Nautical Charter

Nautical Dictionary - Nautical Glossary - Maritime Terminology

Alquiler-directo.com

Nautical Dictionary

Nautical Glossary - Maritime Terminology


f

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Fag Out
The tendency of the strands of a line to fray out at the ends.
Fair
(1) In good condition. (2) To adjust to proper shape or size.
Fair Wind
Term applied to the direction of the wind when it is favorable to the course being steered.
Fairlead
A fitting used to guide a line in a particular direction without chafing.
Fairway
A navigable channel in a body of water.
Fake
One circle of a coil or rope. To coil or arrange a rope ornamentally with each fake flat, or almost flat, on the deck, usually in a circle or figure-of-eight pattern. Sometimes called "Cheesing down".
Fall
The part of the tackle which is hauled upon; a hoisting rope or chain, especially the part of rope or chain to which power is applied.
Fall Off
To change direction so as to point farther away from the wind. Also Bear Away, Bear Off or Head Down. The opposite of heading up.
False Keel
An additional keel secured outside the main keel, usually as protection in the event of grounding.
Fang
Valve of a pump box; to prime a pump.
Fantail
Overhanging part of a vessel's stern. The area of the upper deck of a ship that is nearest the stern.
Farewell Buoy
Buoy at seaward end of channel leading from a port.
Fast
Said of an object that is secured to another; attached, fixed, secured.
Fast Ice
Ice extending seaward from land to which it is attached.
Fasten
To make secure
Fastening
An item such as a nail, screw, rivet or other device used to fasten objects together.
Fathom
A unit of measurement relating to the depth of water or to the length of line or cable; one fathom is 6 feet or 1.83 meters
Fathometer
A depth measuring device.
FCC Rules
Federal Communications Commission Rules governing radio equipment and operation in the United States.
Feather Spray
Foaming water that rises upward immediately before stem of any craft being propelled through water.
Feathering
Sailing upwind so close to the wind that the forward edge of the sail is stalling or luffing, reducing the power generated by the sail and the angle of heel. Also known as pinching.
Feathering Oars
The turning of the blade of an oar from the vertical to the horizontal while it is being taken aback for the next stroke. This reduces the windage on the blade thus reducing the effort expended.
Feathering Prop
A propeller that can have the pitch of its blade changed to reduce drag when not in use.
Fend Off
To prevent contact with an object while bringing the ship alongside.
Fender
A protective cushion of durable material hung from the sides of a boat to protect it from rubbing or chafing against a dock or another boat.
Ferry
A vessel designed for the transport of people or goods from one place to another on a regular schedule.
Fetch
(1) The distance that the wind and sea has to travel over open water unimpeded by land; the longer the fetch, generally the higher the waves. (2) Also to reach someplace, especially in adverse conditions. When sailing close-hauled, being able to arrive at some point without tacking.
Fid
A pointed tool used to separate strands of rope.
Fiddle
A small rail on tables and counters used to keep objects from sliding off when the vessel rolls and pitches.
Fiddle Block
A double block where the two sheaves lie in a plane one below the other, rather than alongside each other.
Fiddler's Green
A sailor's paradise where amusements were plentiful, and the women were accommodating.
Fiddley Deck
A partially raised deck over the engine and boiler rooms, always around the smokestack, to let the hot air and fumes escape.
Field Ice
Ice pack whose limits cannot be seen from ship.
Fife Rail
A rail around the mast or on the bulwarks with holes for belaying pins to which lines or halyards are attached.
Figure Eight Knot
A stopper knot in the form of a figure eight, placed in the end of a line to prevent the line from passing through a grommet, block, or other fitting.
Figurehead
An ornamental carved and painted figure on the stem of the vessel.
Fin Keel
A keel that is narrow and deeper than a full keel. It looks like a fish's fin extending below the boat, and the boat usually has a rudder mounted some distance aft, often on an additional keel-like extension called a skeg.
Finger Pier
A small pier that projects from a larger pier.
Fireman
An unlicensed member of the engine room staff whose duties consist in standing watch in the boiler room and insuring the oil burning equipment is working properly.
First Assistant Engineer
Usually handles engine maintenance. Assigns duties to unlicensed personnel and monitors and records overtime. Consults with Chief regarding work priorities.
First Mate (Chief Mate)
Directly responsible for all deck operations (cargo storage and handling, deck maintenance deck supplies). Assigns and checks deck department overtime. Ship's medical officer.
Fisheries
General term used to denote all activities connected with the catching of fish by any means.
Fisherman Anchor
A traditionally shaped anchor having flukes perpendicular to the stock of the anchor and connected by a shank. These are less common than modern anchors such as the plow and lightweight anchors.
Fisherman's Bend
A knot used to fasten a line or cable to the anchor.
Fishhook
Slang sailing expression for a piece of metal or shroud that can cut or stab you.
Fitting-Out
The general preparation of a vessel to make ready for the sea in all respects.
Fix
A vessel's position determined by observation and navigational data.
Fixed Light
A navigational light with a steady beam of light, having no intervals of darkness.
Flag of Convenience
Registry of the vessel is foreign to that of the country in which the company that owns the ship is located.
Flag Officer
All naval officers with the rank of rear admiral (or its equivalent) and above.
Flags
Nautical Flag meanings can be found here.
Flagship
The ship that carries an admiral's flag.
Flake
(1) To lay a line out in coils so that it can run without fouling. (2) Folding a sail in layers on the boom.
Flame Arrester
A safety device used to prevent or stop unwanted flames.
Flare
(1) The outward curve of a vessel's sides near the bow. (2) A distress signal.
Flashing Light
Used to describe a light that blinks on and off, where the period of light is shorter than the period of darkness separating the flashes.
Flatten In
To trim the sheets in.
Fleet
A company of vessels sailing together.
Fleeting
Shifting the moving block of a tackle from one place of attachment to another place farther along to give more advantage.
Flemish Down
To lay down the unused portion of a rope or line in a fancy manner similar to figure-of-eights, ready to run out without kinking.
1 Flemish Horse
The short foot rope at the end of a yard at the outer corner of a square sail used when reefing or furling.
Floating Dry Dock
A hollow platform or enclosure which can be partially flooded, placed under a vessel, then pumped dry to lift the vessel out of the water so that repairs may be made.
1 Flood
(1) To fill a space (room) with water; (2) A rising tide.
Floor
Lower part of a transverse frame running each side of the keelson to the bilges; a virtually horizontal platform extending to the ship's sides.
Floorboards
The surface of the cockpit on which the crew stand.
Flotilla
A squadron of small ships.
Flotsam
Debris floating on the water surface; Any part of the wreckage of a ship or her cargo which is found floating on the surface of the sea.
Flower of the Winds
Old expression for the engraving of the wind-rose on charts.
Fluke
(1) The portion of an anchor that digs securely into the bottom, holding the boat in place. (2) The two triangular parts which make up a whale's tail.
Fluky
Said of a wind when it is light and variable in direction, not blowing steadily from any direction.
Flush Deck
A deck whose top side is flush.
Fly
The wind direction indicator on the masthead.
Fly Boat
Fast boat used for passenger and cargo traffic in fairly sheltered waters.
Flyer
In sailboat racing, to take to opposite tack of the rest of the fleet when behind, hoping that the wind will shift to your benefit.
Flying Bridge
The highest navigation bridge. It usually includes an added set of controls above the level of the normal control station for better visibility.
Flying Dutchman
Old legend of a Dutch skipper who, in a strong gale, swore by Donner and Blitzen that he would beat into Table Bay in spite of God's wrath. His ship foundered and he was condemned to go on sailing eternally in his attempt to reach Table Bay. There was a superstition among sailors that anyone who set eyes upon this "ghost ship" would die by shipwreck.
Fo'c'sle
An abbreviation of forecastle.
Fog Signals
A series of sound signals required by COLREGS to prevent collisions at sea.
Foghorn
A device for issuing fog signals, used for giving a warning of a vessel's presence in fog. These signals are also made by lighthouses.
Following Sea
A sea with waves approaching from the stern of the boat; a sea in which the waves are moving in the same direction as the vessel
Foot
(1) The bottom edge of a sail. (2) Sailing slightly more away from the wind than close hauled to increase the boat speed.
Footropes
On a square-rigged ship, the ropes which hang below a yard upon which the topmen stand while aloft furling or reefing a sail. They were supported by ropes from the yard known as "stirrups".
Fore
Towards, near, or at the bow; Prefix denoting at, near, or toward the bow.
Fore and Aft
In a line parallel to the ship's keel.
Fore and Aft Rigged
Sails that lie in the direction of the ship's length and whose luffs abut the masts or are attached to stays.
Fore Peak
The compartment at the bow of the vessel
Fore Rake
The forward part of the bow which overhangs the keel.
Fore Reach
The headway a vessel makes when luffed in the wind; the distance a sailing vessel will shoot up to windward when brought head to head in the act of tacking.
Forebiter
Sailor's songs sung in the forecastle when the men of a watch were off duty. These were sung for entertainment, thus they were not shanties.
Forecabin
The cabin towards the front of the vessel.
Forecast
A weather prediction.
Forecastle
Also fo'c'sle or fo'csle. Pronounced "foke-sul". The most forward below decks area of a vessel; The crew quarters on a traditional sailing ship forward of the main mast.
Foredeck
The forward part of a boat's main deck.
Forefoot
The point where the stem joins the forward end of the keel.
Foreguy
A line leading forward from the end of a mainsail boom to prevent the boom from swinging inboard while broad reaching or running. also Preventer
Foremast
The forward mast of a boat with more that one mast
Foresail
A sail placed forward of the mast, such as a jib; the sail set from the foremast on a schooner; the lowest square sail on the foremast of Square Riggers.
Forestay
A support wire running from the upper part of the mast to the bow of the boat designed to pull the mast forward. A forestay that attaches slightly below the top of the mast can be used to help control the bend of the mast. The most forward stay on the boat is also called the headstay.
Forestaysail
A sail attached to the forestay as opposed to a jib which is attached to the headstay.
Foretriangle
The triangle formed by the masthead, the base of the mast at deck level, and the lower end of the headstay.
Forward
At or toward the bow. Also the fore part of the ship.
Forward-leading
Said of a line that leads from its point of attachment towards the bow of the ship.
Fothering
Closing small leaks in a vessel's underwater body by drawing a sail, filled with oakum, underneath her.
Foul
(1) Generally something wrong or difficult (2) To be tangled (line) or in turmoil (air); to entangle or obstruct (3) In racing, a rules infraction
Foul Ground
A place not suitable for anchoring.
Fouled
Any piece of equipment that is jammed, clogged, entangled, or dirtied.
Fouled Anchor
An anchor which has become entangled with some object on the bottom, or, on weighing, has it's rode or chain wound around its stock or flukes.
Founder
When a vessel fills with water and sinks.
Fo’c’sle
See Forecastle
Foremast
The mast in the forepart of a vessel, nearest the bow.
Fractional Rig
A design in which the forestay does not go to the very top of the mast, but instead to a point 3/4-7/8 of the way up the mast.
Frame
A timber or rib of a ship running from the keel to the side rail; the transverse strengthening members in a ship's hull that extend from the keel to the deck or gunwale. The frames form the shape of the hull and act as a skeleton on which the hull planking is secured.
Frame Spacing
The distance between frames.
Frap
To bind together in order to increase tension or to prevent from blowing loose.
Frazil
Small, cake-shaped pieces of ice floating down rivers.
Free
(1) Clear, not tangled. (2) sailing free: a vessel is sailing free when her sheets are eased. (3) running free: to sail with the wind from astern.
Free Port
A port free of customs duty and most customs regulations.
Free Pratique
Clearance by the Health Authorities.
Freeboard
The distance from the gunwale to the water. Most often this will vary along the length of the boat.
Freeboard Deck
The uppermost complete deck of a ship having a secure means of closing all openings to be fully watertight.
Freeing Port
An opening in the bulwark or rail for discharging large quantities of water, when thrown by the sea upon the ship's deck. Some ships have "swing gates" which allow water to drain off but which automatically close from the pressure of sea water.
Freight
Goods transported in a ship, or the money paid for such goods.
Freshen the Nip
To veer or haul on a rope, slightly, so that a part subject to nip or chafe is moved away and a fresh part takes its place.
Fronts
Used in meteorology to describe boundaries between hot and cold air masses. This is typically where bad weather is found.
Fuel Dock
A dock dedicated for dispensing diesel oil or gasoline. The fuel dock is for short-term use.
1 Full and By
Sailing as close to the wind as possible with all sails full and drawing.
Full Keel
A keel that runs the length of the boat.
Fully Battened
A sail having battens that run the full horizontal length of the sail.
Fully Stayed
A mast supported by the use of lines or wire known as stays and shrouds.
Furl
To fold or roll a sail and secure it to its main support
Furniture
The essential fittings and equipment of a ship, such as anchors, rigging, masts, davits, derricks, winches, etc., excluding her consumable stores such as water, fuel and victuals.
Futtock
A curved or vertical timber that when paired with a floor or additional futtocks makes the frame of a wooden ship.
Futtock Shrouds
Short shrouds which give support to the top of a lower mast.
Futzing
Meddling or fooling around.

| About us | Support Services | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Legal Notices | Properties | Holiday directory | Submit your site |