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Nautical Dictionary - Nautical Glossary - Maritime Terminology

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Nautical Dictionary

Nautical Glossary - Maritime Terminology

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

Race: (1) A strong, confused tide or current. (2) A competition of skill and seamanship between yachts.

Rack: The operation of temporarily holding two lines together by seizing.

Radar: Radio Detection and Ranging. An electronic instrument that uses radio waves to find the distance and bearing of other objects. Used to avoid collisions, particularly in times of poor visibility.

Radar Arch: An arch to mount the radar, usually at the stern of the boat.

Radar Reflector: An object designed to increase the radio reflectivity of a boat so that it is more visible on radar. Many small boats are made with fiberglass and other materials that do not reflect radar very well on their own.

Radiation Fog: Fog over land caused by condensation of vapor in the air above cooler ground.

Radio: An instrument that uses radio waves to communicate with other vessels. VHF very high frequency; radios are common for marine use, but are limited in range. Single Side Band SSB; radios have longer ranges.

Radio Beacon: A navigational aid that emits radio waves for navigational purposes. The radio beacon's position is known and the direction of the radio beacon can be determined by using a radio direction finder.

Radio Direction Finder (RDF): A navigational instrument which provides a bearing to a radio beacon.

Radio Operator: An officer who operates and controls the shipboard communication equipment.

Radiowaves: Invisible waves in the electromagnetic spectrum that are used to communicate (radio) and navigate (radar).

Radome: A bun-shaped cover placed over a radar scanner to prevent risk of fouling and to protect it from the weather.

Raft: A small flat boat, usually inflatable.

Rafting: (1) When two or more boats tie up alongside each other. (2) Overlapping of edges of two ice-floes, so that one floe is partly supported by the other.

Rail: (1) The edge where the deck joins the hull; top edge of bulwarks. (2) The railing around the deck.

Rake: The inclination of a vessel's mast from its vertical position. The rake may be either forward or aft, and can be deliberately induced (by adjustment of the standing rigging) to flatten sails, balance steering, etc. Normally slightly aft. The term can also be used to describe the degree of overhang of a vessel's bow and stern.

Ram: A strengthened or armored projection from the bow of a warship for the purpose of disabling or sinking an enemy ship by ramming her.

Range: (1) Sighting two objects in a line to indicate a course to be steered (2) The distance a boat can travel using the fuel stored aboard.

Rap Full: As close to the wind as possible, with all sails full, and no wrinkles in them.

Rate: The rank held by a naval seaman.

Rating: (1) Term describing the status of seamen, corresponding to rank in the case of officers. (2) A method of measuring a yacht's expected performance relative to another yacht while racing. Over the years many formulas have been experimented with, in order to enable diverse yachts to race competitively against each using a handicap based upon the rating.

Ratlines: Small lines tied between the shrouds that form steps to function as a ladder to climb the rigging.

Rattle Down: The operation of securing the ratlines to the shrouds.

RDF: Radio Direction Finder. The RDF is used with a radio beacon to find a radio bearing to help determine the vessel's position.

Reach: (1) A point of sail between close-hauled and a run, with the wind coming from abeam. (2) A distance, or fetch. (3) Straight stretch of water between two bends in a river or channel.

Reaching: Any point of sail with the wind coming from the side of the boat. If the wind is coming from directly over the side, it is a beam reach. If the wind is coming from forward of abeam it is a close reach. If the wind is coming from over the quarter, it is called a broad reach.

Ready About: An expression used to the crew to indicate that the boat is about to tack.

Reciprocal: A bearing 180° from the other. A direction directly opposite the original direction.

Reciprocating Engine: A form of steam engine where a piston moves back and forth inside a cylinder, transmitting its motion to a driving shaft by a connecting rod and crank.

Reckoning: The record of courses steered and distances traveled since the time a ship's position was last fixed by shore or astronomical observations.

Reduction Gears: The gears that reduce engine speed to propeller speed.

Reef: (1) The rolled up part of a sail, tied with the reef lines, that is used to reduce sail area for heavy winds; To reduce the sail area. (2) A group of rocks or coral generally at a depth shallow enough to present a hazard to navigation.

Reef Cringles: Reinforced cringles or thimbles in the sail designed to hold the reefing lines when reefing the sail.

Reef Knot: Also known as the square knot, it is formed by two half hitches in which the ends always fall in line with the outer parts. This knot is used to loosely tie lines around the bundles of sail that are not in use after reefing.

Reef Lines: Short pieces of line fastened to the sail at reef points, used for tying a reef to reduce sail area. The reef line will pass through reef cringles, which will become the new tack and clew of the reefed sail.

Reef Points: Short lengths of line attached to the sail used to tie the extra sail out of the way when reefing.

Reefer: (1) Slang for refrigerator. (2) Refrigerator ship; a vessel designed to carry goods requiring refrigeration, such as meat and fruit.

Reefing: The operation of reducing a sail by taking in one or more of the reefs.

Reeve: To pass or lead a line through a block or other object. When the end of a line is passed through anything, it is said to be "rove" through it.

Refit: Removal of worn or damaged gear and the fitting of new gear in replacement.

Registry: The country in which the vessel is registered.

Relative Bearing: Direction or bearing of an object relative to a boat's heading.

Relieve the watch: Rested crewmembers take over the operation of the vessel from those who have worked a turn. Also, "Relief" is the person who will take your duties.

1 Render: (1) The action of a line as it passes over the sheave of a block. (2) The act of easing away gently.

Repel Boarders: An order announced for the ship's company to arm themselves to prevent boarding of their ship. 1

Repositioning: Vessel moves to a new area for a new season.

Reserve Buoyancy: The lifting power. It may be measured by the volume of a watertight hull above the load water line.

Return Port: The proper return port of a discharged seaman.

Revenue Cutter: A single masted cutter built expressly for the prevention of smuggling and the enforcement of customs regulations.

Reverse Sheer: When the sheer curves down towards the bow and stern.

Rhumb Line: A straight line compass course between two points. A line on the earth's surface which intersects all meridians at the same angle.

Ribband: Strips of material temporarily holding parts of a ship in position.

Ribs: The frames or timbers of a ship as they rise from the keel to form the shape of the hull.

Ride To: Lie at anchor

Riding Light: An all around white light displayed at night by a ship when she is anchored.

Rig: The way a boats spars and sails are arranged. To rig a vessel is to fit her with masts, spars, sails and running and standing rigging; term is also used to mean the setting up a device, e.g., to rig a lifeline, a tackle, etc

Rigger: One whose occupation is to rig or unrig vessels.

Rigging: A general term applying to all the lines, stays and shrouds necessary for spars and sails. The standing rigging is the mast, shrouds and stays, while running rigging refers to halyards and sheets that control the sails

Right Ascension: Right Ascension of a celestial body is the arc of the equinoctial between Aries and the meridian of the object, always reckoning eastward from Aries.

Right of Way: The right to maintain a course according to the Rules of Navigation. When two boats are on intersecting courses, one is the "stand-on" vessel (has "right of way" and must hold its course steady) so the other "give-way" vessel may steer clear.

Righting Arm: The theoretical measurement of force by which a heeled vessel is returned to upright by virtue of its displacement and gravity, expressed in foot/pounds, etc. 1

Rip Tide: The rip tide is not a tide, it is a current. When waves hit the beach they hit at an angle and push water ahead of them. This water forms a current that flows parallel to the shore, called the longshore current. When the shape of the beach changes, or its direction (as in from North-South to Northeast-Southwest) the speed of the current changes. Locally this can cause more water to flow into an area than can flow out, and water will pile up. This is much like a traffic jam for the currents. However, the water, which is trapped next to the shore, cannot get out because of the longshore current. Eventually, so much water will pile up that it can break through the longshore current in a small area. The large amount of water rushing through a small break causes a strong current in a small area that flows perpendicular (away) from the shore. This is the rip tide.

Rips: Short, steep waves caused by the meeting of currents.

Rivet: A metal pin by which the plating and other parts of iron and steel vessels are joined. Rivets are known by their heads, such as: Flush, pan, snap, plug, tap, countersunk, mushroom, and swollen neck.

Roach: A curve out from the aft edge (leech) of a sail. Battens are sometimes used to help support and stiffen the roach.

Rocker: The upward curvature of the keel towards the bow and stern.

Rode: The anchor line, cable or chain that connect the anchor to the boat.

Rogue Knot: Seaman's name for a reef knot tied upside down. also called a "granny" knot.

Roll: The alternating motion of a boat, leaning alternately to port and starboard; the motion of a boat about its fore-and-aft axis.

Roller Furling: A method of storing a sail, e.g., by rolling the jib around the headstay.

Roller Reefing: A system of reefing a sail by partially furling it. Roller furling systems are not necessarily designed to support roller reefing.

Rolling Hitch: A hitch used for bending a line to a spar, which if tied properly, won't slip. The end of the line is passed around the spar and then passed a second time around so it rides over the standing part. Then it is carried across and up through the bight.

Rooming: The navigable water to leeward of a vessel.

Rope: When rope comes aboard a vessel and is put to use, it is called line, although some still call it rope if it is over one inch in diameter. A coil of rope that is not designated for any particular use.

Rope Yarn Sunday: A time during working hours granted by the Captain for the off-watch to attend to the condition of their clothing and other personal items, usually an easier day granted as a break from hard work. 1

Rose Box: The strainer at the end of the suction pipe of a bilge pump which prevents solid material in the bilges from being sucked into the pump and choking it. Also known as a strum box.

Round: A verb with a variety of meanings. To round in is to haul in quickly; to round up is to bring a sailing vessel head into the wind; to round down a tackle is to overhaul it; to round a mark is to pass a racing mark.

Round Turn: One complete turn of the line around a cleat, spar or another line.

Round Turn and Two Half Hitches: A knot widely used when making a boat fast to a post or bollard.

Rouse Out: Turning out all hands on board ship in the morning, or calling the watch for duty on deck.

Row: A method of moving a boat with oars. The person rowing the boat faces backwards, bringing the blade of the oars out of the water and toward the bow of the boat. They then pull the oars through the water toward the stern of the boat, moving the boat forward.

Rowboat: A small boat designed to be rowed by use of its oars. Some dinghies are rowboats.

Royal: On a square-rigged ship, a light weather sail set next above the topgallant-sail in fair weather.

Rubrail: Also rubbing strake or rub strake. An applied or thickened member at the rail, running the length of the boat; serves to protect the hull when alongside a pier or another boat.

Rudder: A board-shaped swinging vane, controlled by a tiller or wheel, and attached to the rudderpost or stern for steering and maneuvering a vessel.

Rudder Angle Indicator: Piloting instrument showing the number of degrees to port or starboard at which the rudder(s) currently is/are positioned. 1

Rudder Post: The post that the rudder is attached to. The wheel or tiller is connected to the rudder post.

Rules of the Road: The rules concerning which vessel has the right of way if there is a possibility of collision between two or more boats; written to prevent accidents and collisions; includes right of way, lights, pennants, and whistle signals

Rummage: Originally meant "to stow cargo". Now, means "to search a ship carefully and thoroughly".

Run: (1) Sailing away from the wind with the sails let out all the way; going with the wind, downwind sailing (2) To allow a line to feed freely. (3) The shape of the afterpart of the underbody of a ship in relation to the resistance it creates going through the water.

Run Aground: To take a boat into water that is too shallow for it to float in, i.e: the bottom of the boat is resting on the ground.

Run Out: To put out a mooring, hawser or line from a ship to a point of attachment outside her.

Running: Sailing in the same direction as the wind with the wind coming from the stern.

Running Backstay, Runners: Adjustable stays used to support and control tension on the mast when the wind is from abaft the beam; temporary backstays used to stabilize the mast and prevent undue flexing due to the pumping action of the sea.

Running Bowline: A type of knot that tightens under load. It is formed by running the standing line through the loop formed in a regular bowline, or by tying around a bight in the line.

Running Fix: A fix taken by taking bearings of a single object over a period of time. By using the vessel's known course and speed, the location of the vessel can be found.

Running Lights: Lights required to be shown on boats underway between sunset and sunrise; they tell other vessels not only where you are, but what you are doing

Running Rigging: All control lines such as sheets and halyards used to control the sails

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