About the glossary
The purpose of this glossary is to help you understand the maritime terminology used on our website and handbooks.
A | B | C | D | F | G | H | K | M | N | P | R | S | T | U | V | W
A
Aft: Towards the ‘stern’ or rear of the vessel.
B
Beam: The widest part of a vessel.
Bilge: Inside the bottom of a vessel's hull where water collects.
Bow: The front of a vessel.
C
Cabin trunk: On a small boat, a raised cabin above the deck.
Centreline: The middle line of a vessel, from bow to stern. The dividing line between port and starboard.
Chine: A sharp change in angle on the surface of a hull, often locatedwhere the topside meets the bottom.
Cleat: A fitting on a vessel to which lines (ropes) can be attached.
co*ckpit: A lowered space in the deck of a boat where people can stand or sit.
Console: Where controls are located, such as steering, radio, ignition and other switches.
D
Deck: Any permanent covering over a compartment of the vessel.
Deckhouse (also coach house or coach roof): An enclosed cabin on the deck of a vessel.
Draft: Distance from the waterline to the lowest part of the vessel.
Draft (PWC only): The minimum depth of water a vessel needs to float in.
Driver: The person driving a vessel. Often referred to as the operator.
F
Forward: Toward the front or ‘bow’ of the vessel.
Freeboard: The vertical distance from the waterline to the top of a vessel's hull.
G
Give way: Reduce speed, stop, reverse or alter course to keep out of another vessel’s path.
Gunwale: The top edge of a vessel’s sides.
H
Hull: The main body of a vessel.
K
Kill switch lanyard: An automatic engine cut-off device activated by a lanyard which must be attached to the driver.
Knots (speed): 1 knot is a speed of 1 nautical mile per hour, or 1.852 kilometres per hour.
M
Marlin board: A small deck on the back of a boat to make getting into the water easier – similar to a swim board.
N
Nautical miles (nm): A unit of measure for distances at sea. One nautical mile per hour is equal to 1.852 kilometres or 1.151 miles.
Navigable waters: A waterway that a vessel can navigate safely.
P
Paddlecraft: Vessel that you paddle – for example, kayaks, canoes and surf skis.
Personal watercraft (PWC): Vessel with a fully enclosed hull that you drive standing up, lying down, sitting astride or kneeling. It uses waterjet propulsion and has an engine in a watertight compartment. For example, jet ski or jet-powered surfboard.
Planing: A vessel is planing when it speeds up enough to rise and skim on top of the water. Also called 'on the plane'. Heavier boats are not capable of planing.
Port side: The left side of a vessel when you are looking towards the bow and the side on which a red sidelight is displayed.
Powered vessel: Vessel with an engine – for example, powerboats, sailing boats using an engine and personal watercraft (PWC).
Pulpit: The railing at the bow of a boat.
R
Rowing vessel: Vessel that you row – for example, rowing shells and skiffs, dragon boats, rowing boats, rowing dinghies and small inflatable boats.
S
Sailing vessel: Any vessel using a sail for power. For example sailing boats without an engine or with an engine (but not using it), off-the-beach sailing boats, sailboards and kiteboards.
Skipper: The person in charge of a recreational vessel, whether driving or not. Often referred to as the master.
Starboard side: The right side of the vessel when you are looking towards the bow and the side on which a green sidelight is displayed.
Steering control: The device designed for operating a personal watercraft.
Steering nozzle: On a personal watercraft, a device for directing a stream of water to the left or right.
Stern: The back or rear of a vessel.
T
Tender: Vessel used to transport people and goods between its parent vessel and the shore, or another vessel. It is less than 7.5m long and doesn't operate further than 1 nautical mile form the parent vessel.
Throttle: The speed control regulating the amount of fuel delivered to the engine.
Topsides: The sides of a vessel between the waterline and the gunwale.
Transom: The surface that forms the stern of a vessel.
U
Underway: A vessel is underway when not at anchor or fastened to the shore or ground. If a vessel is drifting, it's underway.
V
Vessel: Any vessel used as transport on the water. Includes powered vessels, sailing vessels, paddlecraft and rowing vessels. Does not include surfboards, stand-up paddle boards, towed equipment – for example, water skis, inflatable tubes or rafts – or swimming equipment.
W
Wheel: Used for steering a vessel. Also called the helm.
