Nautical Glossary - T

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

tabernacle

The deck housing (usually a raised socket or post) for the heel of a mast, often pivoted or hinged so that the mast can be lowered when passing under obstructions

tack (noun)

1. On a triangular sail, the bottom forward corner. 2. A course with the wind coming from the right or left side of the boat, such as starboard tack or port tack

tack or tacking (verb)

1. Turning the boat so that the bow passes through the wind. 2. To change course by turning into the wind so that the wind comes from the other side of the boat; 3. To turn the boat so that the wind exerts pressure on the opposite side of the sail.

taffrail

The rail at the stern of the boat.

tang

A fitting, often of sheet metal, used to attach standing rigging to a spar, or to the hull

telltales

Short pieces of yarn, ribbon, thread, or tape attached to the sail and used to show the air flow over the sail

tender, dinghy, or dink

1. A small open boat equipped with either oars or an outboard motor, occasionally rigged with sails; 2. A small boat used for transportation to shore from a larger vessel.

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thimble

A grooved round or teardrop-shaped metal or plastic fitting spliced into an eye of rope or wire to prevent chafe and distortion of the eye

through-bolt

A deck fastening that penetrates the deck and is fastened below with a nut and washer

thwart

A transverse structural member in the cockpit

tidal current

Horizontal flows of water resulting from tidal influences; Compare to tide and current; See also ebb current and flood

tide

Tide refers to the rise and fall, the vertical movement, of bodies of water as the result of the interacting gravitational pulls of the moon and sun. It is not the inflow and outflow of water that results from these tidal changes, which is called tidal current. Compare to current

tiller

A stick or bar connected to the top of the rudder and used to steer the boat by moving the rudder

toe-rail

A low rail, often slotted, along the side of the boat

topgallant

The mast above the topmast, its sails, and its rigging

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topping lift

A line or wire rope used to support the boom when a boat is anchored or moored

transom

A flat surface of a boat's stern

traveler

A fitting across the boat to which sheets are led. In many boats the traveler may be adjusted from side to side so that the angle of the sheets can be changed to suit conditions

traveler, deck horse, or boom horse

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.

trick

A period of duty at the helm

trim

To adjust angle of the sails to accord with the wind

true north

The geographic North Pole

true wind

The actual speed and direction of the wind felt when standing still

turnbuckle

A fitting used to adjust the length and tension of a shroud or forestay

turnbuckle toggle

A small fitting, shaped like a shackle, at the bottom of a turnbuckle that fastens it to a chain plate