Glossary of Boating Terms
Some random boating definitions...
A boat is a watercraft designed to float or plane on water, and provide transport over it. Usually this water will be inland (lakes) or in protected coastal areas. However, boats such as the whaleboat were historically designed to be operated from a ...
Full definition>
A yacht is a recreational boat. It designates two rather different classes of watercraft, sailing and power yachts. Yachts are differentiated from working ships mainly by their leisure purpose. It was not until the ascendancy of the steamboat and oth...
Full definition>
A ship is a large watercraft capable of offshore navigation. Ships may be operated by governments (military, rescue, research, transportation), private companies and institutions (transportation, offshore resources, research), and individuals (recrea...
Full definition>
The FAIRLINE marque was born of one mans vision and passion for excellence. Jack Newington, the companys founder, was a man committed to the highest ideals of quality and integrity; more than that, he had the rare ability to take his own high standar...
Full definition>
Outboard motors for a boat are developed as a self-contained unit with engine, subsidiary systems, and propeller, designed to be mounted at the stern (rear) of the craft. They are the most common motorized method of propelling small watercraft.
As...
Full definition>
A flying bridge is a (usually open) area on top or at the side of a ship's pilothouse that serves as an operating station for the officers in good weather or when manoeuvring in port, where good views along the ship sides are important.
...
Full definition>
In the context of British Inland Waterways, "narrow boat" refers to the original working boats built in the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries for carrying goods on the narrow canals (where locks and bridge holes would have a minimum width of 7 fee...
Full definition>
In boats and ships, keel can refer to either of two parts: a structural element, or a hydrodynamic element. These parts overlap.
A structural keel is a large beam around which the hull of a ship is built. The keel runs in the middle of the ship, f...
Full definition>
Depth of water needed to float a boat or ship; the distance from the waterline to the deepest / lowest point of the keel.
...
Full definition>
Starboard is the nautical term that refers to the right side of a vessel as perceived by a person on board the ship and facing the bow (front).
The origin of the term comes from old boating practices. Before ships had rudders on their centerline, ...
Full definition>