Aft: Rear of vessel, as in aft end. Non boaters call it the ‘back end.’
Avon: Brand of inflatable boat made of PVC or Hypalon.
Binnacle: Ship’s compass and a useful thing to have.
Bosun’s chair: a board fitted to a harness with compartments for tools. One sit’s in the bosun’s chair to be hoisted up the mast. Usually not much fun.
Bow: Front end of a vessel.
Clew: Lower aft corner of a sail, usually with metal eye where lines may be attached.
Chubasco: Violent short duration squall. Used in Spanish-speaking countries. Also known as “Willie Walls.”
Eskie: same as an American cooler; an Australian term.
Gaff: An iron hook that could have several claws.
Gunkholing: Cruising along a coastline and anchoring in sand or mud anchorages.
Halyard: Line used to raise or lower a sail.
Head: Toilet, but then you knew that already—didn’t you?
Heel: Indicates how far a boat is tipped, eg. on a heel of 20 degrees. A 90 degree heel would be lying sideways, which is not a good idea. (see Knockdown)
Jenny: Nickname for Genoa Jib, the forward sail. Reference to 150% means it covers 100% of distance from headstay to the mast and 50% additional further aft.
Ketch: Two-mast sailboat with the aft mast shorter than the forward mast and placed aft of the rudder post (if anyone cares).
Knockdown: When wind or sea conditions lay a yacht on its side possibly causing severe damage or sinking.
Knot: One knot equals one nautical mile per hour, or 1.1508 statute mile per hour, or 1.852 kilometers per hour (Thus 5 knots = 5.75 mph or 9.26 km/h. Confused?
Knuckle: The area below the waterline in the bow (front) of the boat that we reinforced in case we hit something...like a rock.
Koh (or Ko): Thai word for Island
Lee: Away from the wind. The side of the boat closest to wind is windward side, farthest from wind is lee(ward) side. A lee shore means the wind is blowing onto it instead of away from it, and is therefore often dangerous. In the lee of means “sheltered from the wind by” perhaps and island. Ie: “I sat to the lee of his bad breath and was disgusted.”)
Longtail: Narrow canoe-shaped Thai vessel used for passengers or light freight. The helmsman steers by holding a long rod connected through a motor to a propeller that skims the waterline keeping it from snagging coral, seaweed or mermaids.
Luff (as part of a sail): The forward edge of the sail
Luffing: Refers to a shaking or flapping of a sail, such as heading the boat closer toward the wind causing sails to shake.
Mizzen Mast: The aft (back) mast on ketch or yawl.
Mizzen Sail: Sail that goes on the mizzen mast. (see above)
nm: nautical mile; equal to 1.15 statute miles. Based on the circumference of the earth, and used in navigation.
Painter: A rope used to tie a small boat (dinghy or inflatable) to a dock or a mother ship.
Perkins: Brand of diesel engine. We had a 4/102 meaning four cylinder- 102 horsepower model.
Port (side): Left side of vessel when looking forward from aft.
Scope: Indication of the length of anchor line relative to the depth of water when anchoring. Scope three times would indicate 3x as much chain (or rope) as the depth in which the boat is anchored.
Shroud: Stainless steel wire rigging used to hold a mast in place. (good stuff)
Sheet: Line used to adjust the shape of a sail. Thus, trim the sheet to bring the sail tighter or release the sheet to give the sail more belly. Older schooners had a topsail. A watch commander might yell; “Hoist the top sheet and spank ‘er,” frightening feminine passengers.
Spinnaker: Wind gathering balloon sail seen in many pictures. Used when the wind is aft of abeam. Causes problems and occasional divorces.
Spinnaker pole: Metal pole attached to the mast at one end and spinnaker at the other end, helping to prevent the sail from oscillating.
Starboard (side): Right side of vessel when looking forward from the stern
Stern: Back end.
Tinny: Small open aluminum boat. We got a 12-foot outboard powered tinny, to replace our stolen inflatable tender.
Tuk Tuk: Thai bus carrying more people than it should, their luggage, animals, groceries and grand-parents. No express routes.
Two foot zone: An expression adapted from rock climbers, who, with vast vistas to enjoy, must concentrate on what is before them at the moment. Hence, in the two foot zone.