Fenders
Rope or plastic pieces hung over the side to
protect the hull from chafing.
Freeboard
Height of exposed hull from water line to
deck.
Ground Tackle
General term referring to anchor, anchor
lines, etc.
Gunwale
(Pronounced gun’l) Meeting juncture of hull
and deck
Hatch
An opening in deck to provide access below.
Helm
Steering console.
Hull
The basic part of a boat that provides
buoyancy to float the weight of the vessel and
its load.
Keel
The major longitudinal member of a hull; the
lowest external portion of a boat.
Knot
Unit of speed in nautical miles per hour.
Lee
The side that is sheltered from the wind.
PFD
Personal flotation device; live preserver.
Port
Term designating the left side of the boat.
Sheer
Curve of sweep of the deck as viewed from
the side.
Stern
The aft end of a boat.
Transom
Transverse part of the stern.
Wake
Disturbed water that a boat leaves behind as
a result of forward motion.
Windward
Toward the direction from which the wind is
blowing.
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