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Glossary of Terms
Deck: The oor-like platform of a boat that
covers the hull.
Displacement: The volume of water displaced by
the hull. The displacement weight is the weight of
this volume of water.
Draft: The depth of water a boat needs to oat.
Dry Rot: A fungus attack on wood areas.
Dry-dock: A dock that can be pumped dry during
boat construction or repair.
Electrical Ground: A connection between an
electrical connector and the earth.
Engine Beds: Sturdy structural members run-
ning fore and aft on which the inboard engines
are mounted.
EPIRB: Emergency Position Indicating Radio Bea-
con. Operates as a part of a worldwide satellite
distress system.
Even Keel: When a boat oats properly as de-
signed.
Fathom: A measure of depth. One Fathom =
6 feet.
Fender: A soft object of rubber or plastic used
to protect the topsides from scarring and rubbing
against a dock or another vessel.
Fend off: To push or hold the boat off from the
dock or another boat.
Flying Bridge: A control station above the level
of the deck or cabin.
Flukes: The broad portions of an anchor which
dig into the ground.
Fore: Applies to the forward portions of a boat
near the bow.
Foundering: When a boat lls with water and
sinks.
Freeboard: The height from the waterline to the
lowest part of the deck.
Galley: The kitchen of a boat.
Grab Rail: Hand-hold ttings mounted on cabin
tops or sides for personal safety when moving
around the boat, both on deck and below.
Ground Tackle: A general term including anchors,
lines and other gear used in anchoring.
Grounds: A boat touches the bottom.
Gunwale: The upper edge of a boat’s side.
Hand Rail: Rail mounted on the boat, for grab-
bing with your hand, to steady you while walking
about the boat.
Harbor: An anchorage which provides reasonably
good protection for a boat, with shelter from wind
and sea.
Hatch: An opening in the deck with a door or lid to
allow for access down into a compartment of a boat.
Head: A toilet on a boat.
Heat Exchanger: Used to transfer the heat that
is picked up by the closed cooling system to the raw
cooling water.
Helm: The steering and control area of a boat.
Hull: The part of the boat from the deck down.
Inboard: A boat with the engine mounted within
the hull of the boat. Also refers to the center of the
boat away from the sides.
Inboard/outboard: Also stern drive or I/O. A
boat with an inboard engine attached to an outboard
drive unit.
Keel: A plate or timber plate running lengthwise
along the center of the bottom of a boat.
Knot: Unit of speed indicating nautical miles per
hour. 1 knot = 1 nautical mile per hour (1.15 miles
per hour). A nautical mile is equal to one minute of
latitude: 6076 feet. Knots times 1.15 equals miles
per hour. Miles per hour times .87 equals knots.
Lay-up: To decommission a boat for the winter
(usually in northern climates).
Leeward: The direction toward which the wind is
blowing.
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