What’s in a name? A lot if you are a boater. The language used by boaters can sometimes seem foreign. Let’s see what we can do about that. Here are some of the main terms you may need to know if you are boating:
Aft or Abaft – toward the back of boat
Stern – the back of the boat
Bow – the front of the boat
Port – the left side of the boat
Starboard – the right side of the boat
Helm – the boat’s steering mechanism
Hull – the shell/framework of a boat
Stow – to store
Come about – to turn the boat around
Fender – a foam filled bumper to keep boats from hitting other boats or the dock
Lanyard – a rope that ties something off
Following sea – when waves are going in the same direction as the boat
Head sea – when waves are going in the opposite direction of the boat
Waypoint – a location determined by navigational coordinates
Wide berth – to leave room for maneuvering between boats
There are also some funny ones…such as:
Davy Jones’ Locker, which means the bottom of the sea, and
Pipe down, which was the signal for the end of the day when lights had to be extinguished and the crew was supposed to be quiet. Sound like your third grade teacher?
And what we will leave you with is this…”Fair winds and following seas,” which is a wish for a safe journey and good fortune.
