Boating and sailing terminology

Saling Glossary: || A - C || D - F || G - I || J - L || M - O || P - R || S - U || V - X || Y, Z ||

G
GAFF: The spar supporting the upper edge of an old fashioned type of fore and aft rigged, four-cornered mainsail. A vessel that uses such a sail is said to be ‘gaff-rigged’.
GALLEY: The kitchen area aboard a boat.
GANGWAY: The area of a ship's side where people board and disembark.
GEAR: A general term for ropes, blocks, tackle and other equipment.
GENOA : Front sail, usually larger than a jib.
GIVE-WAY VESSEL: A term used to describe the vessel which must yield in meeting, crossing, or overtaking situations.
GOOSENECK: The universal joint between the boom and the mast.
GPS: Global positioning system; uses satellites in fixed orbits to electronically establish your position.
GRAB RAILS: Hand-hold fittings mounted on cabin tops and sides for personal safety when moving around the boat.
GROUND TACKLE: A collective term for the anchor and its associated gear.
G.R.P.: Glass Re-Enforced Plastic (fibreglass)
GUARDRAILS: The arrangement of wires and stanchions running around a boat for safety purposes.
GUNWALE: The upper edge of a boat's sides.
GYBE: Also jibe; to turn the boat downwind from one side of the wind to the other
H
HARBOUR: A safe anchorage, protected from most storms; may be natural or man-made, with breakwaters and jetties; a place for docking and loading.
HARD OVER: Turning the wheel as far as possible
HALYARD: A rope used for hoisting a sail.
HARD CHINE: An abrupt intersection between the hull side and the hull bottom of a boat so constructed.
HATCH: An opening in a boat's deck fitted with a watertight cover.
HEAD: Also the upper corner of a triangular sail.
HEAD(S): A marine toilet. Originally the facility was supplied by a hole in the deck right up forward, hence the name.
HEAD UP: Sailing closer to the wind.
HEADSAIL: A sail forward of the mast
HEADING: The direction in which a vessel's bow points at any given time.
HEADWAY: The forward motion of a boat. Opposite of sternway.
HEAVE TO: To bring a vessel up in a position where it will maintain little or no headway, usually with the head sail backed and the boat sitting at 90 degrees (beam on) to the wind.
HEEL: The leaning of a boat in response to the wind blowing in her sails.
HELM: The wheel or tiller controlling a rudder or outboard motor; the place from which you steer a small boat.
HELMSPERSON: The person who steers the boat.
HITCH: A knot used to secure a rope to another object or to another rope, or to form a loop or a noose in a rope.
HOIST: To raise aloft
HOLD: A compartment below deck in a large vessel, used solely for carrying cargo.
HULL : The main body of a vessel.
HYPOTHERMIA: A life-threatening condition in which the body's warming mechanisms fail to maintain normal body temperature and the entire body cools.
I
I/O: Inboard/Out drive; stern drive.
INBOARD: More toward the centre of a vessel; inside; a motor fitted inside a boat.
INBOARD ENGINE: An engine mounted inside the hull, connected to the propeller by a propeller shaft.
(IN) IRONS: Boat is pointing into the wind, sail is flapping and probably also going backwards.

Saling Glossary: || A - C || D - F || G - I || J - L || M - O || P - R || S - U || V - X || Y, Z ||