Boating and sailing terminology

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

S
SAIL TRIM: The position of the sails relative to the wind and desired point of sail. Sails that are not trimmed properly may not operate efficiently. Visible signs of trim are luffing, excessive heeling, and the flow of air past telltales.
SAILBOAT: Boat propelled by wind.
SAND BAR: An area in shallow water where wave or current action has created a small, long hill of sand. Since they are created by water movement, they can move and may not be shown on a chart.
SATELLITE NAVIGATION: A form of position finding using radio transmissions from satellites with sophisticated on-board automatic equipment.
SCOPE: Technically, the ratio of length of anchor rode in use to the vertical distance from the bow of the vessel to the bottom of the water. Usually four times the depth with chain and six to seven times the depth with warp.
SCREW: A boat's propeller.
SCUPPERS: Drain holes on deck, in the toe rail, or in bulwarks or (with drain pipes) in the deck itself.
SEA ANCHOR: Any device used to reduce a boat's drift before the wind.
SEA COCK: A through hull valve, a shut off on a plumbing or drain pipe between the vessel's interior and the sea.
SEA ROOM: A safe distance from the shore or other hazards.
SEAMANSHIP: All the arts and skills of boat handling, ranging from maintenance and repairs to piloting, sail handling, marlinespike work, and rigging.
SEAWORTHY: A boat or a boat's gear able to meet the usual sea conditions.
SET: Direction toward which the current is flowing.
SEXTANT: A navigational instrument used to determine the vertical position of an object such as the sun, moon or stars. Used with celestial navigation.
SHEAR PIN: A safety device, used to fasten a propeller to its shaft; it breaks when the propeller hits a solid object, thus preventing further damage.
SHEAVE: The ‘wheel’ inside a pulley block or set into a spar to lead a rope or turn it’s direction of pull.
SHEET: The rope which controls the set of a sail.
SHEET BEND: A knot used to join two ropes. Can be used between lines of different diameters.
SHIP: A larger vessel usually thought of as being used for ocean travel. A vessel able to carry a "boat" on board.
SHOAL: An offshore hazard to navigation at a depth of 16 fathoms (30 meters or 96 feet) or less.
SHROUDS: Wire rigging which supports the mast Athwartships (sideways).
SIDELIGHTS: A green light on the starboard side, and a red light on the port side, showing an arc of visibility from dead ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam.
SLACK: Not fastened; loose. Also, to loosen.
SLOOP: A single masted vessel with working sails (main and jib) set fore and aft.
SNATCH BLOCK: A block that can be opened to admit the bight of a rope, rather than having to feed the end through.
SOLE: Cabin or saloon floor. Timber extensions on the bottom of the rudder. Also the molded fiberglass deck of a cockpit.
SOUNDING: A measurement of the depth of water.
SPINNAKER: A very large lightweight sail used when running or on a broad reach.
SPINNAKER POLE: Sometimes called a spinnaker boom. A pole used to extend the foot of the spinnaker beyond the edge of the boat, and to secure the corner of the sail.
SPLICE: To permanently join two ropes by tucking their strands alternately over and under each other.
SPRING LINE: A pivot line used in docking, undocking, or to prevent the boat from moving forward or astern while made fast to a dock.
SPREADER: Small spars extending toward the sides from one or more places along the mast. The shrouds cross the end of the spreaders, enabling the shrouds to better support the mast.
SPRING TIDE: The tide with the most variation in water level, occurring during new moons and full moons. This is the time of the highest high tide and the lowest low tide. The opposite of a neap tide.
SQUALL: A sudden, violent wind often accompanied by rain.
STANCHION: Stainless steel or bronze rod providing support for the guardrails at the deck edge.
STANDING PART: That part of a line which is made fast. The main part of a line as distinguished from the bight and the end.
STAND-ON VESSEL: That vessel which has right-of-way during a meeting, crossing, or overtaking situation.
STARBOARD: The right hand side of the boat when you are looking forward.
STARBOARD TACK: Wind across the starboard (right) side.
STAYSAIL: On a cutter this is the sail located between the jib and the main sail
STEM: The forward most part of the bow.
STERN: The back, or aft end of a boat. ‘Astern’ means behind the boat.
STERN DRIVE : A drive system consisting of an inboard engine, a vertical driveshaft outboard and a propeller.
STERNLIGHT: A white light at or near the boat's stern, showing an arc of visibility from dead astern to 67.5 degrees on either side.
STERN LINE: A docking line leading from the stern.
STOW : To store items neatly and securely.
SWAMP: To fill with water, but not settle to the bottom.
SURVEY: An inspection done by a Marine Surveyor on a vessel to determine the general condition and the current market value of the vessel.
T
TACKING: Changing direction by turning into the wind.
TACKLE: An arrangement of pulley blocks and rope used to gain mechanical advantage. Typical application is a mainsheet. Ground tackle is the name given to anchors and their associated cables.
TAFFRAIL: The section of toerail which runs athwartships across the stern.
TENDER: A generally accepted term meaning a yacht’s dinghy.
THROTTLE: A device to control a boats speed.
THWART: A seat or brace running laterally across a boat.
THWARTSHIPS: At right angles to the centreline of the boat.
TIDE: The periodic rise and fall of water level in the oceans.
TIDAL CURRENT: Horizontal flow of water due to the gravity of the Moon and the Sun. Usually present in channels or on points of land.
TILLER: A bar or handle for turning a boat's rudder or an outboard motor.
TOERAIL: Raised ledge around the outer deck edge. It may be made of wood (traditional), aluminium, plastic, or some other compound.
TOPSIDES: The sides of the boat between the waterline and the deck. Can also mean going up on deck, as in ‘I’m going topside’.
TRANSOM: The stern cross-section of a square sterned boat.
TRIM: Fore and aft balance of a boat through good adjustment of the sails.
TRIMARAN: A boat with three hulls.
TRIPLINE: A line fast to the crown of an anchor by means of which it can be hauled out when dug too deeply or fouled; a similar line used on a sea anchor to bring it aboard.
TRUE NORTH POLE: The north end of the earth's axis. Also called North Geographic Pole. The direction indicated by 000° (or 360°) on the true compass rose.
TRUE WIND: The actual direction from which the wind is blowing.
TURNBUCKLE: A threaded, adjustable rigging fitting, used for stays, lifelines and sometimes other rigging.
U
UNDERWAY: Vessel in motion, i.e., when not moored, at anchor, or aground.

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