Module 1    Module 2    Module 3    Module 4    Module 5    Module 6

MODULE 1

INTRODUCTION TO BOATING
TERMINOLOGY

The nautical field has developed its own jargon to describe the equipment, activities, and manoeuvres of maritime navigation. The information that you must know for the exam is highlighted in bold print throughout all six modules in this course. Module 1 contains the following sections.

1.1	TYPES OF VESSELS
1.2	HULL TERMINOLOGY
1.3	DIRECTIONS AND SECTORS WHEN AFLOAT
1.4	SOME MORE NAUTICAL TERMINOLOGY
	MODULE 1 REVIEW

Pleasure craft - A pleasure craft is any type of watercraft that is used exclusively for pleasure and does not carry passengers or goods for hire, reward, or any object of profit. Pleasure craft come in all shapes and sizes (canoes, kayaks, PWCs, sail boats, ski boats, cabin cruisers, . . . ). The pleasure craft pictured at right is called a personal water craft (PWC).

Commercial Vessel - Under Canadian regulations a commercial vessel is any vessel that is used directly or indirectly to earn revenue. Commercial vessels include freighters, tankers, passenger ferries, fishing boats, tugboats, and excursion boats.

Power-driven vessel - A power-driven vessel is one that is propelled by any type of engine or machinery (including electric trolling motors and steam engines). Only operators of power-driven vessels must obtain a Pleasure Craft Operator Card.

Sailing Vessel - Any vessel under sail provided that propelling machinery, if fitted, is not being used. Thus, even if a sailboat has its sails raised, whenever it is being propelled by a motor, it is considered a power driven vessel under the regulations and the vessel must obey the Collision Regulations for powered vessels.

Hull - The hull is the body of a vessel, from the deck down. It does not include rigging, superstructure, machinery, or equipment.

Bow - The bow is the forward part or front end of a vessel.

Stern - The stern is the back (aft) end of a vessel.

Beam - The beam is the width of a vessel at its widest point.

Draft - The draft (or draught) is the minimum depth of water that a vessel requires to float (and is approximated as the distance between the waterline and the lowest point of the hull). On a boat equipped with an outboard motor, the draft is usually the distance between the waterline and the lowest point on the engine.

Freeboard – Freeboard is the distance from a vessel's deck down to the surface of the water. A vessel with a high freeboard is difficult to reboard from the water without the aid of reboarding equipment.

Gunwale - The gunwale (pronounced "gunnel") is the top of the side of a vessel’s hull.

Length Overall - The length overall on a vessel is the distance from the foremost point on the hull (above or below the waterline) to the aft-most point on the hull (above or below the waterline).

Port Side - The port side is the side of the vessel that is on one’s left side when facing forward.

Starboard Side - The starboard side is the side of the vessel that is on one’s right when facing forward.

Ahead - Ahead refers to a direction directly in front of a vessel.

Abaft (aft) - Abaft and aft both refer to a direction toward the stern of a vessel.

Abeam – Abeam means away from a vessel in a direction perpendicular to the vessel's centreline at the widest point of the hull.

Astern – Astern is a direction behind a vessel. The term "dead astern" means directly behind the vessel.

A direction that is straight out from the middle of the vessel on the right side is termed "off the starboard beam". Similarly, a direction off the left-hand side at the middle of the boat is referred to as "off the port beam". Moving toward the front of the boat is said to be going forward while moving to the stern of the boat is termed going aft.

Operator - The operator of a vessel is the owner or the person in charge of the craft. Under Canadian regulations, the operator of a pleasure craft is responsible for its condition, how it is operated, and the safety of all on board.

Aids to Navigation - Aids to navigation are systems, structures, or devices that are external to a vessel and that aid in navigation, indicate safe routes, and warn of obstacles or dangers. Aids to navigation can include such things as buoys, beacons, and lighthouses. “Aids to navigation” should not be confused with “navigational aids”. Navigational aids are shipboard tools (such as a radar or sonar system, compass, sextant, or marine charts) that aid in determining position and setting course.

Fenders - Fenders are various devices (usually hollow cylinders made of white plastic) that are hung from the side a vessel to prevent damage when it rubs against a dock or against another vessel.

Seaworthy - A vessel is considered seaworthy if the hull is undamaged and appropriate for the type of sea condition, the engine size does not exceed the allowable maximum, the vessel is not overloaded, and all equipment is in good working order.

Underway - Underway means that a vessel is not at anchor, tied to a dock, or pulled up on shore; i.e. a vessel is considered to be underway if it is free to move.

Wash - Wash is the loose or broken water left behind by a boat as it moves along and includes the churned water thrown aft by the propeller (i.e. propeller wash). Just as an airplane can create prop wash when sitting on the ground, a vessel does not have to be moving through the water in order to create wash.   Wake - The wake of a vessel is the disturbed water and waves around and behind a vessel that are set in motion by its passage. Thus, a vessel must be moving through the water in order to create wake.

Windward - The direction from which the wind is blowing.

Windward side - The windward side of a sailing vessel is the side of the boat that is opposite to the side on which the mainsail is being carried.

Leeward - Leeward means downwind; the direction in which the wind is blowing.

Module 1    Module 2    Module 3    Module 4    Module 5    Module 6

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Review 1    Review 2    Review 3    Review 4    Review 5    Review 6

MODULE 1 REVIEW

QUESTIONS

Select the response that best answers the question.
 
1. What term refers to the width of a vessel?
    a.) breadth
    b.) camber
    c.) beam
    d.) straddle
 
2. If you are in your boat and you see something in the water that is off your port beam, you are seeing something that is:
    a.) straight out from the middle of the vessel on the left side
    b.) straight out from the middle of the vessel on the right side
    c.) straight ahead of the vessel
    d.) directly behind the vessel
 
3. What does the term abaft mean?
    a.) a direction from the stern
    b.) a direction toward the stern
    c.) the stern
    d.) just behind the bow
 
4. What term refers to a device to protect the side of a vessel?
    a.) fender
    b.) bumper
    c.) shock absorber
    d.) pad
 
5. What is an operator?
    a.) an assistant or crew member on a pleasure craft
    b.) a passenger on board a pleasure craft
    c.) the owner or person in charge of a pleasure craft
    d.) the person who starts the motor
 
6. What term refers to the body of a vessel from the deck down, exclusive of rigging, superstructure, and equipment?
    a.) cabin
    b.) cargo hold
    c.) bilge
    d.) hull
 
7. How is the term ‘pleasure craft’ defined by the Canadian Coast Guard?
    a.) a vessel that does not carry passengers or goods for remuneration
    b.) any type of cruise ship with overnight cabins
    c.) an excursion boat catering to private parties or events
    d.) any type of charter vessel
 
8. What is a power-driven vessel?
    a.) any vessel propelled by an internal combustion engine
    b.) any vessel propelled by a steam engine
    c.) any vessel propelled by an electric motor
    d.) any of the above
 
9. What does the term draft refer to?
    a.) bilge depth
    b.) the minimum depth of water required by a boat to float
    c.) the distance from the waterline to the lowest point on the hull
    d.) both b.) and c.) are correct
 
10. What is the difference between an “aid to navigation” and a “navigational aid”?
    a.) an aid to navigation is external to a boat; a navigational aid is not
    b.) a navigational aid is external to a boat; an aid to navigation is not
    c.) aids to navigation include charts and radar; navigational aids do not
    d.) navigational aids include buoys and beacons, aids to navigation do not
 
11. Define wake.
    a.) burial at sea
    b.) water sprayed from a passing boat
    c.) waves that are set in motion by a boat’s passage through water
    d.) loose or broken water left behind by a boat as it moves along
 
12. Define wash.
    a.) undertow created by strong currents
    b.) water sprayed from a passing boat
    c.) waves that are set in motion by a boat’s passage
    d.) loose or broken water left behind by a boat as it moves along
 
13. What is a sail-driven vessel?
    a.) any vessel propelled by sails
    b.) any vessel with a mast
    c.) any vessel propelled by sails provided that propelling machinery, if fitted, is not being used.
    d.) any vessel that has a sail raised
 
14. On a sailing vessel, what term is used for the side of the vessel that is opposite to the side on which the mainsail is carried?
    a.) starboard side
    b.) port side
    c.) leeward side
    d.) windward side
 
15. What term describes the motion of a vessel that is neither at anchor nor made fast (tied) to the shore?
    a.) all stop
    b.) underway
    c.) becalmed
    d.) adrift

MODULE 1 REVIEW

ANSWERS

Select the response that best answers the question.
 
1.  c.)
2.  a.)
3.  b.)
4.  a.)
5.  c.)
6.  d.)
7.  a.)
8.  d.)
9.  d.)
10. a.)
11. c.)
12. d.)
13. c.)
14. d.)
15. b.)
 
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Module 1    Module 2    Module 3    Module 4    Module 5    Module 6

St. John Ambulance Canada is an authorised boating safety training and testing agent of freecourse.ca
Copyright © 2000 - 2010 freecourse.ca - All rights reserved
Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our privacy policy