We are assembling a large collection of boating
and sailing terms.
This will be a great resource for all boaters.
To view the page of terms, click on the letter that the term starts with
To submit a term please email
us.
fairlead
- A fitting designed to control the
direction of a line with minimal friction.
fall off
- Also bear away or bear off. A
boat falls off the wind when it points its
bow further from the eye of the wind. The
opposite of heading up.
fastening
- An item such as a nail, screw,
rivet or other device used to fasten objects
together.
Fathometer
- A brand name for a depth
measuring device.
FCC Rules
- Federal Communications Commission
Rules governing radio equipment and
operation in the United States.
feathering
- A propeller that can have the
pitch of its blade changed to reduce drag
when not in use. Also see folding and
variable pitch propellers.
feet - More
than one foot. A foot is a unit of
measurement used primarily in the United
States. 1 foot equals 30.48 centimeters.
fender - A
cushion hung from the sides of a boat to
protect it from rubbing against a dock or
another boat.
fetch - The
distance that wind and seas waves - can
travel toward land without being blocked. In
areas without obstructions the wind and seas
can build to great strength, but in areas
such as sheltered coves and harbors the wind
and seas can be quite calm. Fetch is also
used to describe the act of sailing to a
location accurately and without having to
tack.
fid - A
pointed tool used to separate strands of
rope.
fiddle - A
small rail on tables and counters used to
keep objects from sliding off when heeled or
in heavy seas.
figure-eight
- A type of knot that can be used
to stop a line from passing through a block
or other fitting.
fin keel
- A keel that is narrow and deeper
than a full keel.
finger
pier - A small pier that projects
from a larger pier.
fisherman
anchor - Kedge anchor. A
traditionally shaped anchor having flukes
perpendicular to the stock of the anchor and
connected by a shank. These are less common
than modern anchors such as the plow and
lightweight anchors.
flake - To
fold a sail in preparation for storage.
flame
arrester - A device used to prevent
or stop unwanted flames.
flashing
- Used to describe a light that
blinks on and off in regular patterns.
flotsam -
Debris floating on the water
surface.
following
sea - A sea with waves approaching
from the stern of the boat.
foot - 1
- The bottom edge of a sailsail. 2 - Sailing
slightly more away from the wind than close
hauled to increase the boat speed. 3 - A
unit of measurement used primarily in the
United States. 1 foot equals 30.48
centimeters. Units of more than 1 foot are
known as feet.
fore and
aft sail - The more common position
of the sail with its length running along
the ship's length as opposed to a sail such
as a square sail which is mounted across the
width of the vessel.
fore - Toward
the bow front - of the vessel.
forecabin
- The cabin towards the front of
the vessel.
forecast
- A weather prediction.
forecastle
- Also fo'c'sle or fo'csle.
Pronounced fo'csle. The most forward below
decks area of a vessel.
foremast
- The forward mast of a two or more
masted vessel.
foresail
- A sail placed forward of the
mast, such as a jjib.
forestay
- A line running from the bow of
the boat to the upper part of the mastmast
designed to pull the mast forward. A
forestay that attaches slightly below the
top of the mast can be used to help control
the bend of the mast. The most forward stay
on the boat is also called the headstay.
forestaysail
- A sail attached to the forestay
as opposed to a jib which is attached to the
headstay.
foretriangle
- The space between the mast, the
deck, and the headstay.
fractional
rig - A type of rig where the jib
attaches below the top of the mast.
fronts - Used
in mmeteorology to describe bounderies
between hot and cold air masses. This is
typically where bad weather is found.
full keel
- A keel that runs the length of
the boat. Full keels have a shallower draft
than fin keels.
fully
battened - A sailsail having
battens that run the full horizontal length
of the sail.
fully
stayed - A mast supported by the
use of lines known as stays and shrouds.
