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Description

Boat glossary

TERM DEFINITION
Bow The front part of the boat.
Deck The “floor” or upper structure which covers the hull.
Give-way The vessel that must yield the right-of-way when two boats meet.
Gunwale The meeting junction of the deck and hull; the upper edge around the
boat. Pronounced “gunnel.”
Hatch An opening in the deck that provides access below.
Helm The steering console.
Hull The basic part of the boat; the underside.
Lanyard The cord or tether that connects the operator to the engine shut-off
switch so the engines will stop if the operator accidentally leaves the
helm.
PFD A personal flotation device, also known as “life jacket.”
Planing Traveling at a speed fast enough so the boat has leveled out and is
skimming on top of the water. There is a wake.
Port The left side of the boat.
Stand-on The vessel with the right-of-way when two boats meet.
Starboard The right side of the boat.
Stern The back part of the boat.
Sub-planing Traveling at a medium speed. The bow of the boat is out of the water,
but you are still traveling through the water. There is a wake.
Transom The vertical part of the stern.
Trolling Traveling at idle speed, using little or no throttle. The boat is down in the
water and it is not leaving a wake.
Wake The visible track of disturbed water that the boat leaves behind as it
moves in the water.

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