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Saltwater Suzi and Cap'n Larry's advice for the cash-starved boater
How to Sound Salty
Fairlead - A device such as block (pulley) or chock which rigging is passed to hold it in place or guide it while preventing it from snagging or chafing.
Fast - Fastened or held firmly (fast aground: stuck on the seabed; made fast: tied securely).
Fathom - A unit of length equal to 6 feet.
Fender - An air or foam filled bumper used in boating to keep boats from banging into docks or each other.
Fetch - The distance over which a wind blows unimpeded or the distance traveled by waves with no obstruction.
First Mate - The Second in command of a ship.
Flare - A device that produces a bright light for signaling.
Flotsam - Debris or cargo that remains afloat after a shipwreck. See also jetsam.
Fluke - The wedge-shaped part of an anchor's arms that digs into the bottom.
Flybridge - The highest navigational bridge on a vessel; a small (often open) deck above the pilot house.
Foil - An attachment on the forestay, comprising a groove into which the luff of the jib can be fed.
Following sea - Wave or tidal movement going in the same direction as a ship. See Pooped.
Foot - The bottom edge of the sail - the one attached to the boom.
Force - See Beaufort scale.
Fore, foreward (pronounced "for'ard") - Towards the bow (of the vessel).
Foresail - A foresail is the sail (such as a jib) located immediately in front of the main mast. It is attached to the forestay. Not to be confused with “For Sale.” A sign found on many boats indicating that it is no longer a suitable vessel for the current owner. It is usually found attached to the forward remorse with several regrets and bemoanings.
Forestay (sometimes called a jibstay, or a headstay) - A cable supporting the mast, running from the bow to the top of the mast.
Foul - Entangled or twisted. Not to be confused with fowl - a biological device designed to make small white discolorations on docks or decks, or worse, in your rum glass.
Founder - To fill with water and sink
Freeboard - The height of a ship's hull (excluding superstructure) above the waterline. The vertical distance from the current waterline to the lowest point on the highest continuous watertight deck. This usually varies from one part to another.
Furl - To roll or gather a sail against its mast or spar.
Gaff - A spar that supports the top of a sail.
Gaff rigged - A boat rigged with a four-sided fore-and-aft sail mounted on an upper spar or gaff which extends aft from the mast.
Galley - the kitchen of the ship
Genoa - A large jib, strongly overlapping the mainmast.
Ghost - To sail slowly when there is apparently no wind.
Gibe - See gybe.
Give-way vessel A boat that has to stay clear of the right-of-way, or stand-on boat.
Global Positioning System - (GPS) A satellite based radio navigation system providing continuous worldwide coverage. It provides navigation, position, and timing information to air, marine, and land users.
Going about or tacking - Changing from one tack to another by going through the wind (see also gybe). When ready to go about the helmsman or skipper calls "Ready about", the crew then each call "Ready!", and as the turn is made the helmsman calls "Lee oh!" or “Hard alee.” In the U.S. it is more common to hear the term "Coming About."
Gooseneck - Fitting that attaches the boom to the mast, allowing it to move freely.
Grog - Watered-down pusser's rum consisting of half a gill with equal part of water, issued to all seamen over twenty. From the British Admiral Vernon who, in 1740, ordered the men's ration of rum to be watered down. He was called "Old Grogram" because he often wore a grogram coat), and the watered rum came to be called 'grog'. Often used (illegally) as currency in exchange for favors in quantities prescribed as 'sippers' and 'gulpers'. Additional issues of grog were made on the command 'splice the mainbrace' for celebrations or as a reward for performing especially onerous duties. A sailor might repay a colleague for a favor by giving him part or all of his grog ration, ranging from "sippers" (a small amount) via "gulpers" (a larger quantity) to "grounders" (the entire tot).
Grounding - When a ship (while afloat) touches the bed of the sea, or goes "aground"
Gunwale - (pronounced "gunnle") - Upper edge of the hull.
Gybe - (Pronounced jibe - rhymes with tribe) - To change from one tack to the other away from the wind, with the stern of the vessel turning through the wind. When ready to go about the helmsman or skipper calls "Ready to gybe", or “Prepare to gybe”, the crew then each call "Ready!", and as the turn is made the helmsman calls "Gybe oh!". A gybe may also happen accidentally when sailing downwind. WARNING TO NEWBIES: The boom may swing violently from one side of the boat to the other, especially in an accidental jibe.
Halyard - A line used to raise things on a boat, for example "the main halyard" is the line used to raise the mainsail. It is a part of running rigging.
Hank - A fastener attached to the luff of the headsail that attaches the headsail to the forestay. Typical designs include a bronze or plastic hook with a spring-operated gate, or a strip of cloth webbing with a snap fastener.
Harbor - A harbor or haven, is a place where ships may shelter from the weather or are stored. Harbors can be man-made or natural.
Harden up - Turn towards the wind; sail closer to the wind.
Hatch - A small opening with a "door" on deck , allowing entry or at least air flow under the deck.
Hawse-hole - A hole in a ship's bow for a cable or chain, such as for an anchor, to pass through.
Head - The toilet or latrine of a vessel. Or the top part of a triangular sail.
Headsail - Any sail flown in front of the most forward mast.
Heaving to - Stopping a sailing vessel by lashing the helm in opposition to the sails. The vessel will gradually drift to leeward, the speed of the drift depending on the vessel's design.
Heeling - Heeling is the lean caused by the wind's force on the sails of a sailing vessel.
Helm - The wheel or tiller along with other mechanical controls of the vessel.
Helmsman - A person who steers a ship.
Hitch - A knot used to tie a rope or line to a fixed object. Also see bend.
Horn - A sound signal which uses electricity or compressed air to vibrate a disc diaphragm.
Hull - The shell and framework of the basic flotation-oriented part of a ship
Fast - Fastened or held firmly (fast aground: stuck on the seabed; made fast: tied securely).
Fathom - A unit of length equal to 6 feet.
Fender - An air or foam filled bumper used in boating to keep boats from banging into docks or each other.
Fetch - The distance over which a wind blows unimpeded or the distance traveled by waves with no obstruction.
First Mate - The Second in command of a ship.
Flare - A device that produces a bright light for signaling.
Flotsam - Debris or cargo that remains afloat after a shipwreck. See also jetsam.
Fluke - The wedge-shaped part of an anchor's arms that digs into the bottom.
Flybridge - The highest navigational bridge on a vessel; a small (often open) deck above the pilot house.
Foil - An attachment on the forestay, comprising a groove into which the luff of the jib can be fed.
Following sea - Wave or tidal movement going in the same direction as a ship. See Pooped.
Foot - The bottom edge of the sail - the one attached to the boom.
Force - See Beaufort scale.
Fore, foreward (pronounced "for'ard") - Towards the bow (of the vessel).
Foresail - A foresail is the sail (such as a jib) located immediately in front of the main mast. It is attached to the forestay. Not to be confused with “For Sale.” A sign found on many boats indicating that it is no longer a suitable vessel for the current owner. It is usually found attached to the forward remorse with several regrets and bemoanings.
Forestay (sometimes called a jibstay, or a headstay) - A cable supporting the mast, running from the bow to the top of the mast.
Foul - Entangled or twisted. Not to be confused with fowl - a biological device designed to make small white discolorations on docks or decks, or worse, in your rum glass.
Founder - To fill with water and sink
Freeboard - The height of a ship's hull (excluding superstructure) above the waterline. The vertical distance from the current waterline to the lowest point on the highest continuous watertight deck. This usually varies from one part to another.
Furl - To roll or gather a sail against its mast or spar.
Gaff - A spar that supports the top of a sail.
Gaff rigged - A boat rigged with a four-sided fore-and-aft sail mounted on an upper spar or gaff which extends aft from the mast.
Galley - the kitchen of the ship
Genoa - A large jib, strongly overlapping the mainmast.
Ghost - To sail slowly when there is apparently no wind.
Gibe - See gybe.
Give-way vessel A boat that has to stay clear of the right-of-way, or stand-on boat.
Global Positioning System - (GPS) A satellite based radio navigation system providing continuous worldwide coverage. It provides navigation, position, and timing information to air, marine, and land users.
Going about or tacking - Changing from one tack to another by going through the wind (see also gybe). When ready to go about the helmsman or skipper calls "Ready about", the crew then each call "Ready!", and as the turn is made the helmsman calls "Lee oh!" or “Hard alee.” In the U.S. it is more common to hear the term "Coming About."
Gooseneck - Fitting that attaches the boom to the mast, allowing it to move freely.
Grog - Watered-down pusser's rum consisting of half a gill with equal part of water, issued to all seamen over twenty. From the British Admiral Vernon who, in 1740, ordered the men's ration of rum to be watered down. He was called "Old Grogram" because he often wore a grogram coat), and the watered rum came to be called 'grog'. Often used (illegally) as currency in exchange for favors in quantities prescribed as 'sippers' and 'gulpers'. Additional issues of grog were made on the command 'splice the mainbrace' for celebrations or as a reward for performing especially onerous duties. A sailor might repay a colleague for a favor by giving him part or all of his grog ration, ranging from "sippers" (a small amount) via "gulpers" (a larger quantity) to "grounders" (the entire tot).
Grounding - When a ship (while afloat) touches the bed of the sea, or goes "aground"
Gunwale - (pronounced "gunnle") - Upper edge of the hull.
Gybe - (Pronounced jibe - rhymes with tribe) - To change from one tack to the other away from the wind, with the stern of the vessel turning through the wind. When ready to go about the helmsman or skipper calls "Ready to gybe", or “Prepare to gybe”, the crew then each call "Ready!", and as the turn is made the helmsman calls "Gybe oh!". A gybe may also happen accidentally when sailing downwind. WARNING TO NEWBIES: The boom may swing violently from one side of the boat to the other, especially in an accidental jibe.
Halyard - A line used to raise things on a boat, for example "the main halyard" is the line used to raise the mainsail. It is a part of running rigging.
Hank - A fastener attached to the luff of the headsail that attaches the headsail to the forestay. Typical designs include a bronze or plastic hook with a spring-operated gate, or a strip of cloth webbing with a snap fastener.
Harbor - A harbor or haven, is a place where ships may shelter from the weather or are stored. Harbors can be man-made or natural.
Harden up - Turn towards the wind; sail closer to the wind.
Hatch - A small opening with a "door" on deck , allowing entry or at least air flow under the deck.
Hawse-hole - A hole in a ship's bow for a cable or chain, such as for an anchor, to pass through.
Head - The toilet or latrine of a vessel. Or the top part of a triangular sail.
Headsail - Any sail flown in front of the most forward mast.
Heaving to - Stopping a sailing vessel by lashing the helm in opposition to the sails. The vessel will gradually drift to leeward, the speed of the drift depending on the vessel's design.
Heeling - Heeling is the lean caused by the wind's force on the sails of a sailing vessel.
Helm - The wheel or tiller along with other mechanical controls of the vessel.
Helmsman - A person who steers a ship.
Hitch - A knot used to tie a rope or line to a fixed object. Also see bend.
Horn - A sound signal which uses electricity or compressed air to vibrate a disc diaphragm.
Hull - The shell and framework of the basic flotation-oriented part of a ship
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