SEAFARER LANGUAGE FOR THE LANDLUBBER

A

• Aback - describes a sail when the wind strikes it on it's lee side.
• Abaft - towards the boats stern.
• Abeam - at right angles to the centre-line of the boat.
• Aft - at or near the stern.
• Ahoy - is a signal word used to call to a ship or boat.
• A-hull - to ride out a storm with no sails set and the helm lashed to leeward.
• AIS - Automatic Identification System.
• Amidships - the centre of the boat, athwartships and fore-and-aft.
• Apparent wind - the direction and speed of the wind felt by the crew, it is a combination of true wind and that created by the movement of the boat.
• ARPA - Automatic Radar Plotting Aid.
• Astern - behind the boat; to go astern is to drive the boat in reverse.
• Athwartships - at right angles to the fore-and-aft line of the boat.
• Azimuth - angular distance measured on a horizon circle in a clockwise direction, usually between an observer and a heavenly body.

B

• Back - when a wind backs, it shifts anti-clockwise.
• Back a sail - to sheet it to windward so that the wind fills it on the side that is normally to leeward.
• Backstay - a stay that supports the mast from aft and prevents its forward movement.
• Baggywrinkle - rope, teased out, plaited together and wound around stays, shrouds etc. to prevent chaffing.
• Ballast - extra weight, usually lead or iron, placed low in the boat or externally on the keel to provide stability.
• Ballast keel - a mass of ballast bolted to the keel to increase stability and prevent the boat from capsizing.
• Batten - a light, flexible strip, fed into a batten pocket at the leech of the sail to support the roach.
• Beam - (1) the maximum breadth of the boat, (2) a transverse member which supports the deck, (3) on the beam, an object is at right angles to the centre-line.
• Bear away - to steer the boat away from the wind.
• Bearing - the direction of an object from an observer, measured in degrees true or magnetic.
• Beat - to sail a zigzag course towards the wind, close-hauled on alternate tacks.
• Belay - to make fast a rope around a cleat usually with a figure of eight knot.
• Bend - (1) secure a sail to a spar before hoisting, (2) connect two ropes with a knot.
• Berth - (1) place occupied by a boat in harbour, (2) sleeping place on board.
• Bight - a bend or loop in a rope.
• Bilge - the lower, round part inside the hull where water collects.
• Bitter End - The loose, unattached end of a line, as opposed to the "working end," which may be attached to an anchor, other vessel, or cleat. Now this term is commonly used to describe a painful or final conclusion.
• Block - a pulley in a wooden or plastic case, consisting of a sheave around which a rope runs. It is used to change the direction of pull.
• Boot-topping - a narrow coloured stripe painted between the bottom paint and topside enamel.
• Broach - when a boat running downwind slews broadside to the wind and heels dangerously. It is caused by heavy following seas or helmsman' error.
• Broad reach - the point of sailing between a beam reach and a run when the wind blows over the quarter.
• Bulkhead - partition wall in a boat normally fitted athwartships.

C

• Cable - distance of measurement equalling 0.1 sea mile, 185 metres, 200 yards
• Cat’s out of the bag - The cat o’ nine tails whip was used to punish sailors, so if it was out of the bag in which it was stored, that meant that the secret of someone’s wrongdoing was known. This phrase is now used to mean that a secret is out.
• Centre-board - a board lowered through a slot in the keel to reduce leeway.
• Centre-line - centre of the boat in a fore-and-aft line.
• Chart Datum - reference level on a chart below which the tide is unlikely to fall. Sounding are given below chart datum. Datum level varies on country & area.
• Claw ring - a fitting, which slips over the boom like a claw, to which the main sheet is attached after reefing the sail.
• Cleat - a wooden, metal or plastic fitting around which a rope is secured.
• Clew - the after, lower corner of a sail where the foot and leech meet.
• Close-hauled - the point of sailing closest to the wind; see also beat.
• Close reach - the point of sailing between close-hauled and a beam reach, when the wind blows forward of the beam.
• Close-winded - describes a boat able to sail very close to the wind.
• Course - the direction in which a vessel is steered, usually given in degrees, true, magnetic or compass.
• Cringle - (1) a rope loop found at either end of a line of reef points, (2) an eye in a sail.

D

• Draft - the vertical distance from the waterline to the lowest point of the keel.
• Dressed to the nines: When a maritime victory was celebrated, a ship would return to her home port "dressed" in bunting and flags. The crew would also be dressed in their best and out on the nine yards of a tall ship to greet their country. Today the phrase is used to describe a person who is very elaborately dressed.
• Drift - (1) to float with the current or wind, (2) the distance a boat is carried by a current in a given time.
• Drogue - a sea anchor put over the stern of a boat or liferaft to retard drift.
• Drop keel - a retractable keel which can be drawn into the hull.
• DSC - Digital Selective Calling.Dead run - running with the wind blowing exactly aft, in line with the centre-line.
• Deep Six: The unit to measure depth of the sea is called a fathom, which is 6 feet—about the height of a sailor. This term was used to refer to throwing something overboard, and it has come to mean getting rid of something.
• Deviation - the difference between the direction indicated by the compass needle and the magnetic meridian, caused by metal objects aboard.
• Displacement - (1) the weight of water displaced by a boat is equal to the weight of the boat.
• Displacement - (2) a displacement hull displaces its weight in water & is only supported by buoyancy.
• Downhaul - a rope fitted to pull down a sail or spar.

E

• EP - Estimated Position
• EPIRB - Emergency Position Indication Radio Beacon
• ETA - Estimated Time of Arrival
• ETD - Estimated Time of Departure

F

• Fairlead - a fitting through which a line is run to alter the direction of the lead of the line.
• Fathom - the measurement used for depths of water and lengths of rope. 1 fathom = 6 ft = 1.83m
• Feeling Blue: This term refers to a custom to mark when a ship had lost her captain at sea.  The ship would have a blue band painted along her hull and would fly a blue flag when she returned to port. Now, the term refers to being sad or down.
• Fiddle - a raised border for a cabin table, chart table etc. to prevent objects falling off.
• Fix - The position of a vessel as plotted from two or more position lines.
• Forestay - the foremost stay running from the masthead to the stemhead, to which the mainsail is hanked.
• Freeboard - vertical distance between the waterline and the top of the deck.
• Freeze the balls off a brass monkey:  Commonly used nowadays to convey that it’s very cold. On Navy (or pirate) boats, cannon balls were piled on deck in a pyramid shape and held in place by a “brass monkey” or ring. When the temperature dropped below a certain point, the brass ring would contract faster than the iron cannon balls, making the pyramid unstable and causing cannon balls to go rolling around.

G

• Genoa - a large headsail in various sizes, which overlaps the mainsail and is hoisted in light to fresh winds on all points of sailing.
• Gimbals - two concentric rings, pivoted at right angles which keeps objects horizontal despite the boats motion.
  GMDSS - Global Maritime Distress and Safety System.
• GNSS - Global Navigation Satellite System.
• Go about - to turn the boat through the eye of the wind to change tack.
• Gooseneck - the fitting attaching the boom to the mast, allowing it to move in all directions.
• Goosewing - to boom out the headsail to windward on a run by using a whisker pole to hold the sail on the opposite side to the mainsail.
• GPS - Global Positioning System
• Guard rail - a metal rail fitted around the boat to prevent the crew from falling overboard.
• Gung Ho: This phrase is an anglicized version of a Chinese term meaning “come together,” and used when ships’ crew would work towards a common goal. The term was brought into the English vocabulary when American WWII Lt. Colonel Carlson used the term for a motto for his division. Now this term seems to represent being enthusiastic or ready for action.
• Guy - a steadying rope for a spar a spinnaker guy controls the fore-and-aft position of the spinnaker pole; the foreguy holds the spinnaker pole forward.
• Gybe - to change from one tack to another by turning the stern through the wind.

H

• Halyard - rope used to hoist and lower sails.
• Hank - fitting used to attach the luff of a sail to a stay.
• HAT - Highest Astronomical Tide.
• Hatch - an opening in the deck giving access to the interior.
• Head-to-wind - when the bows are pointing right into the wind.
• Headfoil - a streamlined surround to a forestay, with a groove into which a headsail luff slides.
• Heads - toilets.
• Headway - the forward movement of a boat through the water.
• Heave-to - to back the jib and lash the tiller to leeward used in heavy weather to encourage the boat to lie quietly and to reduce headway.
• Heel - to lean over to one side.
• Holy Mackerel: Though markets weren’t normally open on Sundays in 17th century England, fishmongers were allowed to sell mackerel on the day of rest because it spoils quickly. This phrase today expresses surprise.

I

• IRPCS - International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.
• IMO - International Maritime Organisation
• ITU - International Telecommunication Union
• Isobars - lines on a weather map joining places of equal atmospheric pressure.

J

• Jackstay - a line running fore-and-aft on both sides of the boat to which safety harnesses are clipped.
• Jury - a temporary device to replace lost or damaged gear.

K

• Kedge - a small, light second anchor.
• Keel - the main backbone of the boat to which a ballast keel is bolted or through which the centre-board passes.
• Ketch - a two-masted sailing vessel with a mizzen mast slightly smaller than the main and stepped forward of the rudder stock/post.
• Kicking strap - a line used to pull the boom down, to keep it horizontal, particularly on a reach or run.
• Knot: Now a measure of speed over water, meaning one nautical mile per hour. One nautical mile is equal to one minute of latitude or 1.15 land-based miles. The term comes from the method of using a rope or line marked with even intervals of knots. The other end of the line would be thrown off the stern, with a log or other floating object fastened on. The knotted line was allowed to pay out for a specific amount of time after which sailors pulled it back in, counting the knots between the ship and the log to measure distance over time.

L

• Lanyard - a short line attached to one object, such as a knife, with which it is secured to another.
• LAT - Lowest Astronomical Tide - Chart Datum
• Leech - (1) the after edge of a triangular sail, (2) both side edges of a square sail.
• Lee Helm - the tendency of a boat to bear away from the wind.
• Lee shore - a shore onto which the wind is blowing.
• Leeward - away from the wind, the direction to which the wind blows.
• Leeway - the sideways movement off its course as a result of the wind blowing on one side of the sails and hull.
• List - a boat's more or less permanent lean to one side, owing to improper distribution of weight.
• Log - (1) an instrument for measuring a boats speed and distance travelled through the water. (2) to record in a book the details of a voyage.
• Luff - The forward edge of a sail. To luff up is to turn the boat's head right into the wind.

M

• Marinized engine - an auto engine which has been specially adapted for use in boats.
• Mast step - the socket in the keel in which the base of the mast is located.
  MCA - Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
• Measured mile - a distance of one nautical mile measured between buoys or transits/ranges ashore, and marked on the chart.
• Meridian - an imaginary line encircling the Earth which passes through the poles and cuts at right angles through the Equator. All lines of longitude are meridians.
• Mizzen - (1) the shorter after-mast on a ketch or yawl.
• Mizzen - (2) the fore-and-aft sail set on this mast.
• MHWN - Mean High Water Neaps.
• MHWS - Mean High Water Springs.
• MLWN - Mean Low Water Neaps.
• MLWS - Mean Low Water Springs.
• MMSI - Maritime Mobile Service Identity.

N/O

• Outhaul - a rope used to pull out the foot of a sail.
• Overall Length (LOA) - the boat's extreme length measured from the foremost part of the bow to the aftermost part of the stern excluding bowsprit, self-steering gear etc.
• Overwhelm: This word is from the Middle English word meaning "to capsize" or “to turn upside down”—like a boat overtaken by a large wave. Today the word represents being overcome, inundated or defeated.

P

• Painter - the bow line by which a dinghy, or tender is towed or made fast.
  Panpan - Urgency call requesting assistance.
• Passed with flying colors: If sailing ships wanted to be identified while passing other ships, they would “fly their colors”—put up their flags and burgies. Now, this is used to refer to someone passing a test or task with great success.
• Pay out - to let a rope put gradually.
• Point of sailing - the different angles from the wind on which a boat may sail, the boats course relative to the direction of the wind.
• Pooped: This term refers to waves breaking over an aft deck when a vessel is sailing downwind in high seas. This now means “exhausted,” as a sailor assigned to bailing the pooped deck might have been.
• Port - the left hand side of the boat looking forward.
• Port tack - a boat is on a port tack when the wind strikes the port side 1st & the main sail is out to starboard.
• Posh - Now meaning exclusive, expensive, or fancy, this word comes from travel between Boston and England, where the trunks of the wealthy passengers would have the label "POSH," which stood for "Portside Out Starboard Home" instructing on where to place the luggage to avoid harsh sun.
• Position line/line of position - a line drawn on a chart as a result of taking a bearing along which a boat's position must lie. Two position lines give a fix.
• Pulpit - a metal guard rail fitted at the bows of a boat to provide safety for the crew.
• Pushpit - a metal guard rail fitted at the stern.

Q

• Quarter - the portion of the boat midway between the stern and the beam.

R

• Range - (1) see transit.
• Range - (2) of tides, the difference between the high and low water levels of a tide.
• Range - (3) the distance at which a light can be seen.
• Reach - to sail with the wind approximately on the beam , all sailing points between running and close hauled.
• Reef - to reduce the sail area by folding or rolling surplus material on the boom or forestay.
• Reefing pennant - strong line with which the luff or leech cringle is pulled down to the boom when reefing.
• Rhumb line - a line cutting all meridians at the same angle, the course followed by a boat sailing in a fixed direction.
• Riding sail - small sail hoisted to enable a boat to maintain steerage way during a storm.
• Rigging screw - a deck fitting with which the tension of standing rigging is adjusted.
• Roach - the curved part of the leech of a sail which extends beyond the direct line from head to clew.
• Run - to sail with the wind aft and with the sheets eased well out.
• Running rigging - all the moving lines such as sheets and halyards used in the setting and trimming of sails.

S

• SAR - Search and Rescue.
  SART - Search and Rescue Transponder.
  Schooner - a boat with two or more masts with the mainmast aftermost.
• Scuppers - holes in the toe rail which allow water to drain off the deck.
• Scuttlebutt: Now a slang term for gossip, this term is thought to have referred to the drinking ladle on boats. Captains often cut small holes or "scuttles" in it to reduce the chatter and wasted time at the water barrel, encouraging the sailors to drink fast before the water ran out.
• Seacock - a valve which shuts off an underwater inlet or outlet passing through the hull.
• Sea room - room in which a boat can manoeuvre clear of land or other dangers.
  Securitay - Procedure word identifying a safety call.
  Seelonce - radio silence (French) requested during distress incident.
• Set - (1) to hoist a sail.
• Set - (2) the way in which the sails fit.
• Set - (3) the direction of a tidal current or stream.
• Shackle - a metal link with a removable bolt across the open end, of various shapes D, U
• Sheet -  the rope attached to the clew of a sail or to the boom, enabled it to be controlled or trimmed.
• Shrouds - ropes or wires usually in pairs, led from the mast to chain plates at deck level to prevent the mast falling sideways, part of the standing rigging.
• Skin fitting - a through-hull fitting where there is a hole in the skin through which air or water passes. A seacock is fitted for when the hole is not in use.
• Sloop - a single-masted sailing boat with one mainsail and one headsail.
  SOG - Speed Over the Ground.
  SOLAS - Safety of Life at Sea.
• Spar - a general term used for any wood or metal pole, e.g mast or boom, used to give shape to sails.
• Spinnaker - a large, light balloon shaped sail used when reaching or running.
• Splice - to join ropes or wires by unlaying the strands and interweaving them.
• Spreaders - horizontal struts attached to the mast which extend to the shrouds and help support the mast.
• Square meal: Now a somewhat confusing way of describing a wholesome, filling meal, this term comes from the square plates that the Royal Navy served sailors’ meals on.
• Stall - a sail stalls when the airflow over it breaks up causing the boat to lose way.
• Stanchion - upright metal post bolted to the deck to support the guard rails.
• Standing part - the part of a line not used when making a knot, the part of a rope which is made fast or around which the knot is tied.
• Standing rigging - the shrouds and stays which are permanently set up and support the mast.
• Starboard - right-hand side of the boat looking forward.
• Starboard tack - a boat is on a starboard tack when the wind strikes the starboard side first and the boom is out to port.
• Stay - wire or rope which supports the mast in a fore-and-aft direction, part of the standing rigging.
• Steerage way - a boat has steerage way when it has sufficient speed to allow it to be steered, or to answer the helm.
• Sternway - the backward, stern-first movement of a boat.
• Strop - a loop of wire or rope used to attach a block to a spar to make a sling.
• Swagger - an arrogantly self-confident way of walking: an act or instance of swaggering: arrogant or conceitedly self-assured behavior: ostentatious display or bravado: bold or brash self-confidence: marked by elegance or showiness : POSH

T

• Tack -(1) the lower forward corner of the sail.
• Tack -(2) to turn the boat through the wind so that it blows on the opposite side of the sails.
• Tacking - working to windward by sailing close-hauled on alternate courses so that the wind is first and one side then on the other.
• Tang - a strong metal fitting by which standing rigging is attached to the mast or other spar.
• Tender - or dinghy, a small boat used to ferry people and supplies from a yacht to shore.
• Three sheets to the wind: This expression refers to not having control of a boat because the sheets or lines connected to sails had been let go or lost. Today the expression is used to talk about someone who’s drunk, and doesn’t have control of themselves.
• Tide - the vertical rise and fall of the oceans caused principally by the gravitational attraction of the moon.
• Toe rail - a low strip of wood or moulding running around the edge of the deck.
• Took the wind out of his sails: Today this expression is used to describe getting the upper hand in an argument. It originates from a sailing maneuver whereby a boat would take the wind (and power) out of an opponents sails by sailing to windward of the opponent, causing the other boat to slow.
• Topping lift - a line from the mast head to a spar normally the boom which is used to raise it.
• Track - (1) the course a boat has made good.
• Track - (2) a fitting on the mast or boom onto which the slide on a sail fit.
• Track - (3) a fitting along which a traveller runs used to alter the tension of the sheets.
• Trim - (1) to adjust the angle of the sails, by mean of sheets so that they work most efficiently.
• Trim - (2) to adjust the boats load and thus the fore-and-aft angle at which it floats.
• True wind - the direction and speed of the wind felt when stationary at anchor or on land.
• Turn buckle - used to tighten the standing rigging.

U/V

• Underway - a boat is underway when it is not made fast to the shore, at anchor or aground.
• Up haul - is a line to raise something vertically for example the spinnaker pole.
• Vang - see kicking strap.
• Veer - (1) the wind veers when it shifts in a clockwise direction.
• Veer - (2) to pay out anchor cable or rope in a gradual controlled way.
• VHF - Very High Frequency
• VMG - Velocity Made Good

W

• Wake - the disturbed water left astern of a boat.
• Wavelength - distance between radio waves.
• Weather helm - a tendency of a boat to turn into wind.
• Weather side - the side of the boat on which the wind is blowing.
• Whisker pole - a light pole used to hold out the clew of a headsail when running.
• WGS84 - World Geodetic Survey of 1984 (most common chart datum).
• Whole nine yards: This term is now used to mean “the whole lot” or “everything.” It’s thought this expression comes from square-rigged sailing vessels that had three masts with three sails hung from yard arms on each.  The whole nine yards meant all sails were up.
• Winch - a winch is a mechanical device consisting usually of a metal drum turned by a handle around which a line is wound to give the crew more purchasing power when hauling taut a line.
• Windage - those parts of a boat which increase drag for example rigging, spars, crew etc.
• Windlass - a winch with a horizontal shaft and a vertical handle used to haul up your anchor chain.
• Windward - the direction from which the wind blows toward the wind (opposite to leeward).

X/Y/Z

• XTE - Cross Track Error. Perpendicular distance off track between two waypoints.
• Yawl - a two-masted boat with the mizzen stepped aft of the rudder stock / post.

• Ash Breeze - oar power
• Baboon watch - The person standing watch while the rest of the crew is on leave, usually the apprentice.
• Beat - sail as close into the wind as possible bv continually tacking
• Beating the booby - swimming the arms in cold water to increase
• Beam reach - the wind is directly on the vessel's beam
• Before the wind - sailing downwind as possible
• Bird's nest - tangled rope
• Black gang - engine room crew
• Black squall - a sudden strong wind that comes, with a dark line on the surface
• Blood money - payment to an agent for the recruitment of a seaman
• Blowing up and down - a dead calm
• Bluenose - Novascotiaman
• Brass hat - naval officer with rank of commander or above
• Bricklayer's clerk - a sailor who acts like he above it all
• Broad reach - the wind is blowing on the vessel's quarter circulation
• Bubbleheads - ships divers (standard helmets) 
• By the fee - the vessel is running, but with the wind blowing from the same quarter as the boom is lying
• Cape Horn fever - the feigned illness of a malingerer
• Cat's paw - a small puff that ruffles the surface of the water
• Catch a crab - an oar caught aback when rowing
• Capful - a heavy wind of the sea froth
• Clearing for Guam - getting under way to nowhere
• Clear lower deck - all hands muster on the upper deck
• Close-hauled; aka on the wind, by the wind - sailing as close to the wind
• Deadeye watch - 4 am to 8 am watch
• Dead horse - sailor's debt for advance wages
• Dock walloper - a person who walks around the dock "checking things out"
• Dogs running before their master - the heavy swell in advance of the hurricane
• Dutch courage - fearlessness brought on by strong drink
• Dying man's dinner - food quickly prepare during an emergency
• Full-and-bye - sailing almost close-hauled, with all sails filled and pulling strongly
• Fourth class liberty - watching the shore when confined to the ship
• Fuel fever - fuel oil in short supply
• Gash - rubbish
• Galley news - gossip and rumor
• Gasoline breeze - same as above, for those who prefer motoring over rowing
• Gongoozler - a person who stands around the waterfront with his hand in his pockets, watching other people do things
• Graveyard watch - 12 - 4 am
• Granny knot - failed, un-seamanlike attempt at a square knot
• Half seas over - just short of being drunk
• High pressure hat - an officer's cap
• Haul the wind - steer as nearly into the wind as possible
• Heave to - allow the sails to cancel each other out, thus keeping the ship stationary
• Homeward bound stitches - excessively long sewing stitches, taken in a hurry
• Hot bunk - a bunk used successively by more than one sailor
• In stays - headed directly into the wind, with steerageway
• In irons - headed directly into the wind, without steeragewav
• Irish hurricane - a flat calm
• Irish pennant - loose irregular end
• Jackass brig - a variation of the brigatine rig
• Jimmy the one - first lieutenant or executive officer
• Lee side - the opposite to the weather side
• Lee tide - a tidal current that carries a vessel away from the wind
• Lie to - in a gale set only enough saiI to keep the ship's head to the wind
• Livina gale - a severe storm
• Luffing - the sails are not completely filled with wind
• Limer juicer (also Limey) - British vessel or sailor
• Make a sternboard, or make stern way - go astern
• Make lee way - go sideways, away from the wind
• Metal or Iron, Mike - mechanical self steering
• Nantucket sleigh ride - a whaleboat towed out of control by a harpooned whale
• North River Jibe - uncontrolled standing jibe
• Off the wind - sailing with the wind on the beam or quarter
• Blowing up and down - a dead calm
• Paper jack - a licensed captain seen to be incompetent
• Paddy's hurricane - same as above
• Pig boat - a submarine
• Reach - the wind is blowing, more or less on the vessel's beam
• Rocks and Shoals - the portion of naval regulations concerning punishment for crimes
• Rope -Yarn Sunday - an afternoon off devoted to washing and sewing clothes
• Sailor's blessing - a curse
• Scud - sail downwind before a strong wind or gale
• Seaman's disgrace - a fouled anchor
• Soldier - a sailor who dodges work
• Soldier's breeze - a fair, light wind
• Soup jockey - Ships officers steward
• Tack - go from one tack to another with the' bow passing through the wind
• Targets - submariner term for surface ships
• Tom Cox's traverse - dodging work by making frequent trip to the
• To weather - to pass on the weather side of anything scuttlebutt "searching" for the proper tool, etc.
• Upper scupper - upper deck
• Waffoo - flight deck hand
• Weather side - the side against which the wind blows
• Weather tide - a tidal current that carries a vessel toward the wind
• Wear - go from one tack to another with the stern passing through the wind
• White squall - a sudden wind so strong that it turns the surface of the sea to white

• Arm - part of an anchor
• Belly - the part of a sail that bulges out from the pressure of the wind
• Bottom - underside of the hull
• Breast - docking line leading at an angle of 90 degrees from the side of a vessel
• Brow - gangplank
• Bum - two-masted lateen-rigged craft of the Arabian region; aka boom
• Butt - end-to-end planking joint
• Buttock - line representing a vertical section of a hull parallel to the centerline
• Cheek - side piece of a block
• Chest - box containing cargo, usually tea
• Chin - lower portion of a vessel's stem
• Elbow - curve in a river or channel
• Eve - loop at the end of a line
• Foot - lower edge of a sail
• Hand - member of the crew
• Head - forward part of a vessel; also the toilet
• Heel - lowest part of the mast
• Knee - angle used to connect timbers or beams
• Knuckle - sharp angle or bend in a hull
• Lip - coaming
• Mouth - opening to a bay, harbor, river, etc.
• Neck - part of an oar where the loom or shaft meets the blade
• Nose - stem of a vessel
• Palm - part of an anchor, also a sail maker's tool
• Rib - frame
• Shin - to climb a mast, rope or spar
• Shoulder - projection on a block or mast
• Throat - the forward or inner end of a gaff; the corner of a gaff sail between the head and the luff
• Tongue - block of wood between the jaws of a  gaff
• Waist - central part of a vessel