Nautical Glossary - B

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

back

1. On a vessel, toward the stern. 2. Of wind, to change in a counterclockwise direction, as would be seen looking down from above the earth; Compare to veer

back a sail

To hold a sail so that the wind will blow aft, against its forward side, slowing or forcing a boat backwards

backstay

Rigging wire that leads aft from the top of the mast

back wind

To throw wind on the leeward side of a sail

baggy

Of a sail, to hang more or less slack from edges that are stretched taut

baggy wrinkle

Short lengths of old line matted together and placed on shrouds, spreaders, and other rigging to protect sails from chafing and wearing

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bail

To throw water out of a boat

bailers

Openings in the bottom or transom of a boat used to drain water when sailing

balanced helm

A sailboat that has neither weather helm nor leeward helm

bald headed

Of a gaff-rigged boat sailing without a topmast

bale

A fitting on the end of a spar, such as the boom, to which a line may be fed

ballast

1. Heavy material, usually lead or iron, placed in the bottom of a boat to give stability; 2. Weight at the foot of a keel

balloon sail

A generic term for any large, light sail used in racing or cruising to replace or supplement the working sails when reaching or running

barber hauler

A line attached to the jib or jib sheet, used to adjust the angle of sheeting by pulling the sheet toward the centerline of the boat.

bare sailing

Sailing with sheets too far in

barging

Forcing one's way illegally between the starting mark and boats to leeward

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bark

A three-masted sailing vessel, square-rigged on the foresail and mainsail, and fore-and-aft rigged on the mizzen

bar keel

A solid metal external keel

barkentine

A three-masted sailing vessel, square-rigged on the foresail, while fore-and-aft rigged on the  mainsail and mizzen

batten

Flexible strips of wood or plastic placed in a pocket in the leech of a sail to help the sail hold its form

batten down

To secure or make watertight, especially hatches and cargo

batten pocket

Long narrow "tube" of sailcloth into which battens slide

beacon

A navigational aid or mark, usually placed on land to warn ships of danger

beam

1. The maximum width measurement of a vessel. A boat is "on her beam ends" when heeled over 90 degrees. 2. In radio, a signal transmitted along a narrow course for use in directional finding

beam reach

Sailing with the wind abeam

beam sea

1. A sea at right angles to a vessel's course; 2. Seas that come from either side of a boat; Compare to following sea

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beam wind

A wind which blows athwart a vessel's fore-and-aft line

bear

1. To lie in a specified direction from a designated reference point; 2. To move or tend to move in a certain direction.

bear down

To approach from windward

bearing

1. A direction; 2. The direction in which an object is seen, or the direction of one object from another, expressed in compass points or degrees. A true bearing is one expressed in degrees relative to true north; a magnetic bearing is one expressed in degrees relative to magnetic north.

bear off or bear away

1. To uphelm and run more to leeward; 2. To keep clear of another boat

bear up

To steer closer to the direction of the wind, shore, or object

beat

To sail toward a direction from which the wind blows by making a series of tacks while sailing close-hauled

Beaufort Scale

A table used for describing the velocity of the wind

becalm

A vessel is becalmed when the sails hang limp and lifeless because of no wind

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becket

1. A loop, eye or grommet made with fiber or wire rope; 2. The eye in the strap of a block to which a line can be attached; 3. A temporary tie or lashing, commonly a short piece of rope with a knot at one end and an eye at the other

before the wind

Having the wind coming from the aft of the boat; downwind

belay

1. Secure a line without knotting it to a cleat or belaying pin. 2. To make secure 3. Command to "stop" or "cease"

belaying pin

A pin to which line is made fast, and prevents it from slipping free

bell buoy

A buoy with a bell that is actuated by the movement of the sea

belly

The fullness of a sail when swelled out by the wind

below

Under the deck

bend or bend on

1. To fasten a sail to the boom and mast; 2. To tie or fasten; 3. To fasten one rope to another

bending shackle

A device which connects chain cable to the anchor ring

Bermuda rig

A triangular-sail rig (as opposed to a gag rig); also called a jib-headed rig, Marconi rig, and Bermudian rig

berth

1. The dock or anchorage occupied by a boat; 2. A place where a person sleeps

bight

1. The middle part of a line not including the bitter end; 2. A loop in a rope or a bend in the shoreline.

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bilge

The part inside the hull above and around the keel where water will collect

bilge water

Water that collects in the bilge

bilge pump

A device used to pump water out of the bilge

bill

The point at the extremity of a fluke on an anchor

binnacle

A stand with a receptacle containing the compass and compensating magnets

bitter end

1. The extreme end of a line, see bight; 2. The end made fast when all line has been played out

bitts

Single or double vertical posts extending above deck for securing mooring lines and towlines. Also called bollards.

blanketed

When a sail is between the wind and another sail, the latter cannot get the wind and is said to be blanketed. One boat can blanket another boat by sailing between it and the wind

block

1. A pulley; 2. A pulley consisting of a wooden or metal frame in which is set one or more sheaves (shivs) or rollers. Lines run over these rollers.

blue water sailing

Open ocean sailing, as opposed to being in a lake or sound

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board

A tack or let to windward when beating

boat boom

A spar that swings from a boat's side when at anchor to secure a dinghy

boat hook

A device designed to catch a line or ring-bolt when coming alongside a pier or picking up a mooring

bobstay

A wire stay from the end of a bowsprit to a boat's stem near the waterline, used to counteract the upward pull exerted by the forestay

bollard

A strong metal or wood post on a pier or towboat used to secure docking and towing lines.

bolt rope

The rope surrounding a sail to which the material is sewn

bone in her teeth

A colloquial phrase implying that a boat is moving through the water at considerable speed. The "bone" is the bow wave thus produced.

bonnet

An extra piece of canvas secured to the foot of a jib by lacings

boom

1. Spar that takes the foot of a sail; 2. The horizontal spar to which the foot of a sail is attached.

boom crutch

Support for the boom, holding it up and out of the way when the boat is anchored or moored. Unlike a gallows frame, a crutch is stowed when boat is sailing.

boom horse, deck horse, or traveler

A metal rod (or track) bolted to the deck upon which a ring (or car) of a sheet block can slide from side to side as the boom swings over on a change of tack.

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boomkin

A device extending from the stern--somewhat as a bowsprit extends from the bow--that carries a sheet block for the mizzen.

boom vang

A system used to hold the boom down, particularly when boat is sailing downwind, so that the mainsail area facing the wind is kept to a maximum. Frequently extends from the boom to a location near the base of the mast. Usually tackle-or-lever-operated.

bosun's chair

A seat of canvas or wood in which a crew member working aloft is suspended

bow

The forward, front end of a boat

bowline

The second most useful know, next to a square knot, that will not slip, yet is easier to untie

bowsprit

1. A spar extending forward from the bow to which jibs and stays are made fast.

braided line

A line in which the strands are woven together, rather than twisted or laid up. Working lines are usually double braided, i.e., make up of two individually braided components, one inside for a core and a second outside for a cover.

bridge deck

The transverse partition between the cockpit and the cab in

bridle

A short length of wire with a line attached at the midpoint. A bridle is used to distribute the load of the attached line. Often used as boom travelers and for spinnaker down hauls.

bright work

Varnished woodwork or polished metal

broach

1. Turn sideways to wind and wave.2. Turning or swinging of the boat that puts the beam against the waves, creating a danger of swamping or capsize. This is particularly dangerous in high seas

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broad reach

Sailing with the wind abaft the beam and with the sails well out on the quarter

bulkhead

An interior partition commonly used to stiffen the hull. May be watertight

bullseye

A round eye through which a line is led, usually in order to change the direction of pull

bulwark

A vertical extension above the deck designed to keep water out and to assist in keeping people in

bulwarks

Rail around the deck

by the board

If an object goes overboard, it goes "by the board"

by the lee

Sailing downwind with the wind blowing over the leeward side of the boat, increasing the possibility of an unexpected jibe