Nautical Lingo: A Basic Guide to the Language of Boating

If you have ever been on board a boat you may be bewildered with all of the names that everything is called. Nautical terminology has evolved over the years into a language that the common land lover is unable to decipher. A recent survey among celebrities showed that a great number of prominent people were unable to describe even the most basic nautical terms.

When you first step on board a ship you are probable doing so from a slip. This word translates to "parking space". The slip is most likely in the form of a dock, but may also be in the form of a bulkhead. A dock is generally made to extend out into a body of water so that the ships hull does not come in contact with the ground at low tide. A bulkhead is generally made of a concrete and keeps land from being taken by the water. Some people even use it to control tides when building a waterfront home.

The bathroom on board a ship is probably the next most important phrase. It is a generally referred to as the head. The name head may seem quite strange, but it is a marital tradition. The kitchen is often referred to as the galley, and if there is a "prison" on the boat it is referred to as the brig. When you are outside on the ship you are generally on the deck.

The next part is probably the most confusing bit of nautical terminology while also being one of the most important. That is the sides and front of the ship. When you are on a ship you do not call the sides by their left and write sides, instead you call them by their nautical name. The left side of the ship is called port and the right side is called starboard. The fore generally refers to the forward part of the ship, and the aft to the back of the ship. Furthermore, the bow is the forward part of the ship in the water, and the stern is the opposite (in the back).

A good trick to help the nautical novice remember starboard, and port is to think of a ship in the Atlantic Ocean facing north. This ship will then have its left, or "port" side facing America. When one thinks of the North American continent as their home port, it becomes quite easy to remember which side port side is, and after you have that you automatically know which side starboard is!