Aft
near or at the stern of the boat
Beam
the width of a boat, also the direction at right angles to the centerline of a vessel
Bilge
the
... [Show More] lowest point of a boat's interior hull
Draft
the vertical distance from the waterline to the lowest point of the keel; the minimum depth of water in which a vessel will float
Forward
aboard a boat, the direction to the front, to the bow
Freeboard
the vertical distance from the waterline to the gunwale
Keel
the main structural member of a boat; its backbone; the lateral area beneath the hull that helps to provide stability and reduce the sideways drift of a boat
Waterline
the intersection of a boat's hull and the water's surface
Hull
Body of the Vessel
Gunwale
Upper edge of a vessel's side
Cleat
Metal fitting on which a boat can be fastended
Back Light
All-round white light
Transom
The cross section of the stern
Side Lights
Red and Green colored lights
Port
Left side of the Vessel
Bow
Front part of the vessel
Starboard
Right side of the vessel
Stern
Back of the vessel
Class A Vessels
A boat less then 16 feet
Class 1 Vessels
A boat that is from 16 to less than 26 feet long
Class 2 Vessels
A boat that is from 26 to less than 40 feet long
Class 3 Vessels
A boat that is from 40 to less than 65 feet long
Boats length Equation
Measured in a straight line from the outside of the bow to the outside of the stern (not including attachments)
Displacement Hulls
Large boats use displacement hull because they allow the boat to move through the water smoothly
Planing Hulls
Planing holes are used on smaller boats because hey are light enough to ride on top of the water
Flat Bottom Hulls
Flat bottom boats are great for fishing. They are generally designed for slow speeds and calm water
Deep-V Hulls
The Deep-V hull is the most common hull type for powerboats. These boats move through rough water at higher speeds and give a smoother ride than flat bottom or round bottom boats. They also require larger engines than flat bottom or round bottom boats
Round Bottom Hulls
Round bottom boats, such as canoes, move smoothly through the water with little effort. Boaters must be cautious when loading, entering and exiting a round bottom boat. Due to the hull design, these boats roll very easily
Multi-Hull
Multi-hull boats are the most stable of the hull types. These boats require plenty of room to steer and turn. Catamarans and pontoon boats use the multi-hull design [Show Less]