Definition of Terms

Navigation
• science of conducting a boat or ship by method
of determining its position, course and distance
travelled

Seamanship
• art of managing or handling a ship or boat under
varying conditions of weather, tide and current
Aft
• Portion of the vessel behind the middle area of the vessel

Anchor
• An object designed to prevent or slow the drift of a ship,
attached to the ship by a line or chain; typically a metal, hook
like or plough-like object designed to grip the bottom under
the body of water

Anchorage
• A suitable place for a ship to anchor
• Area of a port or harbor

Astern
• Toward the rear of a vessel
Avast
• Stop, cease or desist from whatever is being done

Beacon
• A lighted or unlighted fixed aid to navigation attached
directly to the earth’s surface

Beam
• The widest point, or a point alongside the ship at the
midpoint of its length

Bilge
• Compartment at the bottom of the hull of a ship or boat
where water collects and must be pumped out of the
vessel
Bollard
• A substantial vertical pillar to which lines may be
made fast

Bow
• The front of a ship

Bridge
• A structure above the weather deck, extending the
full width of the vessel, which houses a command
center

Broadside
• One side of a vessel above the waterline
Cabin
• An enclosed room on a deck or flat

Capsize
• When a ship or boat lists too far and rolls over, exposing the
keel

Crow’s nest
• Shelter for the lookouts

Deck
• The top of the boat, and the surface is removed to
accommodate the seating area

Freeboard
• The height of a ship’s hull above the waterline
Galley
• The kitchen of a ship

Gangway
• An opening in the bulwark of the ship to allow passengers to
board or leave the ship

Hull
• The shell and framework of the basic floatation-oriented part
of a ship

Keel
• The central structural basis of the hull

Leeward
• The direction where the wind is blowing towards
Length overall (LOA)
• The maximum length of a vessel’s hull measured parallel
to the waterline, usually measured on the hull alone, and
including overhanging ends that extend beyond the main
bow and main stern perpendicular

Mast
• A vertical pole on a ship which supports sails or rigging

Mess
• An eating place aboard ship

Roll
• A vessel’s motion rotating from side to side
Rudder
• A steering device which can be placed aft,
externally relative to the keel or compounded
into the keel either independently or as part of
the bulb/centerboard

Shoal
• Shallow water that is hazard to navigation

Skiff
• A small boat, traditionally a coastal or river craft,
or leisure or fishing, with a single person
Port
• Left side of the boat

Starboard
• Right side of the boat

Stern
• The rear (front) part of a ship

Bow
• The back part of a ship
Heading
• The direction that are currently travelling

Bearing
• The direction that have to travel in to reach a
desired location from the current location
1 statute mile = 5280 feet
1 nautical mile = 6080 feet
1 fathom = 6 feet
1 cable = 120 fathoms = 720 feet