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.
oar
-
A
stick
with
a
blade
at
the
end
used
to
row
a
rowboat.
Oars
are
different
than
paddles
because
they
have
a
provision
to
be
secured
to
the
rowboat
for
rowing,
such
as
an
oarlock.
oarlock
-
A
device
to
attach
oars
to
a
rowboat,
allowing
the
operator
to
row
rather
than
paddle
the
boat.
observed
position
-
A
position
or
fix
determined
by
observing
landmarks
or
other
objects
to
find
the
position.
occulting
lights
-
A
navigational
light
which
turns
on
and
off
in
a
regular
pattern,
but
is
on
more
than
it
is
off.
The
opposite
of
a
blinking
light.
ocean
-
1
-
The
large
body
of
salt
water
covering
seven
tenths
of
the
earth.
2
-
The
Atlantic,
Pacific,
Indian,
and
Arctic
Oceans.
off
the
wind
-
Sailing
with
the
wind
coming
from
the
stern
or
quarter
of
the
boat.
offshore
-
Away
from
land,
toward
the
water.
See
inland.
on
the
bow
-
To
the
bow
of
the
boat,
forward
of
the
beam.
on
the
wind
-
Sailing
close
hauled.
Sailing
toward
the
wind
as
much
as
possible
with
the
wind
coming
from
the
bow.
open
-
A
location
that
is
not
sheltered
from
the
wind
and
seas.
An
open
location
would
not
make
a
good
anchorage.
out
of
trim
-
Sails
that
are
not
properly
arranged
for
the
point
of
sail
that
the
boat
is
on.
The
sails
may
be
luffing
or
have
improper
sail
shape,
or
the
boat
may
be
heeling
too
much.
These
conditions
will
slow
the
boat
down.
outboard
-
On
the
side
of
the
hull
that
the
water
is
on.
Outboard
engines
are
sometimes
just
called
outboards.
outhaul
-
A
line
used
to
tension
the
foot
of
a
sail,
used
to
maintain
proper
sail
shape.
outrigger
-
A
floatation
device
attached
to
one
or
both
sides
of
the
hull
to
help
prevent
a
capsize.
overboard
-
In
the
water
outside
of
the
vessel.
overfall
-
Dangerously
steep
and
breaking
seas
due
to
opposing
currents
and
wind
in
a
shallow
area.
overhang
-
The
area
of
the
bow
or
stern
which
hangs
over
the
water.
