Common Boating Terms
1. Bow
The front end of a boat is the bow. When you move toward the bow, it is called going forward.
2. Stern
Refers to the rear of the boat. When you move toward the stern, you are going aft.
3. Aft
When you moving towards the stern, you are going aft.
4. Forward
When you are moving towards the front end of a boat, this is called going forward.
5. Underway
When a boat is moving, either by power or sail, it is called being underway. A boat moving forward is moving ahead. When the boat moves backwards, it is going astern.
6. Port
If you are standing in the rear of the boat looking forward, port refers to the entire right side of the boat.
7. Starboard
Standing at the rear of the boat and looking forward, starboard refers to the entire right side of the boat.
8. Amidships
Amidships is the central part of the boat, while athwartships is an imaginary line running from one side of the boat, to the other.
9. Topside & Below
Going topside is moving from a lower deck to an upper deck of the boat, while going below is moving from an upper deck to a lower deck.
10. Windward & Leeward
Windward is the direction from which the wind is blowing; leeward is the opposite direction from which the wind is blowing. Knowing the windward side and leeward side is particularly helpful when you are operating in strong weather.
11. Helm
The station from which a captain operates the boat is called the helm.
12. Cockpit
The cockpit is the space somewhere behind the helm where people can gather.
13. Bow line
A bow line is a line that leads from the front of the boat, the bow, to the dock. It is used to tie the boat to the dock. (You'll toss this to a dock assistant when you're docking at your favorite Lake of the Ozarks shoreside restaurant!)
14. Inboard Motor
An inboard motor is a motor that is inside of the vessel.
15. Outboard Motor
An outboard motor is a motor that is outside of the vessel. It is attached to the transom. The transom is the flat part of the stern, or back, of the boat.
BomBay Boat Rental Company has armed you with these basic boating terms to help you enjoy a safe boating excursion for you and your passengers. You may find these boat terms come in handy when speaking with dock staff and communicating with service departments. Practice and memorize these useful terms and you'll be speaking the boating lingo in no time! When you rent your next boat from BomBay Boat Rental Co. you'll feel confident and ready to have a great day on the lake!
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1-888-259-6096