© 2003-2018 Ken Cook Co. Bass l
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GLOSSARY OF NAUTICAL TERMS
ABOARD – On or in the boat.
ABYC – American Boat and Yacht Council, Inc.
AFLOAT – On the water.
AFT – Toward the rear or stern of the boat.
AGROUND – Touching bottom.
AMIDSHIP – Center or middle of the boat.
ANCHOR – (1) An iron casting shaped to grip the lake bottom to hold the boat.
(2) The act of setting the anchor.
ASHORE – On the shore.
ASTERN – Toward the stern.
BAIL – To remove water from the bottom of the boat with a pump, bucket, sponge,
etc.
BAITWELL – A miniature livewell used to store and keep live bait alive and healthy.
BEAM – The widest point on the boat.
BEARING – Relative position or direction of an object from the boat.
BILGE – The lowest interior section of the boat hull.
BILGE KEELS – The raised areas or aluminum extrusions on the bottom of a boat
that parallel the keel.
BOARDING – To enter the boat.
BOUNDARY WATERS – A body of water between two areas of jurisdiction; i.e., a
river between two states.
BOW – The front of the boat.
BULKHEAD – Vertical partition (wall) in a boat.
BUNKS – Carpeted trailer hull supports.
BURDENED BOAT – Term for the boat that must “give-way” to boats with the
right-of-way.
CAPACITY PLATE – A plate that provides maximum weight capacity and engine
horsepower rating information. It is located in full view of the helm.
CAPSIZE – To turn over.
CAST-OFF – To unfasten mooring lines in preparation for departure.
CENTER LINE – A lengthwise imaginary line which runs fore and aft with the boat’s
keel.
CHINE – The point on a boat where the side intersects (meets) the bottom.
CLEAT – A deck fitting with ears to which lines are fastened.
CONSOLE – Also called helm. The steering wheel area of the boat.
CRANKING BATTERY – The main battery used for engine starting and electrical
circuits.
CURRENT – Water moving in a horizontal direction.
DECK – The open surface on the boat where the passengers walk.
DEEP-CYCLE BATTERIES – Special long-running batteries which can be
repeatedly discharged and recharged without significant loss of power.
DOLLY WHEEL – A rolling jack assembly at the front of the trailer used for
positioning the coupler during trailer hookup.
DRAFT – The depth of the boat below the waterline, measured vertically to the
lowest part of the hull.
ELECTROLYSIS – The breakup of metals due to the effects of galvanic corrosion.
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