Bow
Front of a vessel
Stern
Rear of a vessel
Starboard
Right side of a vessel
Port
Left side of a vessel
Hull
Body of a
... [Show More] vessel; basic structure or shell
Gunwale
Upper edge of vessel's side
Cleat
Metal fitting on which a rope can be fastened
Beam
Maximum width of a vessel
Freeboard
Distance from water to lowest point of the boat where water could come on board
Draft
Depth of water needed to float a vessel
Keel
Main centerline (backbone) of a vessel or the extension of hull that increases stability in the water
Length overall
Length of the hull excluding any attachments
Rudder
Steering device, usually a vertical blade attached to a post at, or near, the stern of the boat
Swamp
To fill with water
Intake grate
Screening cover over the intake, which prevents large debris from entering
Personal watercraft (PWC)
A small vessel that uses an inboard jet drive as its primary source of propulsion, and is designed to be operated by a person or persons sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel rather than inside the vessel
Propeller
Rotating device that turns and powers a boat forward or backward
Tiller
Lever used to turn a rudder to steer a boat
Transom
Vertical surface at the back of the hull
Intake
Opening in the hull that draws water toward the impeller
Drive shaft
The long stem connection between the motor and the impeller
Halyards
Lines (ropes) used to raise and lower the sails
Impeller
Device used to pump and force water under pressure through a steering nozzle at the rear of the vessel
Steering nozzle
Device used for directing the stream of water to the left or right at the stern of the PWC, which steers the PWC
Sheets
Lines (ropes) used to control the angle of the sails to the wind
Capsize
To turn on the side or turn completely over
Coupler
The part of the trailer that attaches to the ball hitch on a towing vehicle
Furl
To roll up tightly and make secure
Aft
Close to or toward the stern
Bilge
Interior of the hull below the floorboards; lowest part of a vessel's interior where the sides of the vessel curve in to form the bottom
Bunks
Wooden supports on which the vessel rests while on the trailer
Chart
Map used for navigation
Aground
Touching or stuck on the bottom
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 [Show Less]