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Saltwater Suzi and Cap'n Larry's advice for the cash-starved boater
How to Sound Salty
Sail-plan - A set of drawings showing various sail combinations recommended for use in various situations.
Sampson post - A strong vertical post used to support a ship's windlass and the heel of a ship's bowsprit.
Scope - the length of the anchor line - from the boat to the anchor.
Scuppers - Openings in toerails or drains in decks used to channel water from waves or rain off of the deck.
Sea anchor - A stabilizer deployed in the water for heaving to in heavy weather. It acts as a brake and keeps the hull in line with the wind and perpendicular to waves.
Seacock- a valve in the hull of a boat.
Sextant - Navagational instrument used to measure a ship's latitude and longitude.
Shackle - Part of the indispensable equipment on the boat. It is a small device used for attaching lines to other things, like sails.
Sheer - The upward curve of a vessel's longitudinal lines as viewed from the side.
Sheet - A line used to trim sails.
Ship's bell - Striking the ship's bell is the traditional method of marking time and regulating the crew's watches. Also used as a warning of a vessel’s presence in fog.
Shoal - Shallow water that is a hazard to navigation.
Shoal draft - a vessel with shallow draft, capable of sailing in unusually shallow water.
Shoaling - A phenomenon occurring as the waves enter a shallow water - their movement forward is slowed down because of the bottom friction, and thus their height increases.
Shroud - The wires holding the mast at the sides.
Skeg - A downward or sternward projection from the keel in front of the rudder. Protects the rudder from damage, and in bilge keelers may provide one "leg" of a tripod on which the boat stands when the tide is out.
Skipper - The Captain of a ship.
Sounding - Measuring the depth of the water.
Spar - A general name for all masts, booms, gaffs, and bowsprits.
Spinnaker - A large sail flown in front of the vessel while heading downwind.
Spinnaker pole - A spar used to help control a spinnaker or other headsail.
Splice - To join lines (ropes, cables etc.) by unravelling their ends and intertwining them to form a continuous line. To form an eye or a knot by splicing.
Splice the Mainbrace- Have a drink (see History of this phrase here)
Spreaders - The wooden or metal struts that are attached horizontally to the upper section of the mast, on both sides. They widen the angle of the shrouds, and thus provide a better support for the mast.
Stanchion - vertical post near a deck's edge that supports life-lines. A timber fitted in between the frame heads on a wooden hull or a bracket on a steel vessel, approx one meter high, to support the bulwark plank or plating and the rail.
Standing rigging - Rigging which is used to support masts and spars, and is not normally manipulated during normal operations. Cf. running rigging.
Stand-on vessel - A boat that has the right-of-way over the give-way vessel. It must maintain its course and speed unless a collision is imminent.
Starboard - Towards the right-hand side of a vessel facing forward. Denoted with a green light at night.
Starboard Side - The boat's right side.
Starboard tack - When sailing with the wind coming from the starboard side of the vessel. Has right of way over boats on port tack. A vessel on a starboard tack has its sails on the port side.
Stays - Wires supporting the mast - fore and aft .
Staysail - A sail whose luff is attached to a forestay.
Stem - The extension of keel at the forward end of a ship.
Stern - The back of the boat.
Stopper knot - A knot tied in the end of a rope, usually to stop it passing through a hole; most commonly a figure-of-eight knot.
Surf - A continuous line of breakers at the shore.
Swinging the compass - Measuring the accuracy in a ship's magnetic compass so its readings can be adjusted - often by turning the ship and taking bearings on reference points.
Tabernacle - A large bracket attached firmly to the deck, to which the foot of the mast is fixed. It has two sides or cheeks and a bolt forming the pivot around which the mast is raised and lowered.
Tack - (verb) to come about (see coming about.) (noun) the fore corner of a triangular sail.
Tack hook - A snap used to hold the tack of the jib at the bow, while the sail is raised.
Tack pin - A pin used to secure the tack of a triangular sail at the mast.
Tacking - see coming about
Taffrail - A rail at the stern of the boat that covers the head of the counter timbers.
Telltales - Short pieces of yarn attached to the shrouds, or the sails. At the shrouds they indicate the direction of the apparent wind , and on the sails they help to check the air flow over the sail, so that proper trimming is easier.
The Ensign - A flag indicating nationality of the vessel.
Tiller - A spar attached to the rudder by the rudder head , used to control the direction of the boat. Another possibility for steering mechanism is a steering wheel.
Toe-rail - A low strip running around the edge of the deck like a low bulwark. It may be shortened or have gaps (scuppers) in it to allow water to flow off the deck.
Topsides - the part of the hull between the waterline and the deck.
Traffic Separation Scheme - Shipping corridors marked by buoys which separate incoming from outgoing vessels.
Trampoline - The space on a catamaran, usually made of some kind of mesh, located between the two hulls . It's a place for the crew (like a cockpit on dinghies and cruisers).
Transom - a more or less flat surface across the stern of a vessel. Dinghies tend to have almost vertical transoms, whereas yachts’ transoms may be raked forward or aft.
Traveler - A track (usually metal) with a fixture sliding on it. The fixture holds the main sheet (usually), and the sliding allows for changing angles of the sail.
True bearing - An absolute bearing using true north.
True north - The direction of the geographical North Pole.
True wind - The strength and direction of the actual wind blowing. While sailing, the true wind is never felt - it is always a combination of the true wind, and the boat's speed (called the apparent wind ), and it is always a little forward of the true wind.
Trysail - A very small sail, used in a very heavy weather instead of a mainsail.
Tumblehome - A description of hull shape when viewed from directly in front or from directly behind, where the widest part of the hull is someway below deck level.
Turn - A knot passing behind or around an object.
Under way - A vessel that is moving under control.
Vang - see boom vang
Watch - A period of time during which a part of the crew is on duty. Changes of watch are marked by strokes on the ship's bell.
Waypoint - A location defined by navigational coordinates, especially as part of a planned route.
Weigh anchor - To heave up (an anchor) preparatory to sailing.
White horses or whitecaps - Foam or spray on wave tops caused by stronger winds (usually above Force 4).
Winch - A mechanical device used to assist in pulling on lines. It is a reel-like part of the hardware.
Windage - Wind resistance of the boat.
Windlass - A winch mechanism, most commonly used in raising the anchor.
Windward - The direction from which the wind is blowing.
Yaw - A vessel's rotational motion about the vertical axis, causing the fore and aft ends to swing from side to side repetitively.
Yawl - A two-masted sailboat, the aft mast (the mizzenmast) is shorter than the forward (the main mast.) The mizzenmast is located behind the rudder post - otherwise it is a ketch.
Zephyr - A gentle, warm breeze.
Sampson post - A strong vertical post used to support a ship's windlass and the heel of a ship's bowsprit.
Scope - the length of the anchor line - from the boat to the anchor.
Scuppers - Openings in toerails or drains in decks used to channel water from waves or rain off of the deck.
Sea anchor - A stabilizer deployed in the water for heaving to in heavy weather. It acts as a brake and keeps the hull in line with the wind and perpendicular to waves.
Seacock- a valve in the hull of a boat.
Sextant - Navagational instrument used to measure a ship's latitude and longitude.
Shackle - Part of the indispensable equipment on the boat. It is a small device used for attaching lines to other things, like sails.
Sheer - The upward curve of a vessel's longitudinal lines as viewed from the side.
Sheet - A line used to trim sails.
Ship's bell - Striking the ship's bell is the traditional method of marking time and regulating the crew's watches. Also used as a warning of a vessel’s presence in fog.
Shoal - Shallow water that is a hazard to navigation.
Shoal draft - a vessel with shallow draft, capable of sailing in unusually shallow water.
Shoaling - A phenomenon occurring as the waves enter a shallow water - their movement forward is slowed down because of the bottom friction, and thus their height increases.
Shroud - The wires holding the mast at the sides.
Skeg - A downward or sternward projection from the keel in front of the rudder. Protects the rudder from damage, and in bilge keelers may provide one "leg" of a tripod on which the boat stands when the tide is out.
Skipper - The Captain of a ship.
Sounding - Measuring the depth of the water.
Spar - A general name for all masts, booms, gaffs, and bowsprits.
Spinnaker - A large sail flown in front of the vessel while heading downwind.
Spinnaker pole - A spar used to help control a spinnaker or other headsail.
Splice - To join lines (ropes, cables etc.) by unravelling their ends and intertwining them to form a continuous line. To form an eye or a knot by splicing.
Splice the Mainbrace- Have a drink (see History of this phrase here)
Spreaders - The wooden or metal struts that are attached horizontally to the upper section of the mast, on both sides. They widen the angle of the shrouds, and thus provide a better support for the mast.
Stanchion - vertical post near a deck's edge that supports life-lines. A timber fitted in between the frame heads on a wooden hull or a bracket on a steel vessel, approx one meter high, to support the bulwark plank or plating and the rail.
Standing rigging - Rigging which is used to support masts and spars, and is not normally manipulated during normal operations. Cf. running rigging.
Stand-on vessel - A boat that has the right-of-way over the give-way vessel. It must maintain its course and speed unless a collision is imminent.
Starboard - Towards the right-hand side of a vessel facing forward. Denoted with a green light at night.
Starboard Side - The boat's right side.
Starboard tack - When sailing with the wind coming from the starboard side of the vessel. Has right of way over boats on port tack. A vessel on a starboard tack has its sails on the port side.
Stays - Wires supporting the mast - fore and aft .
Staysail - A sail whose luff is attached to a forestay.
Stem - The extension of keel at the forward end of a ship.
Stern - The back of the boat.
Stopper knot - A knot tied in the end of a rope, usually to stop it passing through a hole; most commonly a figure-of-eight knot.
Surf - A continuous line of breakers at the shore.
Swinging the compass - Measuring the accuracy in a ship's magnetic compass so its readings can be adjusted - often by turning the ship and taking bearings on reference points.
Tabernacle - A large bracket attached firmly to the deck, to which the foot of the mast is fixed. It has two sides or cheeks and a bolt forming the pivot around which the mast is raised and lowered.
Tack - (verb) to come about (see coming about.) (noun) the fore corner of a triangular sail.
Tack hook - A snap used to hold the tack of the jib at the bow, while the sail is raised.
Tack pin - A pin used to secure the tack of a triangular sail at the mast.
Tacking - see coming about
Taffrail - A rail at the stern of the boat that covers the head of the counter timbers.
Telltales - Short pieces of yarn attached to the shrouds, or the sails. At the shrouds they indicate the direction of the apparent wind , and on the sails they help to check the air flow over the sail, so that proper trimming is easier.
The Ensign - A flag indicating nationality of the vessel.
Tiller - A spar attached to the rudder by the rudder head , used to control the direction of the boat. Another possibility for steering mechanism is a steering wheel.
Toe-rail - A low strip running around the edge of the deck like a low bulwark. It may be shortened or have gaps (scuppers) in it to allow water to flow off the deck.
Topsides - the part of the hull between the waterline and the deck.
Traffic Separation Scheme - Shipping corridors marked by buoys which separate incoming from outgoing vessels.
Trampoline - The space on a catamaran, usually made of some kind of mesh, located between the two hulls . It's a place for the crew (like a cockpit on dinghies and cruisers).
Transom - a more or less flat surface across the stern of a vessel. Dinghies tend to have almost vertical transoms, whereas yachts’ transoms may be raked forward or aft.
Traveler - A track (usually metal) with a fixture sliding on it. The fixture holds the main sheet (usually), and the sliding allows for changing angles of the sail.
True bearing - An absolute bearing using true north.
True north - The direction of the geographical North Pole.
True wind - The strength and direction of the actual wind blowing. While sailing, the true wind is never felt - it is always a combination of the true wind, and the boat's speed (called the apparent wind ), and it is always a little forward of the true wind.
Trysail - A very small sail, used in a very heavy weather instead of a mainsail.
Tumblehome - A description of hull shape when viewed from directly in front or from directly behind, where the widest part of the hull is someway below deck level.
Turn - A knot passing behind or around an object.
Under way - A vessel that is moving under control.
Vang - see boom vang
Watch - A period of time during which a part of the crew is on duty. Changes of watch are marked by strokes on the ship's bell.
Waypoint - A location defined by navigational coordinates, especially as part of a planned route.
Weigh anchor - To heave up (an anchor) preparatory to sailing.
White horses or whitecaps - Foam or spray on wave tops caused by stronger winds (usually above Force 4).
Winch - A mechanical device used to assist in pulling on lines. It is a reel-like part of the hardware.
Windage - Wind resistance of the boat.
Windlass - A winch mechanism, most commonly used in raising the anchor.
Windward - The direction from which the wind is blowing.
Yaw - A vessel's rotational motion about the vertical axis, causing the fore and aft ends to swing from side to side repetitively.
Yawl - A two-masted sailboat, the aft mast (the mizzenmast) is shorter than the forward (the main mast.) The mizzenmast is located behind the rudder post - otherwise it is a ketch.
Zephyr - A gentle, warm breeze.
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