Stern
The after end or back of the boat.
Stow
To store items neatly and securely .
Strake
Planks running fore and aft on the outside
of a vessel.
Taffrail
The rail around a boat’ s ster n.
Tide
The alternate rise and fall of w aters caused
by the gra vitational attraction of moon or
sun.
Topsides
(1) The sides of a vessel abo ve the w ater-
line;
(2) On deck as opposed to below deck.
Transom
The transverse planking which for ms the
afterend of a small, square-ended boat.
(Outboard motors are usually attached to a
transom.)
Trim
To arrange weights in a vessel in such a
manner as to obtain desired draft at bow
and ster n.
Unbend
To cast-off or untie.
Underway
Vessel in motion, i.e., when not moored, at
anchor or aground.
USPS
United States P ower Squadron, a private
membership organization that specializes in
boating education and good boating prac-
tices.
Vessel
Every kind of watercraft, other than a sea-plane
on the w ater, capable of being used as a
means of transpor tation on w ater.
Wake
Moving waves, created b y vessel motion.
Track or path that a boat lea ves behind it,
when moving across the w ater.
Wash
The loose or brok en water left behind a ves-
sel as it mo ves along; the surging action of
waves.
Waterline
The intersection of a vessel’ s hull and the
water’s surface; the line separating the bot-
tom paint and the topsides.
Way
Movement of a vessel through the w ater.
Technically it is underw ay when not at
anchor, aground, or made fast to the shore.
The common usage is inter preted as
progress through the w ater. Headway when
going forward and Ster nway when it is going
backwards.
Well
Area at the rear of a boat where the motor
may be located.
Wharf
A structure, parallel to the shore, for dock-
ing vessels.
Wheel
(1) The steering wheel;
(2) The propeller .
Whistle Signal
A standard communication signal betw een
boats, to indicate change of cour se, danger,
or other situations.
Windward
Situated on the side closest to the wind.
(Opposite of lee ward.)
Yaw
To swing or steer off cour se, as when r un-
ning with a quar tering sea.
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