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Sailboat Parts

When learning sailboat parts, no matter what shape it is, the front of any sailboat is called the bow and the back is the stern and the sides of the sailboat are identified by facing the bow:

Port and Starboard

Port side is to the left and

Starboard is to the right.

A simple reminder is the saying: ‘There was no red port left in the bottle’. All objects, appearing on the left side of the boat are described as being to port and are designated by the red colour while those on the right are on starboard and designated by the green colour.

Ahead, means in front, abeam to the side and astern behind the boat. Fore means at or toward the front and and aft, the rear. The beam of a sailboat is its width, measured at its widest point, and its length overall is the length from the most forward part to the most rearward part.

The hull is the body of a boat; the waterline is the dividing line between the hull below the water and the hull above it. The hull above is termed the topsides and the freeboard is the vertical

measurement from the waterline to the gunwale or gunnel (where the sides join the deck) and that below the line is the under body. The bow and stern extend ahead of, and behind the waterline, and is called the bow and stern overhangs. Gunwale Guards

Deck Hardware

Deck hardware is everything mounted on the deck and includes the mast and boom that support the sails and the anchor. Standing rigging is the wires that hold in place the mast and the ropes or wires used to hoist, lower and control the sails are called the running rigging. Rope and Rigging

The rudder at the stern of the boat steers the boat and is controlled by a tiller or, on some cruisers, a wheel. The centreboard, daggerboard or a keel beneath the hull, prevent the boat from drifting sideways when under sail.

The forefoot is the underwater angle of the bow curving back to the keel (or on some boats, the keel). The heel is the back corner of the keel and the front is referred to as the foot or forefoot. The front face of the keel is the leading edge and the back the trailing edge. Sailing Equipment and Parts