Nautical Terminology

[Warren Milberg]

I'm envious...

...of many of the people who are selling used sails. It always amazes me that somehow the "best" used sails are somehow owned and being sold by people who don't know what a hank is, don't know the difference between luff tape and masking tape, have no idea what cloth or laminate the sail is made from ("but it looks pretty good..", think that "front" and "back" are descriptive of some of the sides of the sail (but not sure which is which), and so on. How do these people come to own these sails and why can't I be one of them?

 

[ed]

everyone should care

When things get bad, when the boat is in heavy seas and the controll lines need a adjustment it just wont do to say pull the rope on the metal thing. or pull out the rope on the spool!Teaching proper terms not only educates but increases the safety of the people on the boat. (or is that aboard). Many of the terms help to differentiate one thing from another. Please dont release the halyard when i mean the sheet!

 

[TJ]

macerate no brokers

The ad says "macerate no brokers" I think this may be nautical misprint. As for me it's time to "pump out the basement"Sure wish my boat had a restroom instead of a head. Captains Quarters would be nice too. All I have is a stateroom full of sails and pfd's.

 

[Calif. Ted]

A dockmate just sold his boat and in the process

it seemed many buyers looked at the cabin and it's amenities and disregarded the functional aspects of the boat.If I'm crewing for someone that calls a line a rope, and doesn't know a bobstay from a backstay it doesn't generate a lot of confidence. If a boat is big enough to document, it deserves a name. The term "yacht" makes the hair on back of my neck stand up when applied to a good, honest boat, either sail or power. The only thing that I call a yacht is one of those oversized wedding cake boats.My wife calls our "Captain's Quarters" "the aft coffin".Only reason I can see for not macerating a broker is cause they clog the pump.

 

[Gord May]

whose left?

Right & Left could change if you were standing on the bow, facing the helmsman, and remarking an observed obstruction off the port side. Whose left is it on? Tell a person they have lipstick on their cheek, pointing to your own right cheek; and watch them rub their left cheek. How many people do you know that have to orient a chart, to North or Boat Heading up, in order to comprehend the relative relationships.Since most of my pliers are manufactured by “Channellock”, I have to my helper for my “Water-Pump Pliers”, not my Channellocks (which could also produce Linesman’s Side-Cutters, Diagonals, or Needle Nose). The list of possible points of confusion, resulting from imprecise language and terminology, is, as has been amply pointed out by others, nearly endless.However, since my jacket only goes on one way, I wouldn’t need a port pocket, in which to place my lft hand.

 

[Ross]

Gord, Your jacket can go on such

that the fastener is in the back and if it is hooded then you will need eyes in the back of your head.

 

[Gord May]

show a little restraint

Ross:You’re talking about the jacket that the institution requires I wear, not my own personal property.

 

[Ross]

Yep! that's the one.

Heh Heh Heh.

 

[Badger N.H.]

Speaking of brokers.

I've noticed that it is often the brokers who write those things. When shopping for my present boat on the many brokerage sites I could not believe the ignorance and/or laziness of most of them.I may not use the correct nautical terms compared to most boaters but some of the stuff these guys write is beyond words. The ad John posted is typical of many brokerage boats. All that brokers seem to do is write a quick description, post the ad, then go have fun while they wait for a call on their sell phone. The ones I dealt with couldn't take the time to return my emails, nor did they get back to me with a phone call when they said they would, making me have to call them again.I think this is more than likely what we're dealing with in Johns original post. It wasn't a boater who wrote it but a non boating broker who was just too lazy to learn how to write a proper ad.Brokers aren't all bad but you can usually tell the ones who are by the way they write the ad.

 

[Ron]

"shop talk"

After reading all the intersting responses, it occurred to me that using correct sailing terminology is a sailor's version of "shop talk." Have you ever heard a doctor, lawyer, engineer or other specialist have a conversation ? It may suffice to tell a friend that I have broken my leg; the general term gets the idea across. However, a doctor diagnosing and treating a fracture must be far more precise in his description so that other medical professionals involved know the specific details to insure proper treatment. Anatomy and physiology is part of the doctor's "shop talk." Nautical terminolgy is the communication among sailors. Anyone with to add a comment on proper VHF communication ?

 

[Ross]

The term "Art Language" comes to mind

All crafts have a language of their own. Try listening to electronic engineers, accountants, bankers, auto mechanics, farmers, baseball, football, basketball, soccer, and hockey all have a language to fit the details of the game. Cooks, dressmakers and preachers may speak the same wprds and mean something totally different. Cops pick up the mike and say 23 I'm 10-29 at main and bond. the reply is K.

 

[Ron]

10-4 !

I'm was 10-8, but I'll be 10-7 in a minute, as I have to change my 10-20 )

 

[Anchor Down]

Splitting Hairs

The lazarette is in the stern. Nowadays, that's usually under the helmsman's seat.

 

[Alan]

Splitting Hairs?? now we're...

...touching on a very sensitive subject. Guess it depends on 'who' is sitting at the helm! ;D

 

[Bill Roosa]

Everybody should have a title

Every full moon we gather together some folks that don't have a boat (poor suckers) and go out for a "moonlight cruise". To get everybody envolved we try to give everybody a title; helmsman, bosin, able seaman, captain, powder monkey, mascot, first mate, gun monkey, midshipman, boatswain, steersman. Now anybody familure to boating will recognize these terms but can anybody tell me the differance between them?

 

[Ron]

Bill

Try this link. They have some terms and would probably give you the rest.