions, to prevent crew or gear from falling overboard. Properly installed, you can dangle your body – and several others – over a lifeline (and thus, over the side of the boat) and feel confident you will not go in the water. 

What is a boat rail?

Many boats will have a toerail along the edge of a boat's deck. If when sailing someone asks you to get on the rail, they are likely asking you to hike out as far as you can  over the toerail (or where a toerail would typically be) on the high side of the boat. 

What are knots in boating?

A measurement of speed in nautical miles per hour. 

What are RPMs?

The revolutions per minute on a boat's engine dictates how fast a vessel can accelerate and travel in various sea states.

What is planing in boating?  

Getting a boat to plane involves physics, which will be  better explained by Wikipedia .. . In layman's terms, for a first-time cruiser, know that getting a boat to plane on a powerboat or dinghy may require bringing up the RPMs relatively quickly.

What is heeling?

Heeling is when a sailboat leans over in the water as the wind pushes its sails. When heeling, you will be safest and likely more helpful (even if it's just your weight helping to flatten the boat) on the windward side of the ship. 

What is the difference between a bow and stern?

Generally speaking, the bow is the front location of the boat, and the stern is the back. 

What is the difference between port and starboard?

The port is to your left when facing the boat's bow, and the starboard is to your right. You may hear phrases like, "There's a boat to port," "Leave the mark to starboard," or "The gallon of rum is in the starboard aft cabin."

What is the difference between windward & leeward?

Windward is the point upwind from the point of reference (i.e., you or the boat you're on). Leeward is the direction downwind from the point of contact. The side of a ship that is too leeward is the lee side. On a sailboat that is heeling, the windward side is always the high side, and the leeward side is the side of the boat closest to the water. When sailing (particularly racing), someone yelling, "Get to windward!" translates to "Please make your way to the high side of the boat immediately if not sooner."

What is a winch?  

Merriam-Webster defines a winch as "any of various machines or instruments for hauling or pulling; especially: a powerful machine with one or more drums on which to coil a rope, cable, or chain for hauling or hoisting." On a sailboat, the crew will use a winch to hoist or trim a sail by coiling the sail's sheet or halyard onto it for added leverage. Once pulled in by hand as far as possible, they'll use a winch handle to trim the sail in the rest of the way or to hoist the sail to its uppermost point.

What is a bilge in boating? 

The bilge is the lowest section of a boat where water typically collects. If someone tells you to "check the bilge," they ask you to verify (you may have to lift a floorboard in the main salon) that there is little or no water collected, which can weigh a boat down and thus increase drag. If the bilge has water, you can use a bilge pump to empty it. If ever you see water coming above the floorboards, let someone know immediately. 

Boating etiquette for new cruisers

If you are a smoker, go to the stern (or "go aft" ) to smoke. If you smoke anywhere forward of your fellow shipmates, the smoke will be blown on to them.  

On some boats, people will relieve themselves off the side of the boat so as to avoid going below, opening valves for the head, etc. Always go aft and to leeward to do this, and always keep one hand on the boat. 

If you feel seasick and believe you will be physically ill, make your way aft and leeward if it is safe to do so. As you do, let your captain know– if, on a sailboat that is heeled over, he may opt to right the boat (by turning into the wind, luffing the sails–which slows or stops the vessel). Or ask you to go below rather than put yourself in a potentially precarious position on your first outing. 

Boating Navigation Terminology

What is a nautical chart.

A nautical chart represents a sea, lake, or river's area and nearby coastal regions. Depending on the chart's scale, it may show water depth, navigation aids, navigational hazards, and artificial structures such as harbors, locks, bridges, and buildings. Should the boat's navigation system fail, most boats keep paper chart books of the boat's most frequented region aboard. 

What is a Course in Boating?

Your boat's course is the direction the vessel is heading or steered; its movement through the water. 

What's the difference between heading and bearing?

Your heading is the compass direction in which a vessel is pointing. Your bearing is the compass reading taken off an object in relation to the observer.

What's a Compass?

A compass is a device that always points towards magnetic north, used for navigation

What is a mark in boating?  

A mark is a  fixed buoyage indicator, such as a lighted buoy, a day beacon, can, or mile marker.   Click here for the U.S. Coast Guard's excellent guide to navigation aids and right of way rules . 

What does ETA stand for?  

ETA is estimated time of arrival. An accurate ETA is like seeing a mermaid in boating: an impossibility that may result from delusion or hallucination but intriguing to ponder and share nonetheless.

Boating Terms to know when docking or mooring

What does a dock hand do.

A dock hand is an employee of the marina or yacht club you're about to tie up to. Whenever possible, dock hands make themselves available to catch lines, assist a vessel in tying up or shoving off, answer questions about the marina and surrounding area to the best of their ability, and, if applicable, provide pumpout or fuel service. 

What is a hull?  

The hull is the watertight body, commonly made of wood, aluminum, or fiberglass. To reduce hull weakening due to water or ultraviolet light, manufacturers or boat owners will paint a fiberglass boat's hull with Gelcoat, which requires repair if damaged while underway or docking. 

What is a fender in boating?  

In boating, a fender – typically made out of rubber, foam elastomer, or plastic – is used to cushion the force of a boat as it approaches or remains secured to a dock, a wall, or another boat, to prevent damage to other vessels, or structures. A fender may be tied to rails, lifelines, or cleats aboard a vessel. A cleat is used to "hand-fend" as the boat approaches or departs a slip or raft-up. 

What is a cleat?

Merriam-Webster defines a cleat as "a wooden or metal fitting usually with two projecting horns around which a rope may be made fast." Cruising, you'll find cleats on board the boat as well as on the dock, and when docking, the bow line, stern line, and spring lines will secure the boat to the dock by making fast a cleat knot on each. 

What's the difference between lines and ropes? 

On a boat, the words rope and line are not interchangeable. It's just a rope when cordage wasn't assigned to a task. However, once it's prepped or in use for a specific job (such as securing an anchor to the bow, securing the boat to the dock, or hanging a fender off the rail), the rope is now in use as a line. A line is referred to by the job it performs: anchor line, dock line, fender line, etc.

What's the difference between sheets and halyards?

A sheet is a word for a line being used to trim a sail. A halyard is a term for a cable used to hoist a sail. Like the lines, these also get named: main sheet (the sheet controlling the mainsail), jib sheets (a pair of sheets that contain jib trim), spinnaker sheets, main halyard, jib halyard, spinnaker halyard, and so on. When under sail, whichever sheet is in use is a working sheet. The sheet not in use is the lazy sheet. 

What is leeway in boating?  

Leeway refers to the sideways drift to leeward of the desired course. If while docking, the helmsman (or anyone) asks you, "Do I have some leeway?" no matter which way the boat is moving, that person is asking for an estimate as to the boat's distance from the dock or any other fixed mark. 

Parts of a boat to know when on deck 

What is a helm  .

The helm is technically the name of the location where the steering and engine controls are located, and can be used as a the interchangeably for the ship's wheel itself, e.g. "Take the helm." 

What is a cockpit in boating?

The  cockpit is traditionally the open well in the boat's deck, typically toward the stern, which houses the helm. 

What is forward vs. aft?

Forward can be used in a few ways. When you're moving towards the bow, you're "going forward." Forward also refers to the general area of the boat that is towards the bow. When you are moving towards the boat's rear end, you are "going aft."

What is a boat's companionway?  

A boat's companionway is a raised hatch with a ladder leading below. You may find it hand-holds on the sides of the ladder or the sides of the steps turned up on both sides to help you step while the boat is heeled over. 

What is a boat's dodger?  

A dodger is a frame-supported canvas structure (usually with clear vinyl windows) that covers part of the cockpit and the entrance to the companionway, thus helping protect the sailboat's interior from weather and waves. A dodger can also help keep a boat's helmsman and crew dry.

What is a bimini top?  

A bimini top would likely be made of the same material as a dodger and stands aft of the cockpit, above the helmsman, but does not provide protection from forwarding waves.

What is a transom?

The transom is part of a vessel's stern where the port and starboard sides meet, and it's a critical part of the hull. As you advance from the transom, the two sides of a boat curve together to meet at the bow, forming the shape of a boat's hull.

Boating Terminology to know when below deck

What is a boat's galley.

The galley is the kitchen on a boat. 

What is a boat's cabin?

Any enclosed room on a boat. 

What is a boat's head? 

The head is the bathroom. You may hear someone say, "I'm going to hit the head," or "The head is broken," or "Tommy is no longer allowed to use the head."  Alternatively, a sailor might say, "I'm gonna hit the head," and then make moves to the stern of the boat toward that purpose. 

What is a nav station in boating?  

Before the world of iPads and onboard wifi, many boats had a broad table below deck, at which a captain could plot a course on a large paper chart while still in sight of the helm. Also, on, near, or in the nav station, you'll likely find a VHF radio, the boat's control panel, and approximately 400 pairs of old beat-up sunglasses. 

What is a boat's stow?

When underway, heeling and waves can send gear sailing across salons and cabins. Stowing your gear–meaning putting it away in a cabinet, strapping it down with lines, or otherwise packing it securely–will keep electronics from breaking, prevent beer from exploding, help the crew negotiate piles of sails without worrying about bags. Overall will provide more peace of mind to anyone above not to hear pandemonium below every time the boat hits a wave. 

What is a tack vs a jibe in boating?

While tacking and jibing are sailing maneuvers, if you are below deck and hear either term yelled on deck or someone yells it down the companionway at you, take this as an indication that you should hold on to something. 

What clutch boating terms did we miss? Email suggestions to  [email protected]  or post in our  Facebook Group . 

Be sure to check out our other blog posts to get an inside look at our favorite destinations, marinas, and tips for first-time boaters. Join the conversation on Flipboard , Facebook ,  Twitter , and  Instagram .

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• Boating Terminology

Welcome to the world of boating! If you’ve ever felt lost in the lingo of the maritime world, you’re in the right place. Boating terminology might seem like a foreign language at first, but with a bit of guidance, it will become as clear as calm waters on a sunny day.

This guide aims to be your compass, helping you navigate through the essentials of boating jargon. Whether you’re a seasoned skipper, a budding sailor, or just dipping your toes in, we hope to provide clarity on your journey. Ready to learn the language of the seas?

A1 — Ship classifications indicating top quality or the best.

Abaft — Towards the rear (stern) of the boat, often in reference to a specific object or position.

Abandon Ship! — A command to exit the vessel quickly, typically due to danger.

Abeam — At a right angle to the boat’s keel, either to the side or off the boat, not on the boat.

Aboard — On or inside the boat.

Above Board — Being on or above the deck, in plain view. It also means actions that are honest and transparent. The term’s origin is linked to gambling, not nautical practices.

Above Deck — On the deck, not above it. (For “above it”, see “Aloft”).

Abreast — Side by side or alongside something.

Adrift — Floating freely without being anchored or powered, moved by currents and tides.

Afloat — A vessel that is floating freely, not grounded or sunk.

Aft — Towards the rear or stern of the boat.

Aground — A vessel touching or stuck to the bottom, usually unintentionally.

Ahead — Moving or positioned in a forward direction from the boat.

Ahoy — A call to get attention, especially to hail a boat or ship.

Ahull — A boat lying sideways to the sea. A technique used to ride out a storm with no sails and helm to leeward.

Aid to Navigation (ATON) — Devices outside a vessel or aircraft, like buoys or lighthouses, to help navigators determine position or safe paths.

Alee — Away from the wind’s direction, opposite of windward.

All Standing — Having all sails up while moving with the wind.

All-Round Light — A light that displays continuously in a 360-degree arc, like a masthead light on power vessels.

Aloft — Above the boat’s deck, typically on the mast or rigging.

Alongside — Next to a ship or pier.

Amidships — At or towards the boat’s centre.

Anchor — A weighty object used to stop or reduce a ship’s drift.

Anchor Ball — A round black sign raised at the front of a vessel to indicate it’s anchored.

Anchor Buoy — A small buoy attached to an anchor with a light line to show its position on the seabed.

Anchorage — A location ideal for anchoring, considering wind, seas, and seabed. It can also refer to a harbour area.

Apparent Wind — The wind felt on the boat, combining true wind and wind from the boat’s movement.

As the Crow Flies — A term meaning the shortest distance between two points. It’s often mistakenly linked to a maritime story about crows. It’s said that crows always know the direction to land.

Ashore — On the land or beach.

Astern — Behind or towards the rear of the boat.

At Loggerheads — In disagreement or conflict, originates from a tool that was sometimes used as a weapon.

Athwartships — Positioned at a right angle to the boat’s centerline, like rowboat seats.

Autopilot — A device, either electronic or mechanical, that automatically steers the boat on a set course.

Auxiliary Power — A permanent engine on the boat for tasks other than moving. Jokingly, oars can be called this.

Awash — So submerged that water constantly flows over the top.

Aweigh — Describes an anchor when it’s lifted off the seabed.

Back and Fill — Using the tide’s advantage when the wind isn’t favourable.

Bailer — A tool for removing unwanted water from a boat. Usually a bucket.

Ballast — Heavy material, like lead or iron, in the boat’s keel or bilge for stability.

Bank — A large elevated area of the sea floor.

Bar — A raised area of sand or earth in the sea, often near river mouths, that can be hazardous.

Bar Pilot — A guide for ships navigating dangerous sandbars at river mouths or bays.

Barge In — Refers to the forceful movement of large, hard-to-maneuver river barges.

Batten Down — Secure loose objects and hatches on the boat.

Beam — The boat’s widest part.

Bear Down or Bear Away — Turn away from the wind.

Bearing — The direction of an object, either as shown on a chart or relative to the boat’s heading.

Below — Under the boat’s deck.

Berth — A boat’s sleeping space, a place to anchor, or a safe distance between vessels.

Bight — The rope section where a knot forms.

Bilge — The boat’s bottom compartment where water collects.

Bimini — A weather-resistant fabric stretched over a frame, providing shade above a boat’s cockpit.

Bitter End — The last or loose end of a rope or cable.

Boat — A waterborne vehicle smaller than a ship.

Bombora — A shallow area where waves might break.

Boom — A pole extending at a right angle from the mast.

Boot Top — A painted line indicating the boat’s intended waterline.

Booty — Refers to plunder or treasure, often associated with pirates.

Brass Monkey — A term mistakenly believed to refer to a tray holding cannonballs on ships.

Bridge — The place from which a vessel is steered and its speed controlled.

Bridle — A line or wire secured at both ends to distribute strain.

Brightwork — Varnished woodwork or polished metal on a boat.

Broach — A sudden, sharp turn of a sailing vessel, often causing it to tilt or capsize.

Bulkhead — A vertical wall inside a ship separating its compartments.

Buoy — A floating marker anchored in place, used for navigation or mooring.

Buoyancy Operated Aquatic Transport — A humorous, incorrect origin for the word “boat.”

Burdened Vessel — A vessel that must yield to another according to navigation rules.

Burgee — A small flag indicating yacht club membership, flown from a yacht’s masthead.

By and Large — Refers to a ship’s ability to sail well in various wind conditions.

Cabin — An enclosed room on a boat.

Cable — A thick rope.

Capsize — When a boat overturns.

Careening — Tilting a ship on its side, often when beached, for maintenance.

Cast Off — Release or let go.

Cat out of the Bag — Revealing a secret. It has not been proven to have a nautical origin related to the cat-o-nine tails whip.

Catamaran — A boat with two hulls side by side.

Centreboard — A board that pivots to prevent the boat from sliding sideways.

Chafing — Wear and tear on a line or sail caused by constant rubbing.

Chafing Gear — Material used to protect a line from rubbing against rough surfaces.

Chain Locker — A space in the front of the ship for storing the anchor chain.

Chart — A map used by navigators.

Chart Datum — The baseline for tidal height used in Tide Tables.

Chine — Where the bottom and sides of a flat or v-bottomed boat meet.

Chock — A fitting, often U-shaped, for anchor or mooring lines.

Clean Slate — Starting fresh. Originates from the idea of cleaning writing slates, not specifically nautical.

Cleat — A fitting to which lines are secured.

Clove Hitch — A knot for temporarily attaching a line to a spar or piling.

Coaming — The raised edge of a hatch or cockpit to prevent water entry.

Cockpit — The area from which the boat is steered.

Coil — Laying a line down in circular turns.

Colregs — International rules for preventing collisions at sea.

Come to — To steer the boat closer to the wind’s direction.

Compass — Instrument showing the boat’s direction relative to Earth’s poles.

Course — The direction a boat is steered.

Cuddy — A small sheltered cabin on a boat.

Cunningham (also called a Downhaul) — Adjusts the tension of a sail’s front edge.

Current — The horizontal movement of water.

Davit — A device, similar to a small crane, used to lift a tender on and off a boat.

Dead Ahead — Directly in front.

Dead Astern — Directly behind the vessel.

Dead Reckoning — A method of navigation.

Deadrise — The angle between the boat’s keel and a horizontal line. Indicates the hull’s shape.

Deadwood — Wooden part in the centerline structure of a boat, typically between the sternpost and the middle of the boat.

Deck — A covering over a compartment or part of a boat, serving as a floor.

Deck Supervisor — A person overseeing all activities and maintenance on the deck.

Deckhand — Individual assisting the deck supervisor with tasks like cleaning and maintenance on the deck.

Deckhead — The underside of the deck above.

Decks — Covering over a compartment or part of a ship that acts as a floor.

Deep Six — To discard or get rid of something. Originates from the nautical term for a depth of six feet (a fathom).

Devil and the Deep Blue Sea — Being in a difficult situation with no easy way out. Refers to a challenging seam on a ship and the sea below.

Dinghy — A small open boat, often used as a support vessel for a larger craft.

Displacement — The weight of a boat, is equivalent to the weight of the water it displaces.

Displacement Hull — A hull design that moves through the water by displacing its weight in water.

Distance — Refers to nautical miles, with one nautical mile equaling 1.852 km.

Dock — A protected area in water where vessels are moored, can also refer to a pier or wharf.

Dolphin — A structure made of piles bound together, used for mooring or other purposes.

Draft or Draught — The depth of a ship’s keel below the waterline; indicates how deep water needs to be for the ship to float.

Ebb — A receding current, typically when the tide falls and the water level lowers.

Ebb Tide — A tide that is decreasing or going out.

Echo Sounding — A method to measure water depth using sonar.

Embayed — A sailing vessel trapped between two headlands by onshore winds.

Enclosed Waters — Ports or navigable waterways.

Ensign — A flag indicating a vessel’s nationality.

EPIRB — An emergency device signalling a vessel’s position using radio. Short for Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon. Learn more about EPIRB .

Fairway — A navigable channel or waterway.

Fast — Held firmly; e.g., stuck on the seabed or tied securely.

Fathom — A unit of length, 6 feet (1.8 m), used to measure depth.

Fender — A cushion used to prevent boats from damaging docks or each other.

Fetch — The distance wind or waves have traveled across water; or to reach a mark without changing course.

Figure Eight Knot — A knot shaped like the number eight, used to prevent a line from slipping through a hole or loop.

Flank — The maximum speed of a ship, faster than “full speed.”

Flare — A signalling device indicating distress; or the outward curve of a vessel’s sides near the bow.

Flood or Flow — An incoming current.

Flood Tide — A tide that is increasing or coming in.

Floorboards — The surface of the cockpit where the crew stands.

Fluke — The palm or flat part of an anchor.

Flybridge — A driving station located above the main level of the boat.

Following Sea — Sea with waves approaching from the boat’s stern; waves moving in the same direction as the vessel.

Fore and Aft — In a line parallel to the keel.

Fore or Foreward — Towards the bow of the boat.

Forefoot — The lower part of a ship’s stem.

Forepeak — A compartment located in the bow of a small boat.

Forward — Toward the bow of the boat.

Fouled — Refers to equipment that is jammed, entangled, or dirtied.

Freeboard — The distance from the waterline to the deck; the minimum vertical distance from the water surface to the gunwale.

Galley — The kitchen area of a boat or ship.

Gangplank — A movable bridge for boarding or leaving a ship at a pier.

Gangway — An opening in the ship’s side for boarding or disembarking; also the area of a ship’s side where people board and disembark.

Gear — A general term for ropes, blocks, tackle, and other equipment.

Ghost — To sail slowly in very light wind.

Give-way — To slow, stop, go astern, or change course to avoid another vessel.

Give-way Vessel — The vessel that must yield in situations involving risk of collision. Also known as the “burdened vessel.”

Global Positioning System (GPS) — A satellite-based navigation system providing continuous worldwide coverage.

Go Astern — To reverse engines or move backward.

Grab Rails — Hand-hold fittings on cabin tops and sides for safety when moving around the boat.

Ground — The bed of the sea.

Ground Tackle — A term for the anchor and its associated gear.

Grounding — When a ship touches the seabed or goes “aground.”

Gunwale — The upper edge of a boat’s sides; pronounced “funnel”.

Gybe or Jibe — Turning the boat so the stern crosses the wind, changing the direction in which the boat is sailing.

Hand Over Fist — Earning or pulling in something rapidly, originating from sailors quickly pulling in ropes.

Harbor — A safe and protected place for boats to anchor, can be natural or man-made.

Hard Chine — The sharp intersection between the side and bottom of a boat’s hull.

Harden Up — To sail closer to the direction of the wind.

Hatch — A watertight cover for an opening in a boat’s deck.

Hatchway — An opening in a ship’s deck for cargo or access; its cover is the hatch.

Hauling Wind — Sailing towards the direction of the wind.

Hawse Pipe/Hole — The hole in a ship’s bow for the anchor chain.

Head — A marine toilet or the upper corner of a triangular sail.

Head Sea — Waves coming directly against the ship’s direction.

Head Up — Sailing in a direction closer to the wind.

Heading — The direction the ship’s bow is pointing.

Headway — The forward movement of a boat.

Heave — The up-and-down motion of a vessel.

Heave To — Sailing with minimal forward motion by steering into the wind.

Helm — The device, wheel or tiller, used to steer a ship.

Helmsman or Helmsperson — The person responsible for steering a ship.

Hitch — A knot for tying a rope to an object or another rope.

Hold — A compartment in a large ship for carrying cargo.

Hull — The main body or frame of a vessel.

In Irons — A sailboat stalled with its bow facing the wind, unable to move.

In the Soup — A boat in thick fog.

Inboard — Towards the centre of a vessel or a motor fitted inside a boat.

Inboard Motor — An engine inside the hull of a vessel, driving a propeller via a shaft.

Intracoastal Waterway — A series of waterways along coasts, allowing travel without entering the open sea.

Irons — A boat facing the wind with sails flapping, potentially moving backward.

Jacobs Ladder — A rope ladder lowered from a ship’s deck for boarding.

Jetsam — Debris from a ship that has sunk or washed ashore.

Jetty — A structure projecting from the shore, often protecting a harbour entrance.

Jibe or Gybe — Turning the boat so the stern crosses the wind, changing its direction.

Keel — The backbone of a vessel, running from the front to the back.

Keel Over — Refers to a boat capsizing; also means passing out or dying.

Kicker — A device to prevent the boom from rising.

Knot (speed) — A unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour.

Knot (tie) — A method of fastening or securing linear material such as rope by tying or interweaving.

Know the Ropes — Understanding how something is done; also refers to a sailor’s familiarity with the ropes on a ship.

Land Lubber — A person not familiar with the sea or sailing.

Lanyard — A small rope used to tie or secure something.

Latitude — The distance north or south of the equator, measured in degrees.

Layline — The course on which a boat can directly approach a windward mark.

Lazarette — A storage space located at the back end of a boat.

Leads — Marks indicating the centre of a navigable channel when aligned.

League — A unit of length, typically equal to 3 nautical miles.

Lee Shore — The shore onto which the wind is blowing.

Lee Side — The side of a ship protected from the wind.

Lee Ward — The direction away from the wind; the downwind side.

Leeway — Sideways movement of a boat due to wind or current.

Length Overall (LOA) — Total length of a boat.

Length Water Line (LWL) — Length of the boat at the water’s surface.

Life Buoy — Floating ring used for safety in water.

Lifebelt — Device to keep a person afloat in water.

Lifeboat — Small vessel for safety, often used in emergencies.

Limey — Slang for British people, originating from the British Navy’s use of limes.

Line — Rope used on a vessel, with a specific name based on its use.

Log — Record of operations or a device to measure speed.

Longitude — Distance in degrees east or west of Greenwich, England.

Loose Cannon — An unpredictable person or thing; that originates from unsecured cannons on ships.

Lubber’s Line — Line on a compass indicating forward direction parallel to the keel.

Luffing — Pointing the boat into the wind, causing the sail to flap.

Magnetic North — The direction a compass points to, aligning with Earth’s magnetic field.

Mainsheet — Line controlling the mainsail’s position.

Making Way — Vessel moving through water using power or sail.

Man Overboard! — Alert given when someone falls into the water.

Marina — Place for boats to get fuel, water, and services.

Mark — A reference point for navigation or race requirements.

Marlin Board — Small deck at the rear for easy water access.

Marlinspike — Tool used for rope splicing.

Mast — Vertical pole supporting sails or rigging.

Mess — Ship’s dining area or a group of crew eating together.

Midship — Central part of a ship, between bow and stern.

Mile — Refers to nautical mile.

Moor — To secure a boat to a buoy, post, or dock.

Mooring — System to secure a boat to a buoy or pier.

Nautical — Relating to sailors or maritime activities.

Nautical Mile — Distance equal to 1.852 km or 1.151 miles; used in maritime navigation.

Navigation — Art of guiding a boat safely from one place to another.

Navigation Lights — Lights on a vessel for nighttime or low visibility.

Navigation Rules — Guidelines for vessel movement to avoid collisions.

Obstruction — Object that forces a boat to change course to avoid it.

On the Quarter — Direction towards the back of the boat, but not directly behind.

Open Waters — Navigable waters not enclosed, often referred to as the ocean.

Outboard — Beyond the boat’s sides or a detachable engine on the boat’s rear.

Outboard Motor — External engine on the back of a small boat.

Outhaul — Adjuster that tightens the sail’s bottom edge.

Outward Bound — Leaving port for the open ocean.

Overboard — Falling or thrown outside the boat.

Overhaul — Adjusting ropes over sails to prevent wear.

Overhead — The bottom of the deck above, or “ceiling”.

Personal Flotation Device (PFD) — Lifejacket, categorized by usage. Mandatory in some places like Australia.

Personal Watercraft (PWC) — Recreational vessel designed for standing or kneeling operation.

Pier — Loading platform extending from the shore at an angle.

Pile — A pole driven into the bottom, used for support or to tie boats. It can be made of wood, metal or concrete.

Piling — Supports made of piles, used for wharves, piers, etc.

Pilot — Expert navigator for guiding vessels through challenging waters.

Piloting — Navigating using visible landmarks and water depth.

PIM (Points of Intended Movement) — Charted course for naval movements.

Pipe Down — Means to be quiet; originated from a signal to go below deck.

Pitch — Boat’s up and down motion at the front and back.

Planing — When a boat skims on the water’s surface due to high speed.

Planing Hull — A boat designed to glide on water at high speeds.

Plimsol Line — Mark showing the waterline when a ship is fully loaded.

Port — Left side of a boat when facing forward; also a harbour.

Port Tack — Sailing with the wind coming from the left side; must yield to boats on the right side.

Port-Side — Left side of a boat when looking from the back.

Porthole — Round window on a ship’s side.

Posh — English term for fancy; falsely believed to originate from ship luggage labels.

Privileged Vessel — Vessel with the right-of-way according to navigation rules.

Quarter — The sides of a boat behind its middle section.

Quartering Sea — Sea waves approaching a boat’s side towards the back.

Quayside — The dock or platform where a boat is tied up.

Radar — Electronic system to detect objects by reflecting radio signals.

Radar Reflector — Device enhancing a vessel’s visibility on radar.

Reaching — Sailing across the wind at various angles.

Recreational Skipper’s Ticket — An official certification proving an individual’s competence to operate recreational vessels safely in specific waters. Learn how to get a skipper’s ticket .

Reefing — Reducing sail area due to strong winds or to slow down.

Rig — The setup of a boat’s mast, sails, and supporting structures.

Rigging — System of masts and lines on sailing vessels.

Rode — The line and/or chain connected to an anchor.

Roll — Boat’s side-to-side rocking motion.

Rope — Cordage as bought from a store; becomes “line” when used on a vessel.

Rudder — Underwater plate used for steering a boat.

Run — Letting a line move freely.

Running — Sailing with the wind, sails fully extended.

Running Lights — Lights on boats used from sunset to sunrise while moving.

Sail Trim — Adjusting sail position relative to the wind.

Sandbar — Raised area in shallow water formed by waves or currents.

Satellite Navigation (Sat. Nav.) — Positioning system using signals from satellites.

Scope — Ratio of anchor line length to the distance from the boat’s bow to the water bottom.

Screw — Another term for a boat’s propeller.

Scuppers — Drains on a boat’s deck or sides.

Sea Anchor — Stabilizer used in rough weather to keep a boat aligned with the wind.

Sea Room — Safe distance from hazards like the shore.

Seacock — A valve in a boat’s hull for drainage.

Seamanship — Skills and knowledge related to boat handling and maintenance.

Seaworthy — A boat’s ability to safely navigate at sea.

Secure — To fasten or make tight.

Set — The direction a current is flowing towards.

Sextant — An instrument for measuring the angle between a celestial object and the horizon, used in navigation.

Ship — A large vessel designed for deep-water travel, capable of carrying smaller boats.

Skipper — The person responsible for operating and ensuring the safety of a boat or ship; the captain. Learn more about a skipper .

Slack — Loose or unfastened; also refers to loosening a rope or line.

Sole — The floor inside a cabin or saloon; also, the bottom part of a rudder or the deck of a cockpit.

Sounding — The action or process of measuring water depth, often using specialized equipment.

Speed — Measurement of velocity in ‘knots’, where one knot equals one nautical mile per hour.

Spinnaker — A large, lightweight sail used for sailing downwind, especially during races.

Spinnaker Pole — A pole used to extend the spinnaker sail outwards from the boat’s edge.

Sponson — A projection from a ship’s side, serving various purposes like protection or as a gun platform.

Spreader — Small horizontal bars on a mast to hold the shrouds away from the mast, aiding in its support.

Spring Line — A rope used to secure a boat to a dock, preventing it from moving forward or backward.

Squall — A sudden, strong burst of wind, often accompanied by rain.

Square Knot — A knot joining two ropes of similar size; also known as a reef knot.

Square Meal — A substantial, satisfying meal. The term’s origin is debated, but “square” has historically meant “proper” or “satisfactory”.

Stand On — Continue on the current course and speed.

Stand-on Vessel — The vessel that has the right-of-way in a navigation situation, typically when encountering another vessel.

Standing Part — The main section of a rope that remains fixed.

Starboard (side) — The right side of a boat when facing forward.

Starboard Tack — Sailing with the wind coming from the right side; has the right-of-way over boats on the left (port) tack.

Stem — The frontmost part of a boat’s bow.

Stern — The rear or back part of a boat.

Stern Line — A rope used to secure the back of a boat when docking.

Stinkpot — Slang term for fast powerboats that leave a trail of exhaust.

Stow — To store or place an item in its designated spot.

Strong Wind Warning — A warning is issued when winds exceeding 25 knots are expected.

Surge — A boat’s forward and backward motion.

Swamp — To fill a boat with water without it sinking to the bottom.

Sway — A boat’s side-to-side motion.

Swimboard — A platform at the back of a boat for easy water access.

Tack — The lower front corner of a sail.

Tacking — Changing a boat’s direction by turning its front into the wind.

Tender — A small boat used to transport people or goods to and from a larger boat.

The Devil to Pay — A phrase with debated origins, one being related to a challenging seam on a ship to caulk.

The Whole Nine Yards — A phrase with multiple supposed origins, one being related to having all sails up on a ship.

Three Sheets to the Wind — Refers to being drunk; originates from uncontrolled sails on a ship.

Thwart — A seat that goes across a boat.

Thwartships — Positioned at a right angle to the boat’s centerline.

Tide — The regular rise and fall of the sea’s water level due to gravitational interactions with the Moon and Sun.

Tiller — A handle used to steer a boat’s rudder or an outboard motor.

Topside — The upper part of a boat’s hull; sometimes refers to the area above the deck.

Transom — The flat back surface of a boat.

Trim — How a boat is balanced in the water.

True Bearing — A bearing using the geographical North Pole as a reference.

True Colors — Revealing one’s true nature; originates from ships hiding or deceiving with flags.

True North — The direction pointing towards the geographical North Pole.

True Wind — The actual wind direction and strength. Not influenced by the boat’s movement.

Under the Weather — Feeling ill; originates from sick sailors being sent below deck to avoid worsening conditions.

Underway — When a boat is moving and not anchored or moored.

Upwind — The direction from which the wind is coming.

V-Berth — Sleeping areas in the shape of a “V” at the front of a boat.

V-Bottom — A boat hull shaped like a “V”.

V-Hull — Refers to the front sleeping areas of a boat shaped like a “V”.

V-Sheet — A fluorescent sheet with a black “V”, used offshore to signal distress.

Vanishing Angle — The maximum tilt degree after which a boat can’t return to an upright position.

Vessel — A broad term for all waterborne vehicles.

VHF (Very High Frequency) — Radiofrequency used for marine communication.

Wake — The trail of waves a boat leaves as it moves.

Wash — Waves created by a moving vessel.

Waterline — The line on a boat’s hull where it meets the water when properly balanced.

Way — A boat’s movement through the water.

Waypoint — A navigational point defined by coordinates on a planned route.

Weather Side — The side of a ship facing the wind.

Windward — The direction from which the wind is coming.

Yacht — A luxury boat, either sail or power-driven.

Yaw — A boat’s side-to-side movement, especially when off course.

Zephyr — A gentle breeze.

Zinc Block — A sacrificial metal block, typically zinc, used to prevent corrosion of a boat’s underwater parts due to electrolysis.

Thanks for learning the language of boating with us! We hope this guide helps you understand nautical terms and boating terminology that once seemed confusing.

Just as every boater relies on their compass and map, let this glossary be a constant reference on your maritime adventures. Whether you’re a casual boater or a seasoned captain, understanding these terms will help you with a smooth boating journey.

As you continue to explore your boating knowledge, always remember: that every journey starts with a single wave. Happy boating!

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A Cruise Lingo Glossary to Make You Sound Like a Pro

By Andrea M. Rotondo

Do you know your roll from your wake ? Just like every other industry on the planet, the cruise business uses a few words and terms that may, at first glance, leave you scratching your head. For first-timers, here’s a quick reference cheat sheet that lists the most important lingo to know before your book your first cruise. We’ll talk about booking and cabin terms as well as crew and ship-specific lingo. Let’s dig in:

BOOKING TERMS

Cabin category: Every cruise ship offers accommodations in different categories, ranging from inside staterooms (no windows) to ocean view (with a porthole or panoramic windows) to balcony/veranda rooms to full-blown, multi-room suites. The higher the cabin category, the more you can expect to pay for those accommodations.

Charter: Any group of individuals—a company, church group, or family members—can charter all or part of a cruise ship. It’s a good idea to ask if there are any partial charters booked on any sailing you’re interested in taking. Sometimes large partial-ship charters book entire restaurants for certain nights of the cruise or can be disruptive to other passengers.

Crossing: If you book a “crossing,” that means your itinerary crosses the Atlantic or Pacific oceans.

Cruise contract: The cruise ticket contract lists the terms and conditions passengers agree to when they book a sailing. It lists all types of things, like what you can expect if your cruise is canceled or what happens if you miss embarkation due to travel delays. This document is filled with legalese but you should try to read through it before booking your voyage since you will be signing away some of your rights as soon as you make a payment.

Cruise fare: The cruise fare outlines how much each person will pay for the voyage and stipulates exactly what is included in that fare.

Deck plan: You can’t easily learn your way around a ship without first reviewing the deck plan. These illustrations show what type of staterooms are located on each deck along with the location of elevators, laundry rooms, restaurants, theaters, and shops.

Double occupancy: Most cruise fares are based on double occupancy. That means two people sharing one cabin.

Guarantee: Also known as “run of ship,” a guarantee is a type of cruise fare. You book a particular cabin category but are not assigned a cabin number. Instead, the cruise ship keeps selling that cabin category. If it sells out, you might be bumped up to a better stateroom category. If you’re not, you’re guaranteed a spot in the category you originally booked.

Itinerary: The itinerary lists the voyage’s schedule day by day, noting both ports of call and sea days.

Port expenses: Wherever you sail, each port of call will levy a charge based on local taxes and fees. That fee is charged to the cruise company, which then in turn charges it back to you. Cruise fares generally don’t include port expenses and other taxes and fees.

Repositioning cruise: This is a one-way itinerary that effectively moves a cruise ship from one part of the world to another. Look for repositioning cruises as the seasons change, as these itineraries are often well priced.

Sea day: A day in which the cruise ship does not visit a port of call and stays on the open water.

Shorex: This is the abbreviation for “shore excursion.” You can book a shorex through your cruise line or independently.

Single supplement: Cruise fares are based on double occupancy. If you are traveling solo, you will likely be charged a single supplement. Some cruise ships charge 150 to 200 percent of the cruise fare while other ships offer a small number of single cabins that don’t cost extra. Most river cruise lines are moving away from the idea of the single supplement and offer sailings that won’t cost extra for solo travelers.

Transfer: A transfer can be the bus ride from the airport to your docked cruise ship or from the cruise ship to a hotel you’ve booked through the cruise line for a post-cruise stay. If you buy your airfare directly from the cruise line, it will usually include transfers to and from the ship. If you are traveling independent, you can inquire about paying extra for the ship-sponsored transfers.

CABIN TERMS

Butler: A butler assists cruisers with everyday tasks like unpacking and packing laundry and making restaurant and spa reservations. The butler also serves meals en-suite and can provide afternoon teatime snacks or cocktails before dinner.

Cabin: Your room aboard a cruise ship may be called a cabin or stateroom or, if you’ve upgraded to a higher category, a suite.

Cabin attendants: Cruise ship cabins are cleaned and serviced by cabin attendants, also known as stewards and stewardesses. Some cabin categories also come with butler service.

Cruise director: This person is the “face” of the cruise ship and acts as the emcee at events like the captain’s reception and deck parties.

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Purser: The ship’s purser handles all monetary transactions onboard. You can find him or her at the reception desk.

Bridge: The navigational control center of the ship is called the bridge. This area is usually off limits to passengers although smaller lines—like Windstar Cruises and Un-Cruise Adventures—do invite their guests to visit the bridge at certain times throughout the voyage.

Dock vs. tender: When you read your cruise brochure, the itinerary will list the ports of call and a note next to them will indicate either “dock” or “tender.” Dock means that the ship will actually pull up to the pier and deploy the gangway. You’ll simply walk off the ship into port. A tender port indicates that the ship will anchor in the bay near the port. You will board a smaller vessel that will ferry you between the cruise ship and port.

Embarkation/disembarkation: When you first board your cruise ship, you are embarking. You disembark the ship at the end of the cruise.

First seating/second seating: In the old days, almost all cruise ships had set dining times. You sat with the same people every night and ate your evening meal at the same time. First seating refers to the early dinnertime while second, or late, seating happens thereafter. But this sort of fixed seating arrangement has become less popular, as cruisers now tend to prefer open seating.

Galley: A ship’s kitchen is called the galley. Sometimes larger cruise ships offer fun galley tours.

Gangway: The gangway is the ramp or staircase you use to embark or disembark from the ship.

Muster/muster station: Every cruise passenger is assigned to a “muster station.” This is where you are instructed to gather—with your life jacket—in case of emergency. You will be called to your muster station at the beginning of your cruise so the crew can explain what to do in case of emergency.

Open seating: Many of today’s cruise ships have segued from fixed dining times to open seating, which means you can dine whenever you want and with whomever you want.

Roll: In rougher seas you might feel a little “roll,” the side-to-side movement of the ship.

Ship locations: Specific words are used to describe locations aboard watercraft. The stern is at the very back of the ship (aft is the back portion of the entire ship). The bow is the very front. Forward is near the front of the ship while midship is—you guessed it—the midpoint of the boat. Portside is the left side of the ship (as you face forward) while the starboard side is on the right. If you’re looking for the pool, head to the “lido” deck.

Specialty restaurant: A specialty, or alternative, restaurant requires a nightly per person fee in addition to your cruise fare.

Wake: The wake is the pretty trail of waves at the stern that’s created as the ship moves forward.

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50 Nautical, Sailing & Boat Terms for Beginners 

Table of Contents

Last Updated on September 29, 2023 by Boatsetter Team

Boating has its own vocabulary and if you’re going to be spending time on the water, you should understand a few basic boat terms. Knowing these will make you safer as well as more useful whether boating on your own, chartering or helping friends on their boat.

Let’s divide these words into basic nautical terms and specific sailing terms, listed in alphabetical order.

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30 Commonly Used Nautical & Boating Terms

Here are a few expressions you’ll hear aboard both a powerboat and sailboat, or even at the dock before boarding your boat rental or charter.

• Aft – the direction toward the back or stern of a boat.
• Ashore – not on a boat but on land or a dock .
• Ballast – extra weight laid low in a boat to provide stability.
• Beam – the width of a boat at its widest point, usually the middle.
• Bow – the front of a boat. Multihulls like catamarans have more than one bow.
• Bunk – a built-in bed on a boat.
• Cabin – the sleeping accommodations on a boat .
• Cockpit – the main seating area of a boat that may also include the helm station .
• Crew – the people or staff that help drive and manage the boat.
• Deck – the top or horizontal structure that is laid over the hull of a deck.
• Dock line – the ropes used to tie a boat to a dock.
• Fender – a rubber, vinyl or foam bumper used to protect the boat at a dock; often referred to by novice boaters as “bumpers.”
• Forward – the direction toward the front or bow of a boat.
• Galley – the kitchen on a boat. It can be inside or out on deck.
• Head – the toilet or bathroom on a boat.
• Helm – the boat’s steering mechanism. It can be a tiller or a wheel.
• Helm station – the area where from which you command or drive a boat.
• Hull – the body or shell of a boat including the bow and stern.
• Keel – the longitudinal structure at the bottom of the hull and generally on the centerline. The keel helps with stability and tracking.
• Knot – either various loops tied in a line or a unit of speed which equals one nautical mile per hour.
• Line – any rope on a boat is referred to as a line – not a rope.
• Nautical mile – a unit of measurement used on the water. A nautical mile is approximately 1.2x a statue mile.
• Onboard – on a boat whether on deck, on the cockpit or below.
• Port – the left-hand side of a boat when you’re facing forward or toward the bow.
• Rudder – an appendage below the boat that is controlled by the wheel or tiller to steer the boat. A boat may have more than one rudder.
• Starboard – the right-hand side of a boat when you’re facing forward.
• Stern – the place at the back of a boat.
• Transom – the actual structure of the back edge of a boat.
• Wake – the turbulence left behind a moving boat.
• Waterline – the place where the hull of a boat meets the surface of the water.

20 Sailing & Sailboat Terms

Within boating, sailing has its own specific vernacular. You’ll want to understand it before you step aboard a sailboat to help crew or when taking a lesson.

• Apparent wind – the combination of true wind and the motion of the boat at the time. It’s the wind you feel onboard.
• Boom – the horizontal pole which extends from the mast aft. It holds the bottom of the mainsail.
• Ease – to adjust sails outward or away from the centerline of a boat.
• Halyard – the line used to raise a sail whether a mainsail or a headsail.
• Headsail – a sail that is forward of the mast. It can be a genoa, a jib, a staysail or a small storm sail.
• In irons – technically a point of sail when you’re head-to-wind meaning the bow is pointing directly into the true wind and the boat is unable to maneuver.
• Jibing (also spelled gybing) – changing direction where the stern swings through the eye of the wind.
• Leeward – the direction away from where the wind is blowing.
• Mainsail – the primary sail on a boat which is usually attached in some way to the mast and boom. On most sailboats it’s the primary source of power.
• Mast – the vertical pole that supports the sails. The mast itself is supported by the rigging.
• Points of sail – the boat’s direction under sail relative to the true wind . The points of sail are: close-hauled, close reach, beam reach, broad reach and dead run.
• Reefing – shortening or reducing the area of a sail to de-power a sailboat usually used in a strong wind.
• Sheet – the line that controls the angle of a sail. There are mainsheets, jib/genoa sheets and others.
• Shroud – a part of the boat’s rigging that supports the mast from side-to-side
• Stay – a part of the boat’s rigging that supports the mast fore and aft.
• Tacking – changing direction under sail where the bow swings through the eye of the wind.
• Trim – to adjust sails inward or closer to the centerline of a boat.
• True wind – the actual wind that is blowing – both direction and speed.
• Winch – a rotating drum used to help control lines with a lot of pressure on them. A winch is cranked with a winch handle.
• Windward – the direction from where the wind is blowing.

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Zuzana Prochazka is an award-winning freelance journalist and photographer with regular contributions to more than a dozen sailing and powerboating magazines and online publications including Southern Boating, SEA, Latitudes & Attitudes and SAIL. She is SAIL magazines Charter Editor and the Executive Director of Boating Writers International. Zuzana serves as judge for SAIL’s Best Boats awards and for Europe’s Best of Boats in Berlin. 

A USCG 100 Ton Master, Zuzana founded and manages a flotilla charter organization called Zescapes that takes guests adventure sailing at destinations worldwide. 

Zuzana has lived in Europe, Africa and the United States and has traveled extensively in South America, the islands of the South Pacific and Mexico. 

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Travelling by boat

Here are some English words you will find useful when travelling by boat.

Types of boat

On board the boat.

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• Bahasa Indonesia
• Bahasa Melayu

What Is a Boat Tour?

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A boat tour is a unique way to experience a given area by water. Often taking place on a multiple-level boat, passengers taking a boat tour will often have the choice of sitting on an exposed upper deck or a more confined lower deck. Unlike a cruise, the typical boat tour takes place on a river or inland lake and does not include overnight occupancy, although some stern wheeler riverboats can offer overnight passage on designated extended tours.

There are several boat tour options available, ranging from drift-type or inflatable white water boats to large, stern wheeler steamships. The most frequent type of vessel used on a boat tour is a double- or triple-level boat with an open upper deck. Commonly diesel-powered, these boats provide conveniences, such as air conditioning and refrigeration for cool drinks. Many of the boat tour crews consist of a captain and a tour guide. There are, however, many tours that utilize the captain as both the boat captain and the tour guide. Some of the boat tours are linked to another tourist attraction, such as an amusement park, while others are independently-operated and compete for business against other boats and tours.

Some of the white water tours include a one-way trip on the water, with the passengers and tourists receiving a ride by vehicle back to the point of the tour's origin. Other tours that use diesel-powered vessels often include a round-trip ride, and many of these tours take place at night on so-called romance tours. This type of tour commonly includes a beverage, such as champagne, and a dinner for two complete with an elegant dessert. Depending on the size of the boat, a band or single violinist may be along on the ride to help set a romantic mood for the trip.

Many of the boat tour operators offer excitement by maneuvering the boats very close to stones, cliff walls and other naturally-occurring features. Some of the boats move in so close that passengers are able to touch the feature. Some boat tours, such as those that operate at Niagara Falls in New York, US, and Ontario, Canada, move so close into the falls that the nose of the boat actually moves into the waterfall and gets wet. Skilled captains and crew make these maneuvers possible and offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience for passengers on the tour boat.

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Boat Camping 101. What It Is, How To Do It & Where To Go

What better way to have a family excursion, or a solo adventure, than to explore a new waterway on a camping trip. Or maybe you’d like to clock-up those hunting, angling or watersports hours on a weekend boating excursion.

You, your boat and the stars

What boat camping involves & how it’s commonly done, canoe boat camping, kayak boat camping, powerboat camping, jon boat camping, essential boat camping gear you shouldn’t forget, how to find boat camping spots near you, correct mooring is essential, always prepare a boat plan, always check you equipment is working correctly, remain vigilant and check the weather regularly, boat camping 101.

An authentic boat camping trip, also called canoe camping or kayak camping , can be an exciting, rewarding and memorable experience.

But hitting the water for a sea, river or lake based camping trip takes preparation and planning.

Let’s look at how you can enjoy a boat camping adventure safely and how to be prepared so you get the most from the experience.

Camping on a boat is an activity that has been indulged in for centuries.

Although these days it is a favored leisure pursuit, especially in North America, it has its foundation in practicality.

Back in the early days of the settlers, travelling by boat on rivers and creeks was the fastest way to get from Point A to Point B .

A boat was often the only means of “safely” accessing new territories and areas.

Of course I use the term “safely” as a relative term as the pioneers encounter many water and non-water related dangers on such trips.

These days boat camping is less of a necessity and more of a fun activity.

Modern boats offer easy movement on the water and any piece of safe, sheltered shoreline can become your own exclusive impromptu campground.

However, some preparation is needed and some precautions must be made.

Let’s now explore everything you need to know about boat camping so you can enjoy an experience that offers much more than just camping out in the wild.

What is boat camping?

Simply put, boat camping comes in 2 basic forms:

• It’s like regular camping but you use a boat to reach your camping destination instead of a road vehicle. This allows you to access areas that would be difficult, or impossible, to visit due to a lack of roads and/or unsuitable terrain for wheeled vehicles.
• You use your boat for both travelling and for sleeping.

Although many boat camping enthusiasts will deck out a canoe or kayak to act as both transportation vessel and as sleeping quarters (see image below) most boat camping involves the use of a regular tent.

The tent is pitched on land close to the shoreline of the body of water that you are boating on.

Boating has always been a well-loved recreational activity and is actually strongly linked to ordinary camping.

The first surge in the popularity of recreational camping on the waterways is thought to have been started by British Victorian pleasure boaters along the River Thames in the United Kingdom.

In the beginning this camping was not always accompanied by boating but soon evolved to incorporate boating.

As the camping setups of the Victorians became increasingly elaborate, it was necessary for equipment to be towed by boat along the river to service their campsites.

As boats became more popular as a means of transporting equipment it was a natural progression for the campers to use the boats themselves to travel to their camping destinations.

Soon watercraft were designed not only to aid in land camping but were actually designed so they could be converted into floating tents.

Thus boating soon became a part of the overall waterway camping experience.

Although boat camping died in popularity in Britain across the Atlantic, closer to home, it is a different matter.

The near unrivaled beauty and variety of the waterways available in the USA and Canada, coupled with many favorable climate zones and a myriad of different land environments, means that boat camping is a popular pastime in North America.

It truly evokes the pioneer spirit and sense of adventure enjoyed by previous generations.

Although many boat campers will seek rivers and waterways that offer a challenge there are many popular and well-known locations used for boat camping.

For example, Georgia lake camps and Florida beach dune camps attract a lot of annual holiday makers due to their warm climates, lesser ventured (but fairly safe) waterways and beautiful vistas.

4 Popular Vessels Used For Boat Camping

Any well-built and safe vessel lends itself well to carrying camping equipment.

Some boats are even suitable for on-water sleeping (especially if it is a large vessel equipped with a galley and on-board toilet).

Obviously sea voyaging requires a different type of boat to that used on inland waters as such a boat will require a much deeper draft.

Deep draft boat however are not at all suitable for inland waterways that tend to have areas that are too shallow for such a boat to navigate.

To understand the difference between deep draft and shallow draft boats read this article .

A sea or touring kayak for example, would be the perfect vessel for boat camping when traversing open water.

A canoe , Jon boat or a flat bottomed kayak would be a much better choice for rivers, creeks and lakes.

Although any modern boat can be used for boat camping by far the most popular boats used for camping are kayaks and canoes.

This is because they are well suited to inland waterways.

Canoe boat camping is probably the most common type of waterway camping in North America.

A canoe offers incredibly stability on the water in addition to having a large storage capacity.

A canoe also helps create an authentic boat camping experience as the pioneers would have used such vessels in their travels.

We covered the versatility and advantages of using a canoe here .

A kayak is another extremely popular vessel for camping.

Its modern design features offer many of the same advantages as a canoe even though it has a different hull design.

Although usually smaller than a canoe it has a lot of advantages that make it an ideal vessel for boat camping.

Kayaks also come in a variety of different hull designs making them an extremely versatile vessel capable of handling just about any type of marine environment.

For a better understanding of the advantages of using a kayak read this article .

For a comparison between a kayak and a canoe and to see which one is the best choice for you read our article Canoe vs Kayak .

Although both a canoe and a kayak can be fitted with an outboard motor with some minor boat modifications, they are almost always manually propelled.

This means you have to put some effort into moving your boat on the water.

If a kayak is the type of boat you want to use for your boat camping adventures then to find the best type of kayak for your needs read this article .

Powerboat camping is often preferred by campers who don’t want to exert much physical effort while on the water.

In a powerboat the engine does all the “heavy lifting”.

Powerboat camping is less popular than kayak and canoe camping as powerboats are restricted on certain waterways and are unsuitable for others.

However, they are hardy vessels that are more than adequate for getting you to your campsite safely or for sleeping on the water and they provide more than adequate storage.

Jon boat camping is a fantastic way to combine the versatility of kayak/canoe camping with the effortlessness of powerboat camping.

As a Jon boat is a great choice for use in rivers and creeks due to its unique design (as we outlined here ) these versatile flat-bottomed, shallow draft vessels are adept at navigating very shallow bodies of water.

They are also excellent for beaching reliably.

With the use of a trolling motor and a paddle a Jon boat can quickly be transformed from an engine powered vessel to a manually propelled vessel.

This means you can make headway quickly in fairly deep or open waters via use of the motor but can easily switch to paddle power when your boat enters very, or extremely, shallow areas.

Jon boats are the ideal vessel for inland-waterway boat camping.

The Best Places To Go Boat Camping

If you intend to sleep on your boat then anywhere where there is a body of water is perfect for boat camping.

If you plan to boat by day and sleep on land at night then you will obviously need to be navigating waters that have adequate access to suitable camping land.

For example, travelling down rivers with steep rocky regions on both sides would obviously pose camping problems.

One of the best things about water-based camping is that you can experience less accessible areas than you would be able to by road.

This can offer you a more authentic camping experience along with a lot of peace and quiet.

However, this comes with its own challenges.

Finding the right anchorage is one of the key components you need to get right when planning a successful boat camping trip if you don’t intend to sleep on your boat.

National and state parks and recreation areas are an ideal choice for waterways and lakes with points of outstanding natural beauty.

More often than not these parks will have some setpoints or sites that have been made available for campers.

Many locations are suitably developed for this purpose with access to slips, fresh water, electricity and with pump-outs available.

Campgrounds setup off open water, rivers or creeks may also offer excellent boat camping opportunities.

For access to such sites all that is required in the purchase of dock permits which will allow you to make use of all the available facilities and amenities.

If you prefer a more authentic experience and want to venture well of the beaten track then at the very least you should pre-plan your trip.

Do this by researching the area you intend to boat on to ensure the terrain offers you enough opportunities for on-land camping.

However, you can never over-plan an excursion “into the wild”.

If you are preparing to hit the water for a summer trip or weekend excursion, it is important that you plan your excursion.

Ensure you have the correct boat camping equipment and adequate supplies for your trip.

Boat camping offers increased accessibility to varied terrain that may not be readily reached by a well-maintained road (if a road is available at all).

So if you get into trouble it may be some time before help comes.

A lot of locations that are described as offering primitive camping will have, at most, a place to start a fire and pitch your tent.

There will be little else available at such a site.

Therefore, you must always ensure you are adequately equipped for all eventualities.

However, be aware that packing for a boat camping trip does not mean packing everything but the kitchen sink!

Packing your boat requires some careful consideration to ensure you have everything you need but not so much that you risk your boat becoming overloaded.

There is a thin line between packing what you need and overpacking.

The following list if items are essential pieces of boat camping gear you’ll require.

These items are for your safety, warmth and comfort while out on the water and camping by the shore.

Essential items to include in your boat camping kit

• Pelican cases for keeping electronics and navigational equipment dry.
• Dry bags for clothing, bedding and towels.
• Camping chairs and table for sojourning comfortably on-shore. Make sure they are foldable and lightweight.
• Sun protection such as hats, long-sleeved and long-legged clothing and lotions are good to have.
• Insect repellent – seriously don’t forget this.
• Life vest or Personal Flotation Device – an essential item, especially for use on open water or on waterways that may have whitewater rapids or in areas where the weather can change suddenly.
• Physical and GPS navigation: in the event of electronic failure, you should have a physical map of your location and the surrounding region.
• Flares – flares may seem like overkill on a camping trip but when you access areas by water that are not accessible by road vehicle you may be a long way from civilization. Should you get into trouble, a flare may mean the difference between quick rescue or a long wait.
• Manual propulsion aid. A paddle should always be carried in case of motor failure. An additional paddle on manual propulsion boats should always be kept in case you lose or damage the main one.
• VHS radio is essential for weather updates and as a means of communication as mobile phones may not always work where you are headed.
• Lanterns – Although a torch is a good idea battery-powered lanterns do the same job but can also act as both camping lights and boat navigation lights when it gets dark.
• Duct tape for last minute tent repairs and a quick sealant.
• Anchor and navigation lights to let other vessels know where you are moored overnight.
• A portable toilet . This is not an essential but may be preferred for proper sanitation while you are boat camping. Ensure that you dispose of your marine toilet waste by pumping out your toilet in accordance with local, state and national regulations.

If the idea of camping while cruising some beautiful shorelines interests you then you may be looking for your ideal location to weigh anchor or beach your boat.

The best place to start looking is at any one of the outstanding State and National Parks across the US which offer various forms of camping.

Our UK readers will already know that in the UK boat camping is less popular, with the canal boat experience being the preference.

In North America boat camping is huge.

In the US most States have bodies of water that are ideal for boat camping.

Some sites like Lake Roosevelt , in the Washington National Recreation Area, offer well developed boat camping facilities such as boat-in campsites.

These type of sites require the purchase of a permit for launching your vessel so you will need to cover that expense along with the routine costs associated with camping.

Most often, these are used on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The adventure you get from “off the beaten track” boat camping, may be missing from State boat camping sites but this is offset by the increased safety offered and the easily accessible amenities on-hand.

You will also have less freedom to do as you please when using State operated sites.

They do have some rules that must be adhered to though they are based on fairly straightforward common sense advice and easy to follow.

For example, you must always follow local regulations and guidance when starting fires.

This is obviously to avoid starting a wildfire (regulations that should be self-imposed even when out in “the wild”).

To find boat camping sites near you start by looking at your nearest local park website and use Google to search for boat camping sites close to your location.

Some Boat Camping Tips And Advice

When mooring a larger vessel make sure that you moor beyond areas of routine marine traffic.

Avoid proximity to other boats to avoid collision when mooring and when moving off.

You should aim to be within 200ft of the shoreline.

When using a smaller vessel such as a canoe, kayak or Jon boat make sure you beach your boat well away from the shoreline.

Then secure it to the ground so it doesn’t float away should you misjudge the tides or heavy rain/watering causes your boat to slip into the water.

For your safety, it is well worth preparing an itinerary with dates and destinations.

This itinerary should be retained by relatives/friends or your marina.

This way someone knows where you are or where you were headed should you not return to a designated area at an appointed time.

Using a strict itinerary may take away from the freedom and adventure you would feel if you were just “following your nose” having one could literally save your life.

If the thought of having a preset route just robs too much of the fun then at least have an itinerary of dates and if possible a rough guide to where you intend to go.

All equipment should be thoroughly checked before you embark on your trip, from your tent to your paddle.

These checks are especially important when it comes to electronic safety equipment!

Check your radio is working. Don’t rely on a cellphone, VHF is best.

Consider having GPS for your navigation and attach a sonar on larger boats to ensure your boat is not damaged by underwater obstacles.

Overlooking a simple weather check could be dangerous.

On the water, even on some inland waterways, the weather can be unpredictable.

Water conditions can change and deteriorate quickly.

So, have a suitable device at hand, such as a longwave digital or analogue radio, so you can listen to weather reports.

Also, visually observe the conditions – if it looks like bad weather is coming head for shore and pitch your tent.

The golden rule of boat camping is: if there is any sign of poor weather, it it prudent to get off the water and to a place of safety.

Mick McGrath

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