Presenting to you now, is a basic comprehensive list of some of the top boating terms. Learn these and you are well on your way to becoming proficient in modern day sailer lingo.



If you Google On Line Boating, you will find courses where all of these terms are defined. You will become more an expert for your effort in learning them.

1- Wake - When boats move accross the water, a wake is left trailing the boat that looks like a path of churning waves and disturbed water trailing behind the boat.

2- The Bow - The boats forward section.

3- Starboard - Facing forward to the bow, on your right side would be Starboard.

4- Stem - The very most froward part of the boat (the front of the bow)

5- Cast Off - To let go, as in the boat leaving the pier.

6- Wake- When a ship or oat travels trhough the water it disturbes it, causing waves and a trail to form for a distance behind the boat.

7- Port - The left side of vessel when you are facing the bow.

8- Man Overboard - When a crew or passenger falls off the ship, this is deemed an emergency and "Man Overboard" is called out to the entire ship in an effort to rescue the victim who fell into the water.

9- Navigation - To plan and direct through charts and instruments the movement of the boat from one point to another.

10- Capsize - If your watercraft is flipped over for any reason, rather a rogue wave, or from being blown over from huricane gail force winds. It has capsized.

11- Starboard - If you are facing the bow of the boat (front) on your right side would be the starboard side.

12- Beam - The widest part of the boat is it's beam.

13- Latitude - In the measurement of degrees north or south of the Equator is called Latitude.

14- Abeam - Not on the boat, but at right angles to the boats keel.

15- Bearing - An objects direction designated on the chart as it's true bearing, or in relation to the boats heading, it's realative bearing.

16- Capsize - The act of the sea vessel over turning in the water.

17- Below - Beneath the upper deck is the below decks, the lower decks.

18- Overboard - If you fall off the boat, you are overboard.

19- Nautical Mile - 1 minute of latitude, around 6075 feet , or an eighth longer that a 5280 foot long statute mile.

20- Below - Often referred to the decks below the top deck or any lower deck of a ship or boat.

21- Galley - Where a crew member or passenger can go eat while onboard a boat. The food is prepared there as well by trained cooks, or maybe you or your wife?

22- Tide - The oceans water levels rise and fall from the moons gravitational influence. When the tide is in, the water level is deeper. Some ships can not enter port unless the tide is in, for the water level would not be deep enough to keep them from bottoming out.