For those who are new to sailing and fiberglass boats, the following list of terms may be helpful in understanding the
instructions included in this booklet.
BACKSTAY - Wire slanting sharply aft from the mast for the purpose of supporting the mast.
BAIL. A ‘U’ shaped fitting attached to the boom to hold the mainsheet block.
BALLAST - Iron or lead placed low inside a boat to increase stability by lowering the center of gravity. Lead or iron
keels are termed outside ballast to distinguish from inside ballast.
BATTEN - Thin wooden strips used to hold the leech of a sail and prevent curling.
BLOCK- A nautical form of pulley with one or more rollers (sheaves).
BOOM. A spar at the foot of a fore and aft sail.
CAM CLEAT - A locking or jamming cleat usually incorporating a law or moving parts in order to hold a sheet. It is
normally used where quick ‘releases are required.
CAR- A nautical term for a traveller carriage or genoa slide.
CENTERBOARD - A moveable, pivoted devise of wood, fiberglass or metal used in place of a keel to give stability,
permit sailing in more shallow waters than keel craft, and prevent sliding away from wind (leeway). When raised, it is
housed in a centerboard trunk. The dagger-board, a sliding form of centerboard which has no pivot, may only be
lowered or lifted vertically.
CHAIN PLATES - Metal plates bolted or bonded to the side of a hull or deck to which stays are attached to support
rigging.
CHOCK - A metal casting, usually at the bow, through which mooring and securing lines or ropes are led.
CHUTE - Slang for spinnaker.
CLAW - A fitting on a roller reefing boom to which the vang attaches. The boom rolls inside the claw when reefing.
CLEAT- A piece of wood or metal with two horns around, which ropes are made fast,
CLEW. The lower aft corner of a fore-and-aft or triangular sail.
COAMING - A raised protection around the cockpit of a small boat,
CUNNINGHAM HOLE - A hole or holes placed in the luff of a mainsail at a predetermined distance up from the boom,
The cunningham hole is used to stretch the luff of the mainsail down in order to flatten a sail.
DOWNHAUL - A rope or tackle by which a sail is pulled downward, usually to improve its shape.
FAIRLEAD - An eye or fitting which changes the direction of a sheet or rope led through it.
GENOA - A large, overlapping jib.
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