Glossary 269
standing rigging Standing rigging is a
collective term for stays and shrouds.
starboard Side of a boat, or direction,
to the right when facing toward the bow.
stem The upright structural member
or post of the bow, attached to the foremost
part of a vessel’s keel.
stern After end of a boat.
stern drives Inboard/outboards or
I/O’s are called stern drives.
stern light A white light placed as nearly
as practicable at the stern showing an
unbroken light over an arc of the horizon
of 135 degrees and so fixed as to show the
light 67.5 degrees from right aft on each
side of the vessel.
stock The crossbar of an anchor. Also,
a rudder shaft.
stow To put something in its proper
place.
strand 1. To drive a vessel ashore or
aground. 2. One of the lays of a rope (the
wound yarns or fibers that are woven
with other strands to make a rope).
strainer Fallen trees or debris that can
cause a paddler to become entrapped.
stranding Running aground.
strut A bracket that supports the propeller
shaft; located outside of the hull.
swamp To fill with water, but not to
founder.
swell A wave system that has outrun or
is no longer being acted upon by the wind
that created it. A swell is characterized by
regular, smooth-crested wave forms, usually
of long wave length.
swim failure Short-term swim failure
occurs 3 to 30 minutes following cold
water immersion. Manual dexterity, hand
grip strength, and speed movement can
all drop by 60 to 80%.
T
thimble A grooved metal loop, around
which a rope or wire rope may be spliced,
thus making the
spliced eye more resistant to chafing.
thunder The sound emitted by rapidly
expanding air along the channel of a
lightning discharge.
thunderstorm A storm produced by a
cumulonimbus cloud. The thunderstorm
is accompanied by lightning and thunder,
usually with strong gusts, heavy rain, and
sometimes hail.
thwart Thwarts are used as structural
struts connecting the two gunwales at
one or more points along the length of
the canoe.
tide The vertical rise and fall of ocean
water (most noticeable in coastal regions)
resulting mainly from the gravitational
attraction of the moon and sun.
tiller A lever attached to the upper end
of a rudder stock, used by the helmsman
to turn the rudder.
topside On or above the weather deck
(wholly exposed to the elements).
towing light A yellow light having the
same characteristics as the sternlight
defined in this Rule.
track The path of the vessel over
ground.
transceiver A radio set that combines
transmitting and receiving modes in one
package. It may have circuits or components
common to both.
transmitter An electronic unit capable
of generating a signal for propagation
through a medium.
transom The portion of the hull at the
stern that is at right angles to the centerline
of the boat.
trawling Trawling is a form of commercial
fishing that drags a net or scoop
along the sea bottom.
trimaran The trimaran uses three hulls.
The central hull is larger and two small
outrigger hulls lend stability.
true course The course as plotted on
the chart, measured from true north.
turnbuckle A tension-adjusting device
for tightening wire rigging or cable, composed
of threaded rods extending from
within a threaded barrel.
twin-screw Twin-screw boats have two
engines, each with a propeller.
U
under power A boat being propelled by
an engine even though sail may be set.
under the influence Drugs and alcohol
affect your judgment and keep you from
thinking clearly. Operating a boat under
the influence is illegal.
underway A vessel that is not at anchor,
or made fast to the shore, or aground.
V
V-Bottom Boats with V-bottoms and
deep vee (deep-V) bottoms are variations
of planing hulls that offer good stability
and less pounding in rough water. The
sloping sides help the boat cut through
the waves and track very well.
variation The angle between the
geographic meridian and the magnetic
meridian at a given locality. Variation is
easterly or westerly, as the direction of
the magnetic meridian is toward the east
or west of geographic north.
vessel includes every description of
watercraft, including non-displacement
craft (WIG craft), and seaplanes, used or
capable of being used as a means of transportation
on water.
vessel constrained by her draft A
power driven vessel which because of her
draft in relation to the available depth
and width of navigable water is severely
restricted in her ability to deviate from the
course she is following.
vessel engaged in fishing Any vessel
with nets, lines, or other fishing apparatus
which restrict maneuverability, but
does not include a vessel trolling or other
fishing apparatus which do not restrict
maneuverability.
vessel in sight In sight of one another
only when one can be visually observed
from the other.
vessel not under command A vessel
which through some exceptional circumstance
is unable to maneuver as required
by these Rules and is therefore unable to
keep out of the way of another vessel.
vessel restricted in ability to maneuver
A vessel which from the nature of
her work is restricted in her ability to
maneuver as required by these Rules and
is therefore unable to keep out of the
way of another vessel. The term “vessels
restricted in their ability to maneuver”
shall include but not be limited to:
(i) A vessel engaged in laying, servicing,
or picking up a navigational mark,
submarine cable or pipeline;
(ii) A vessel engaged in dredging, surveying
or underwater operations;
(iii) A vessel engaged in replenishment
or transferring persons, provisions
or cargo while underway;