US Sailing Award Winning Facility
A pole that extends perpendicularly from a mast. A boom is used to control the shape and angle of a sail.
View Boating GlossaryShown below is a list of boating terminology. Click on a term to see its definition. This list is a work in-progress, and new terms are being added often. If you have a specific term that you would like defined, let us know on our forums.
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| Definition: | Long, thin strips sewn into a sail to support the roach of the sail. |
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| Definition: | The widest part of a boat. Denoted by the red line in the picture above. |
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| Definition: | A pulley. Blocks are used to either increase mechanical advantage, or change the direction of a line. |
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| Definition: | A pole that extends perpendicularly from a mast. A boom is used to control the shape and angle of a sail. |
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| Definition: | A type of cleat allowing lines to move in one direction, but not the other. |
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| Definition: | The lower corner of a triangular sail's aft (back) edge. |
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| Definition: | A line used to adjust the tension in the luff of the mainsail. |
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| Definition: | A device used to guide a line around an object, or to stop it from moving. On nearly every modern sailboat, a fairlead is used for the jib sheets. |
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| Definition: | A line or cable running from the mast to the front of a boat. Part of the standing rigging, the forestay helps support the mast. |
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| Definition: | The distance from the lowest point of the uppermost deck of a boat to the waterline. |
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| Definition: | A circular fitting that allows for pivoting of a fixture attached to it. Rudders attach to some boats by a gudgeon. The arrow points to one on one of our Catalina sailboats. (See "pintle") |
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| Definition: | The top corner of a triangular sail. |
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| Definition: | A plastic, wooden, or metal reinforcement at the head of the mainsail. It prevents the cringle (grommet) that the halyard attaches to from damaging the sail. |
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| Definition: | Straps used to help keep a boat's crew in the boat while hiking out (leaning off the windward rail to counteract the boat's heel). |
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| Definition: | A cleat featuring two arms extended in opposing directions. The arms are called "horns." |
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| Definition: | An assembly mounted to a track on the deck of a sailboat. The assembly can be moved forward or aft along the track to change the angle made by a jib sheet. |
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| Definition: | A storage locker, usually near the stern, on a sailing vessel. |
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| Definition: | A pin or bolt usually inserted into a gudgeon that allows for pivoting. (See "gudgeon") |
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| Definition: | A line used to control the position of sails. The above picture shows the main sheet which controls the position of the mainsail. |
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| Definition: | Shrouds are lines that run from the side of the boat to the mast, used to keep mast upright. Part of the standing rigging. |
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| Definition: | A pole that extends off the mast. Spreaders are used to deflect the shrouds for better support of the mast.. |
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| Definition: | A dock line used to limit the movement of a boat while secured to a dock. There are usually two spring lines. |
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| Definition: | The lower corner of a triangular sail's leading edge. |
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| Definition: | The transom is the back side of the boat. In the picture, it consists of the board denoted by the red bracket. |
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| Definition: | A device used to modify and/or restrict the location where the sheets are attached to the vessel. This allows a sailor to adjust the shape of the sail for optimum sail trim. |
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| Definition: | A mechanical device used to adjust the tension of a line. |
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| Definition: | A small vane that indicates the current direction of the wind. |
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