Nautical Glossary - EF

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

earing

1. A line used to secure a corner of a sail to a spar; 2. A short line securing a reefed sail to a boom

ease

To loosen or let out

ease in

To go slowly

ease off or foot

To allow the boat to run slightly leeward of its most windward course

ease the helm

To permit the tiller to regress an little after being close-hauled

ease the sheet

To let out the rope that controls a sail

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ease up

To let up gently on the tiller, a sheet, the throttle, or winch

easing out line

Slowly and carefully loosening a line, which is under a lot of tension, so that it doesn't go out too quickly, or cause damage to the crew or equipment

ebb current

1. The retreating, outgoing current; 2. Downstream current; Compare to tide and flood

eddy

A current of water, especially one moving in a circular pattern, running against the main current

edge away

To sail off the wind from the course steered

ensign

A national flag flown on a ship

even keel

1. Floating level; 2. To have a relaxed, calm disposition

eye

1. A loop of rope; 2. A loop in a line that has been seized, spliced or knotted.

eye bolt

A bolt with an eye on one end

eye of the wind or wind's eye

The exact direction from which the wind is blowing.

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eye splice

A permanent loop made at a rope's end by weaving unlaid strands into the standing part of the line

fag

The ragged end of a line

fair or lift

The wind fairs when it strikes the sails fro a more favorable angle, from further aft, making it possible for the boat to point higher (to windward). 

fairlead

An eyelet fitting used to change the direction of a sheet or halyard led through it

fake

A single loop in a faked line 

faked or flaked line

1. A line that has been laid down in a loose, looping figure eight; 2. To coil a rope in such a way that it will run out freely and quickly without tangling

fall off

1. To turn away from the direction of the wind; 2. To head to leeward

fanning

A term used to describe a sailboat making little headway in light air

fast or make fast

To secure

fathom

1. A nautical measure of water depth, equal to six feet; sometimes also used to indicate the lengths of lead lines, cordage and anchor chains

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fathom line

A line on a chart connecting equal water depths and thereby marking the contours of underwater geographical features.

feathering

1. To allow wind to spill from sail so that it flutters; 2. To reduce the power generated by the sail and the angle of heel by adjusting the sail so that it flutters

fend

To push off or prevent contact

fender

Cylindrical or round objects hung over the side of a boat to protects its hull from chafing, abrasions and other damage when tied to a dock or other boat

fetch

1. When a boat sailing to windward can make her objective without another tack; 2. To achieve a desired destination under sail, particularly with an adverse wind or tide.

fid

A tapered, pointed wooden tool used for spreading strands of rope when splicing

fiddle block

A pulley that has two superimposed sheaves, the upper one being larger than the lower

figure-eight knot

A knot tied in the shape of a figure eight and helps prevent a line from unreeving

fill

To become full of wind

fin keel

A deep narrow keel found on most modern ocean-racing boats that creates less drag than do longer conventional keels

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fisherman's bend

A knot used to bend a line to a ring, also called an anchor bend

fisherman's knot

A knot that joins two lines together, forming a knot

fisherman's staysail

A large topsail as used in schooners, set above the main staysail

fit out

To prepare a sailboat for launching or an extended voyage

fittings

Any hardware on a boat

fix

1. To find a boat's position by celestial or land observation; 2. A boat's position as marked on a chart, established by taking bearings on two or more known landmark's (visual fix) or two or more radio sources (electronic fix).

flare

1. A device used for signaling, particularly to indicate distress, with bright glowing, colored light fired into the sky, placed on deck, or held by a crew member; 2. The outward curve or slant of a boat's sides, from bilge to deck line

flashing light

1. A chart symbol that shows one or more flashes at regular intervals, the duration of the light always being more or less the duration of darkness; 2. A system of signaling in Morse Code where light flashes of appropriate duration represent dots and dashes

flood

The incoming tidal current running toward the shore or upstream in a river; See also ebb current and tide

flotsam

Floating debris

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flounder

When a boat fills with water and sinks; See swamp

fluke

The entire point of an anchor, composed of the bill and palm at the end of an arm

fly

The length of a flag from its hoist out to the free end

flying bridge

An added set of controls above the level of the normal control station for better visibility and more fresh air

fo'c'sle

See forecastle

following sea

A sea that comes up from astern, running in the same direction that the boat is going; Compare to beam sea

foot

1. The lower edge of a sail; 2. To move through the water at good speed; 3. To gain boat speed by falling off slightly toward leeward

fouled

1. Entangled, caught, or twisted lines, sails, or rigging. 2. Clogged, obstructed, or damaged equipment; 3. Contaminated drinking water or fuel

fore

In or toward the bow of a boat

fore-and-aft

1. In the direction of the keel from front to back; 2. A sailboat's sailing rigging

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forecastle

(fok-s'l) 1. The forward part of a boat below deck; 2. Crew's quarters

foredeck

The deck, or that part of the deck, in the forward part of a boat

forefoot

1. The forward part of the keel; 2. The forward portion of a boat's hull below the waterline

foremast

Forward mast of a sailing vessel having two or more masts

forepeak

The compartment farthest forward in the bow of the boat, often used to store anchor line and chains, secondary anchors, and sometimes sails

forereach

The movement or shooting ahead a sailboat makes when going about or luffing into the eye of the wind

foresail

(for-s'l) The first working sail immediately forward of the mainsail

forestays

Lines or wires running from the bow to support the mast, also called headstays

foretriangle

On a sailboat, the triangle formed by the headstay, the front of the mast, and the deck.

frame

The skeleton of a ship to which planks or plates are attached

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freeboard

The height of a boat's topsides from the waterline to the deck

fresh breeze

Wind of 17 to 21 knots velocity

full and by

Sailing as close to the wind as possible with all sails full

full spread

All sails set

furl

To roll up a sail tightly on a boom or spar

furler or furling gear

A mechanical device for furling a sail

furling jib

A jib sail attached to a furler