Every boat operator should know the following terms and definitions.
- Bow : Front of a boat.
- Stern : Rear of a boat.
- Starboard : Right side of a boat.
- Port : Left side of a boat.
- Hull : Body of a boat.
- Gunwale : Upper edge of boat’s side (generally pronounced gunnel)
- Cleat : Metal fitting on which a rope can be fastened.
What are the four parts of a boat called?
Bow: The forward or front part of your vessel is called the ‘bow’. Port: The left side of your boat when you’re seated and looking forward. Starboard: The right side of your boat when you’re seated and looking forward. Stern: The rear section of your boat is called the ‘stern’.
What is the main part of a boat?
The body of a boat is called its hull . At the upper edges of the boat’s hull are the gunwales . The gunwales provide extra rigidity for the hull. The cross-section of the stern, where you attach an outboard motor, is called the transom.
What is the back of the boat called?
Stern: The back of the boat is called the stern. Sternlight (all-round light): The light affixed to the stern of a boat that shines 135 degrees is called a sternlight. Transom: The vertical section at the stern that houses the boat’s motor is called the transom.
What are the parts of boat called? – Related Questions
What is the rubber around a boat called?
Fenders, used on all types of vessels, from cargo ships to cruise ships, ferries and personal yachts, prevent damage to vessels and berthing structures. To do this, fenders have high energy absorption and low reaction force. Fenders are typically manufactured out of rubber, foam elastomer or plastic.
What’s the bottom of a boat called?
Bilge – The lowest part of a boat hull that sometimes collects water.
What is the back of a boat called 3 letters?
3 Letters: AFT.
What is the rear deck of a ship called?
The rear deck of a ship is often called the afterdeck or poop deck. Not all ships have an afterdeck or poop deck. Sometimes taffrail refers to just the curved wooden top of the stern of a sailing man-of-war or East Indiaman ship.
Is aft the front or back?
Forward and aft, although similar to bow and stern, are directional terms, rather than words for physical parts of the ship. In that vein, the bow is located forward (to the front) on a ship, and the stern is located aft (to the back).
Why is the back of a ship called the stern?
The front of the ship is called the forward or bow region, whereas the back end is called the aft. This is also interchangeably known as the stern, but it is more specific. The stern mainly relates to the section or the structural area aftmost in terms of the overall length of the ship.
How do I remember port and starboard?
If you identify one term, you’ll know the other by default. So, remember that both port and left have four letters. Therefore, starboard can only be right!
Why is left called port?
The left side is called ‘port’ because ships with steerboards or star boards would dock at ports on the opposite side of the steerboard or star. As the right side was the steerboard side or star board side, the left side was the port side.
Why is it called starboard?
Most sailors were right handed, so the steering oar was placed over or through the right side of the stern . Sailors began calling the right side the steering side, which soon became “starboard” by combining two Old English words: stéor (meaning “steer”) and bord (meaning “the side of a boat”).
Which side of a boat do you pass on?
If you meet another boat head-on: Under the boating rules of the road, vessels approaching each other head-on are always supposed to pass each other port to port — or left to left, just like on the road.
Why do sailors stand on deck when leaving port?
It started with the tradition of Manning the Yards, and was practiced by navies centuries ago. On a sailing ship, her crew would render honors by standing on the vessel’s yards, or the arms on the masts that hold the sails, when returning to port.
What are the lights on a boat called?
The red light indicates a vessel’s port (left) side; the green indicates a vessel’s starboard (right) side. Sternlight: This white light is seen only from behind or nearly behind the vessel. Masthead Light: This white light shines forward and to both sides and is required on all power-driven vessels.
What do three short blasts of a horn mean?
One short blast tells other boaters, “I intend to pass you on my port (left side).” Two short blasts tell other boaters, “I intend to pass you on my starboard (right) side.” Three short blasts tell other boaters, “I am backing up.”
What does a single white light on a boat tell you?
If only a white light is visible, you may be approaching another craft from behind. You are the give-way-craft and must take early and substantial action to steer well clear by altering your course and passing at a safe distance on the starboard (right) or port (left) side.
What does a blue light on a boat mean?
(a) Law enforcement vessels may display a flashing blue light when engaged in direct law enforcement or public safety activities. This light must be located so that it does not interfere with the visibility of the vessel’s navigation lights.
Why is starboard green and port red?
Ships of the City of Dublin Steamship Company were equipped with white masthead, green starboard lights and red port navigation lights. The P&O Company of Southampton had a different arrangement; green for port, green and red for starboard. The British Admiralty ordained that starboard was to be green and port red.