Boating Terms

Plate on the inside of the hull that gives limits of horsepower, occupancy, and weight.

• Bow

• Capacity Plate

• PFD

• Cardinal Points

Depth of the vessel below the waterline, measured vertically to the lowest part of the vessel.

• Gunwale

• Amidship

• Draft

• Come About

Yields to the right of way to avoid collision when nearing another vessel.

• Giveway Vessel

• Abeam

• Nun Buoy

• Starboard

Left side of the vessel when facing forward.

• Port

• Starboard

• Bow

• Stern

When the bottom of the vessel is touching the ground.

• Abeam

• Hypothermia

• Come About

• Aground

The 360 points on a compass that shows direction.

• Cardinal Directions

• North

• Bearing

• Cardinal Points

To change course.

• Come About

• Turn Around

• Giveway

• Capsize

Set of guidelines that operators follow for safety on the water.

• Rules of the sea

• Float Plan

• PFD

• Rules of the Road

To turn the vessel over.

• Flip

• Port

• Displacement

• Capsize

Where the body loses heat faster than it can produce it.

• Hypothermia

• Capsize

• Come About

• Bearing