Inland Rules
Rules of the road that apply to vessel opera-
tion in harbors and certain rivers, lakes, and
inland waterways.
Intracoastal Waterways
ICW: bays, rivers and canals along the
coasts (such as Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico
coasts), connected so that vessels may
travel without going into the open sea.
Jetty
A structure, usually masonry, projecting out
from the shore; a jetty may protect a harbor
entrance.
Keel
The permanently positioned, fore-and-aft
backbone member of a boat’s hull.
Knot
To bend a line. Also, a unit of speed equal
to one nautical mile (6,076.10 feet) an
hour.
Launch
(1) To put a vessel into the water;
(2) A small open powerboat, mainly used for
transportation between a vessel and
shore.
Lee
The side opposite to that from which the
wind blows.
Leeward
Situated on the side turned away from the
wind. (Opposite of windward.)
Leeway
The amount a boat is carried sideways by
the wind’s force or current.
Limber Holes
Drainage holes in the bilge timbers of a ves-
sel, allowing to run to a low point for
pumping out.
List
(1) A continuous leaning to one side, often
caused by an imbalance in stowage or a
leak into one compartment;
(2) A light list is a printed listing of aids to
navigation, in geographical order or
inclining of a vessel toward the side.
LOA
Length over all; the maximum length of a
vessel’s hull, excluding projecting spars or
rudder.
Locker
A storage place, a closet.
Log
A record or diary of a vessel’s journey.
Lubber’s Line
A mark or permanent line on a compass
that shows the course of the boat.
Making Way
Making progress through the water.
Marina
A place, essentially a dock area, where
small recreational craft are kept; usually
floats or piers, as well as service facilities,
are available.
MAYDAY
A radio distress call, from the french
m’aidez (help me); SOS in Morse Code.
Mooring
Commonly, the anchor chain, buoy, pennant,
etc., by which a boat is permanently
anchored in one location.
Motor
A source of mechanical power.
Motorboat
Any watercraft 65 feet or less in length pro-
pelled by machinery, whether or not such
machinery is the principal source of propul-
sion.
Navigation
The art of conducting a ship from port to
port.
Nautical Mile
6076.12 feet, or 1852 meters, an interna-
tional standard; the geographical mile, the
length of one minute of latitude at the equa-
tor, is 6087.20 feet.
Nun Buoy
A conical, red buoy bearing an even number
and marking the starboard side of a channel
from seaward.
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