2
Chapter 11
Fathom: a measurement of depth; one fathom equals
six feet
Fender: a cushion hung from the side of a boat to prevent
it from rubbing against a dock or against other boats
Fend off: to push off to avoid sharp contact with dock
or other vessel
Fore: the part of the boat toward the bow or front
Freeboard: the height of the top side from the waterline
to the deck at its shortest point. (The distance from the
sheer or gunwale to the water)
Galley: cooking area
Gunwale: rail or upper edge of the side of the boat
Hatch: an opening in the deck to provide access below
Head: toilet
Hull: the part of the hull from the deck down
Keel: the lowest point of a boat
Knots: a measurement of speed indicating nautical miles
per hour
Lee: the side opposite that from which the wind is blowing:
the side sheltered from the wind
Leeward: the direction toward which the wind is blowing
PFD: personal fl oatation device; required for each person
aboard
Port: the left side of the boat when facing forward (an
easy way to remember the difference between “port”
and “starboard” is that both “port” and “left” have four
letters)
Shank: the main body of an anchor
Sheer: the curve of the boat’s deck from fore to aft when
seen from the side
Starboard: the right side of the boat when facing
forward
Stern: the aft end of the boat
Stern drive: an inboard/outboard (IO)unit
Stringer: strengthening integral unit fastened from fore to
aft inside the hull and fi berglass encapsulated for added
strength: much like the skeleton system of our body
Top off: to fi ll up a tank
Transom: the vertical part of the stern.
Trim: the boat’s balance when properly loaded
Wake: the path of a boat left astern in the water
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