Boating Terminology

There is specialised terminology and language associated with many professions. In boating this is more pronounced, it has its own language which has evolved over centuries to suit the needs of seafarers. Understanding this terminology is important as it underpins boating knowledge and seamanship skill.

Term	Description
Abeam	A position out to the side of a boat on either side.
Aft	Towards the back/stern of the boat.
Astern	In the back of the boat.
All-round light	A light showing an unbroken light over an arch of the horizon of 360 degrees. A masthead light located on power vessels is an all-round light.
Bar	A shallow area formed by sand, mud,gravel, or shingle, near the mouth of a river or at the approach to a harbour which is often dangerous.
Beam	Widest part of the boat.
Bow	The front of the vessel.
Bowline	Knot used to form a loop in the end of a line.
Bitter end	The last part of the rope or chain.
Buoy	A floating container anchored to the sea bottom so that it remains in position. Buoys are used to mark channels, moorings , exclusion zones or race courses.
Bombora	A shallow area where waves may break.
Chart Datum	The baseline of tidal height above which tidal levels and predictions are given in Tide Tables.
Colregs	International rules for the prevention of collisions at sea. Known as Collision Regulations - The rules of the road at sea.
Come to	Point up closer to the wind.
Draft	The minimum depth of water a vessel needs to float in.
Ebb tide	A falling or run-out tide.
Enclosed waters	Any port or navigable waterway.
EPIRB	Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon
Fairway	Any navigable channel.
Flood tide	The rising or run-out tide.
Freeboard	The distance from the waterline to the deck.
Give-way	Reduce speed, stop, go astern or alter course so as to keep out of another vessels path.
Go astern	Reverse engines or travel backwards
Gunwale	Pronounced "gunnel", the top each of the vessel's sides.
Heave to	Steering into the wind and sea making minimum headway
Knots (speed)	One knot is a speed of one nautical mile per hour or 1.852km/hr.
Lanyard	A small line used to join to anything. Example: bucket
Leads (transits)	Marks used in channels and at bar entrances which when in line indicate the centre of the navigable channel.
Lee shore	The shore onto which the wind blows.
Leeward	The downwind side.
Magnetic north	Magnetic north is the direction that a compass needle points to as it aligns with the Earth's magnetic field.
On the quarter	Towards the stern, not abeam.
Open waters	Navigable waters which are not enclosed waters. Often referred to as "Ocean waters".
Planning	A vessel is said to be planning when it is moving over the top of the water rather than through the water.
Port -side	The left-hand side of a vessel when you are looking forward from the stern and the side on which a red navigation side light is displayed.
PWC	Personal water craft is vessel designed to be operated by a person standing, siding astride or kneeling on. It uses waterjet propulsion and has an engine in a watertight compartment.
Quartering Sea	Sea coming on a boats quarter.
Scope	The ratio of length of anchor rode in use to the vertical distance from the bow of the vessel to the bottom of the water
Spring line	A pivot line used in berthing or un-berthing preventing the vessel from moving forward or astern while made fast to a dock/jetty.
Stand on	Continue on the same course and speed.
Starboard side	The right hand side of the vessel when you are looking forward from the stern and the side on which a green navigation side light is displayed.
Stern	The back or rear of the vessel.
Transom	The stern cross-section of a boat.
Trim	Fore and aft balance of a boat
Underway	Not at anchor or made fast to shore or ground. If you are drifting you are underway.
Windward	The direction from which the wind blows.