| ABAFT - In the direction of the stern, or the rear of | | | | FORWARD - Toward the front of the boat |
| the boat | | | | FOULED - The encrusting of foreign matter or debris |
| ABEAM - On a line that forms a right angle to the | | | | on the hull of a boat |
| ship's keel | | | | GALLEY - The boats kitchen area |
| ABOARD - On board (of a ship or a boat) | | | | GANGWAY - The side of the boat used for the |
| ABOVE DECK - On the boat's deck | | | | boarding of passengers |
| ABREAST - By the side of, next to or side by side | | | | GEAR - Nautical equipment such as ropes, tackle, etc. |
| ADRIFT - Floating at random, not on the towline. | | | | GROUND TACKLES - The anchor and its accessories |
| AFT - Near or in the direction of the stern of the | | | | GUNWALE - The top of a boat's side |
| boat | | | | HATCH - Located in the deck, it is an opening that |
| AGROUND - When the bottom of the boat touches | | | | has a secure cover |
| or lodges on the ground. | | | | HEAD - A nautical commode |
| AHEAD - In front of; to go in advance | | | | HEADING - The direction that the bow of the boat is |
| AIDS TO NAVIGATION - Road signs used on the | | | | pointed in |
| waterway, they help indicate the safety level of | | | | HEADWAY - The progress the ship makes as it |
| water | | | | moves across the water |
| ALOFT - Above or on top of the boat's deck | | | | HELM - The wheel that steers the ship |
| AMIDSHIPS - In the middle or center of the boat | | | | HELMSPERSON - The one who steers the boat |
| ANCHORAGE - Where a ship anchors or a suitable | | | | HOLD - A compartment used for storing cargo, |
| place to anchor | | | | located below the deck |
| ASTERN - Towards the back of the boat | | | | HULL - The boat's main body |
| AWEIGH - When the anchor is raised and off bottom | | | | INBOARD - The inside of a boat |
| of body of water | | | | INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY - ICW: A body of |
| BATTEN DOWN - To secure or strengthen the | | | | water that is used for boats to travel upon |
| hatches and objects on the deck and hull of a boat | | | | JETTY - A structure that extends or jets out from |
| BEAM - The boat's width | | | | the shore |
| BEARING - The direction of an object as determined | | | | KEEL - The line of the boat that extends through the |
| by a compass | | | | center; also a barge |
| BELOW - Down below, beneath, or under the deck | | | | KNOT - A unit of speed that is understood to mean |
| BILGE - The broadest width of the bottom of the | | | | per hour (6080.27 feet) |
| boat | | | | LATITUDE - The distance north and south of the |
| BOAT - A small open vessel or watercraft. | | | | equator; latitude is measured in degrees |
| BOAT HOOK - A pole that has a metal point and | | | | LEEWARD - The direction in which the wind blows |
| hooks that is used to maneuver logs, or retrieve | | | | LEEWAY - The direction a boat drifts to leeward of |
| objects that have fallen overboard | | | | the steered course |
| BOW - A boat's front section | | | | LINE - The rope or cords that are used on a boat |
| BOW LINE - A rope that is used to tie the boat to a | | | | LOG - A record of nautical activities |
| dock; it has a loop spliced at one end | | | | LONGITUDE - Distance measured in degrees that |
| BOWLINE A special knot that is used to create a | | | | determines east and west from the Prime Meridian |
| temporary loop; there are several variations for | | | | MIDSHIP - The middle of a ship; between the bow |
| forming a bowline | | | | and stern |
| BRIDGE -Where the ship is steered or controlled. | | | | MOORING - Anchors or fastenings used to secure a |
| BULKHEAD - A partition that is used to separate | | | | boat |
| compartments on a boat | | | | NAUTICAL MILE - The unit used for measuring |
| BUOY - A floating device used for marking locations | | | | nautical navigation; one nautical mile equals 1,852 |
| or other hazards in the water | | | | meters or 6,076 feet |
| BURDENED VESSEL - Also referred to as Give Way; | | | | NAVIGATION - The act of passing over water in |
| the vessel that must yield to another vessel | | | | ships or boats |
| CABIN - The compartment used for crew members | | | | NAVIGATION RULES - Steering and sailing rules that |
| or passengers | | | | govern how boats and ships pass over water |
| CAPSIZE - When a boat upsets or overturns | | | | OUTBOARD - The outside of the hull of a boat |
| CAST OFF - To untie or let go. | | | | OVERBOARD - The place located outside the side or |
| CHART - A marine map | | | | edge of a boat |
| CHINE - The line where the sides and bottom of a | | | | PIER - A wharf or structure that is used as a landing |
| flat or v-bottomed boat intersect | | | | place |
| CHOCK - Fittings used to pass ropes or mooring lines | | | | PILE - A pole made of wood, stone, or metal used |
| CLEAT - Fittings used to hold ropes or lines securely | | | | to support a pier. |
| CLOVE HITCH - A temporary knot used for securing | | | | PILING - Used for driving piles; or a structure |
| a rope or line to a piling or spar | | | | composed of piles |
| COURSE - The direction a boat is steered. | | | | PILOTING - Coastal navigation that utilizes soundings |
| CUDDY - A small cabin on a boat | | | | and buoys |
| CURRENT - The course in which the water flows | | | | PORT - Place in the water that is used to provide |
| DEAD AHEAD - Straight ahead | | | | shelter for boats |
| DEAD ASTERN - The position behind the boat | | | | PRIVELEGED VESSEL - A vessel that has the right of |
| DECK - Floor like coverings of the compartments of | | | | way according to Navigation Rules |
| a ship | | | | QUARTER - The upper sides of a boat; between the |
| DINGHY - A small rowboat or open boat | | | | stem and the mast |
| DOCK - A pier or wharf | | | | RODE - The line or rope attached to an anchor |
| DRAFT - Depth of water necessary to cause the | | | | RUDDER - Used for steering a boat; a hinged plate |
| boat to float | | | | made of fiberglass, wood or metal that is mounted |
| FENDER - A cushioning device that is used to prevent | | | | to the stern |
| the sides of a boat from damage | | | | RUNNING LIGHTS - Required lights that are displayed |
| FLARE - Where the boat's sides spread outward, | | | | on a boat between sunrise and sunset |
| near the bow of the boat | | | | SATELLITE NAVIGATION - Navigation that uses |
| FLUKE - Where the anchor fastens to the ground | | | | satellite transmission via radio waves and equipment |
| FOLLOWING SEA - A sea swell | | | | located on the boat |
| FORE-AND-AFT - The length of the boat from the | | | | SCREW - The propeller on a boat |
| bow to the stern | | | | SCUPPERS - Holes in the side of a ship, used to allow |
| FOREPEAK - Used for storing cargo, a small section | | | | water to drain. |
| within the bow of the boat | | | | SEAMANSHIP - The skill of navigating a boat or ship. |