Common Boating Terms

Arm yourself with these basic boating terms and enjoy the peace of mind of a safe boating trip not only for yourself, but your passengers as well. These boat terms come in very handy when speaking with dock staff and also any communications regarding the U.S. Coast Guard. With a little practice and some memorization, you'll be speaking the boating lingo in no time. Here's to happy boating!

Bow: Refers to the front end of a boat. (You can remember "bow" as the front, because when you take a bow, you're leaning forward.)

Stern: Refers to the rear end of a boat.

Forward: When you are moving towards the front end of a boat, this called going "forward."

Aft: When are you moving towards the rear end of the boat, this is called going "aft."

Underway: When a boat is moving, either by motor or wind, this is called being "underway."

Ahead: Refers to a boat moving in a forward direction.

Astern: Refers to a boat moving in a backwards position (reverse). .

Port: Standing at the rear of a boat and looking forward, "port" refers to the entire left side of the boat.

Starboard: Standing at the rear of a boat and looking forward, "starboard" refers to the entire right side of the boat.

Port Bow: Refers to the front left of a boat.

Port Quarter: Refers to the rear left side of a boat.

Starboard Bow: Refers to the front right of a boat.

Starboard Quarter: Refers to the rear right of a boat.

Amidships: The central part of a boating vessel.

Topside: Moving from a lower deck of a boat to an upper deck.

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