Parts of a Boat

Class 1

16 feet to less than 26 feet

Class 2

26 feet to less than 40 feet

Class 3

40 feet to less than 65 feet

Personal Watercraft

A small vessel that uses an inboard jet drive as its primary source of propulsion, and is designed to be operated by a person or persons sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel rather than inside the vessel

Multi-Hull

Another example of a displacement hull, the multi-hull has greater stability because of its wide beam but needs a large area when turning.

Restricted Visibility

Any condition in which visibility is restricted by fog, mist, falling snow, heavy rainstorms, sandstorms, or any other similar causes

Risk of Collision

Any situation when an approaching vessel continues on a collision course (the bearing of the approaching vessel does not change), or anytime you are approaching a very large vessel

Engaged in commecial fishing

Any vessel fishing with nets, lines, trawls, or other fishing equipment that restricts maneuverability; however, does not include a vessel fishing with trolling lines or other fishing equipment that do not restrict maneuverability

Vessel Engaged in Fishing

Any vessel fishing with nets, lines, trawls, or other fishing equipment that restricts maneuverability; however, this does not include a vessel fishing with trolling lines or other fishing equipment that does not restrict maneuverability

Power-Driven Vessel

Any vessel propelled by machinery, including a sailboat using an engine

Sailing Vessel

Any vessel under sail and with no engine in use

Plowing Mode

As speed increases, a planing hull will have a raised bow, reducing the operator's vision and throwing a very large wake. Avoid maintaining a speed that puts your boat in plowing mode.

Planing Hull

Boats with these hulls are designed to rise up and glide on top of the water when enough power is supplied. These boats may operate like displacement hulls when at rest or at slow speeds but climb towards the surface of the water as they move faster.

Displacement Hull

Boats with these hulls move through the water by pushing the water aside and are designed to cut through the water with very little propulsion.

Hull

Body of a vessel; basic structure or shell

Fenders

Cushioning device placed between vessels or between a vessel and a dock to prevent damage

Draft

Depth of water needed to float a vessel

Steering Nozzle

Device used for directing the stream of water to the left or right at the stern of the PWC, which steers the PWC

Impeller

Device used to pump and force water under pressure through a steering nozzle at the rear of the vessel

Windward

Direction from which the wind is blowing, or upwind. Windward vessel refers to the vessel that is upwind of the other

Leeward

Direction toward which the wind is blowing, or downwind. Leeward vessel refers to the vessel that is downwind of the other

Freeboard

Distance from water to lowest point of the boat where water could come on board

Vessel

Every kind of watercraft capable of being used as a means of transportation on water, including seaplanes

Bow

Front of a vessel

Upstream

In the direction that is against the current

Upwind

In the direction that is against the wind

Downcurrent

In the direction the current is flowing

Downwind

In the direction the wind is blowing

Bilge

Interior of the hull below the floorboards; lowest part of a vessel's interior where the sides of the vessel curve in to form the bottom

Port

Left side of a vessel

Length overall

Length of the hull excluding any attachments

Class A

Less than 16 feet

Tiller

Lever used to turn a rudder to steer a boat

Sheets

Lines (ropes) used to control the angle of the sails to the wind

Halyards

Lines (ropes) used to raise and lower the sails

Keel

Main centerline (backbone) of a vessel or the extension of hull that increases stability in the water

Chart

Map used for navigation

Beam

Maximum width of a vessel

Cleat

Metal fitting on which a rope can be fastened

Underway

Not anchored, tied to shore, or aground

All Round White-Light

On power-driven vessels less than 39.4 feet in length, this light may be used to combine a masthead light and sternlight into a single white light that can be seen by other vessels from any direction. This light serves as an anchor light when sidelights are extinguished.

Intake

Opening in the hull that draws water toward the impeller

Stern

Rear of a vessel

Starboard

Right side of a vessel

Propeller

Rotates and power a boat forward or backward

Intake Grate

Screening cover over the intake, which prevents large debris from entering

Lanyard

Short cord used for fastening something or securing rigging; on a PWC and most powerboats, it attaches the ignition safety switch to the operator's wrist or life jacket

Length Classes

Some states have laws that refer to boat lengths as "classes." However, the U.S. Coast Guard no longer uses these designations to indicate length.

Rudder

Steering device, usually a vertical blade attached to a post at, or near, the stern of the boat

Drive Shaft

The long stem connection between the motor and the impeller

Coupler

The part of the trailer that attaches to the ball hitch on a towing vehicle

Give-way Vessel

The vessel that is required to take early and substantial action to keep well away from other vessels by stopping, slowing down or changing course

Stand-on Vessel

The vessel that must maintain its course and speed unless it becomes apparent that the give-way boat is not taking appropriate action; if you must take action, do not turn toward the give-way boat or cross in front of it

Sidelights

These red and green lights are called sidelights (also called combination lights) because they are visible to another vessel approaching from the side or head-on. The red light indicates a vessel's port (left) side; the green indicates a vessel's starboard (right) side.

Deep Vee Hull

This planing hull gives a smoother ride than a flat bottom hull in rough water but takes more power to move at the same speed as flat bottom hulls. May roll or bank in sharp turns.

Flat Bottom Hull

This planing hull has a shallow draft, which is good for fishing in small lakes and rivers but rides roughly in choppy water.

Round Bottom Hull

This typical displacement hull moves easily through the water even at slow speeds but has a tendency to roll unless it has a deep keel or stabilizers.

Sternlight

This white light is seen only from behind or nearly behind the vessel.

Masthead Light

This white light shines forward and to both sides and is required on all power-driven vessels. (On power-driven vessels less than 39.4 feet in length, the masthead light and sternlight may be combined into an all-round white light; power-driven vessels 39.4 feet in length or longer must have a separate masthead light.) A masthead light must be displayed by all vessels when under engine power. The absence of this light indicates a sailing vessel because sailboats under sail display only sidelights and a sternlight.

Swamp

To fill with water

Capsize

To turn on the side or turn completely over

Aground

Touching or stuck on the bottom

Gunwale

Upper edge of a vessel's side

Transom

Vertical surface at the back of the hull

Bunks

Wooden supports on which the vessel rests while on the trailer

Displacement Mode

Your boat is in planing mode when enough power is applied so that the hull glides on top of the water. Different boats reach planing mode at different speeds.

Planang Mode

Your boat is in planing mode when enough power is applied so that the hull glides on top of the water. Different boats reach planing mode at different speeds.