Glossary 265
exclusion area marks Exclusion area
marks are regulatory marks with orange
diamonds that have a cross through them
with an explanation in black letters outside
the diamond. You will find exclusion
areas near dams, rapids, and swimming
areas.
eye A fixed loop at the end of a line.
eye splice A permanent loop in the end
of a rope.
F
fast Secure: to make something fast is
to secure it.
fathom Nautical linear measurement
equal to 6 feet.
fender Protective device between a boat
and another object.
figure-eight knot A stopper knot; used
to keep the bitter end of a line from running
through a block.
fishing Fishing is using lines or nets (but
not trolling).
fix Relatively accurate position determined
without reference to any former
position. Usually determined by nearness
to a known charted object or by crossed
(intersecting) lines of position.
flashing light A light flashing at regular
intervals at a frequency of 120 flashes or
more per minute.
flat bottom Flat bottom boats represent
the basic planing hull and they can
go rather fast. Their bottoms tend to ride
parallel with the surface of the water, so
they resist tipping from shifting loads on
flat seas.
fluke Flattened end of an anchor arm,
which bites into the ground.
flying bridge A flying bridge is a raised
steering position on a powerboat, usually
above an interior steering station.
fog Minute water droplets suspended in
the atmosphere. Differs from a cloud only
in that it is at the surface instead of aloft.
fore-and-aft Parallel to the centerline
or keel.
foresail The sail set from a schooner’s
foremast.
forestay A stay below and aft of the
headstay on a yacht carrying two headsails.
Also used as the term for headstay.
forward Toward the bow.
foul Jammed, entangled; not clear;
being hindered or impeded.
frame Athwartship structural member
(rib) that gives shape and stiffening to the
hull and to which planking is attached.
freeboard Vertical distance from the
water surface to the lowest point where
unwanted water could come aboard.
FM—frequency modulation Transmission
of intelligence by varying a radio
frequency about its center frequency or
“carrier.”
G
galley Area where food is stored and
cooked; nautical kitchen.
gear General name for all non-permanent
nautical equipment, including
crew’s clothing and personal effects.
give-way vessel A term, from the Navigation
Rules, used to describe the vessel
that must yield in meeting, crossing, or
overtaking situations. Compare stand-on
vessel.
Great Lakes The Great Lakes and their
connecting tributary waters including
the Calumet River as far as the Thomas
J O’Brien Lock and Controlling Waters
(between mile 326 and 327), the Chicago
River as far as the east side of the Ashland
Avenue Bridge (between mile 321 and
322), and the Saint Lawrence River as far
east as the lower exit of Saint Lambert
Lock.
grounding A slang term, sometimes
used for “having run aground.”
gunwale Upper edge or rail of a boat.
(Pronounced “gun’el”.)
H
halyard Line for hoisting sails or flags.
hatch Closable opening in the deck.
haze Fine salt, dust, or other particles
in the air, too small to be seen individually,
reducing visibility slightly or moderately
but seldom below 3⁄4 mile.
head 1. Marine toilet and its compartment.
2. Upper corner of a triangular
sail or upper edge of a four-sided sail. 3.
Upper end of the mast, masthead. 4. Foremost
part of a boat, bow.
heading Direction in which a boat is
pointing at a given moment.
headway Boat’s forward momentum.
headsail Sails flown forward of the
mainmast.
heel Incline to one side due to force of
wind or waves.
helm The tiller or wheel and related
steering gear.
helmsman The one who steers the boat
with the tiller or wheel.
H.E.L.P. Acronym standing for Heat
Escape Lessening Posture.
hitch A knot used to secure a rope fast
to another rope or object.
hoist To raise a sail or flag. Also, the
length of a sail’s luff.
horsepower A measure of the power
produced by the engine.
huddle The huddle position is recommended
when there is more than one victim
in the water. Hug so that chests touch
each other with legs and arms intertwined.
hull Basic structure and shell of a boat.
hurricane A tropical cyclone with wind
speeds of 73 miles per hour or greater or
of 64 knots or greater.
hybrid inflatable life preservers These
preservers combine inherently buoyant
flotation material with an inflatable bladder
for extra lift.
hypothermia The abnormal lowering of
the body’s internal temperature resulting
from loss of heat from exposure to cold
air, wind, or water and can lead to death.
I
immersion hypothermia Long-term
immersion hypothermia sets in 30 minutes
after cold water immersion, depending on
water temperature. Cold water robs the
body of heat 25 times faster than cold air.
impeller A rotor or wheel with blades
used to pump water or other fluids.
inboard Toward the centerline of the
boat; inside the boat.
inboard-outboard (I/O) Propulsion
system consisting of an inboard engine
connected through the transom to an
outboard drive unit.
inflatable life preservers Inflatable
life preservers inflate either manually or
automatically, typically using a CO2