Ship Anatomy

Diagram of the Hispaniola Schooner

1. Flying Jib: the outermost of two or more jibs
2. Jib: a foresail, a triangle shaped sail forward of the mast
3. Fore Staysail: the triangular foresail next forward of the mast
4. Fore Topsail: the foreward topsail
5. Foresail: the sail bent to the foreyard of a square-rigged vessel, being the lowest sail on the foremast.
6. Main Topsail: the aftward topsail
7. Mainsail: the principal sail in a ship or other vessel
8. Bowsprit: a spar extending forward from the bow
9. Fore Topmast
10. Foremast: the forward mast of a boat with more that one mast
11. Yard: a spar fastened to a mast perpendicular to the centerline of a vessel and from which square sails are set. The ends of a yard are called yardarms.
12. Fore Boom: the forward horizontal spar which the foot of a sail is attached to
13. Mainmast: principal mast in a ship or other vessel
14. Main Topmast
15. Gaff: a spar in a gaff rig, which is a fore-and-aft rig in which the primary sails abaft the mast are trapezoidal in shape: the bottom of the sail is attached to the boom, the luff (or forward edge) to the mast, and the head to the gaff.
16. Shrouds: support wires for the mast
17. Main Boom: the main horizontal spar which the foot of a sail is attached to
18. Stem: curved piece of timber to which the two sides of a ship are united at the fore end. The lower end of it is scarfed to the keel, and the bowsprit rests upon its upper end. Hence, the forward part of a vessel; the bow.
19. Mast Step
20. Keel: a fin down the centerline of the bottom of the hull
21. Forecastle Deck: part of the upper deck of a vessel forward of the foremast, or of the after part of the fore channels
22. Forecastle (Crew's Quarters): the forward part of the vessel, under the deck, where the sailors live
23. Main Deck
24. Bulwarks: sides of a ship above the upper deck
25. Hold: the whole interior portion of a vessel below the lower deck, in which the cargo is stowed
26. Hatch: the opening and/or cover for the opening in the deck
27. Captain's Cabin: the cabin where the captain stays
28. Quarter Deck: part of the upper deck abaft the mainmast, including the poop deck when there is one
29. Tiller: controls the rudder and is used for steering
30. Rudder: a fin under the stern of the boat used in steering
31. Bulkhead: partition in a vessel, to separate apartments on the same deck

• Backstay - a support wire that runs from the top of the mast to the stern

• Battens - thin, stiff strips of plastic or wood, placed in pockets in the leech of a sail, to assist in keeping its form

• Bolt Rope - a rope sewn into the luff of a sail for use in attaching to the standing rigging

• Boom - the horizontal spar which the foot of a sail is attached to
• Boom Vang - a line that adjusts downward tension on the boom
• Bow - the front of the boat
• Bowspirt - a spar extending forward from the bow
• Centerboard - a fin shaped, often removable, board that extends from the bottom of the boat as a keel
• Chainplates - metal plates bolted to the boat which standing rigging is attached to
• Cleat - a fitting used to secure a line to
• Clew - the lower aft corner of a sail
• Cockpit - the area, below deck level, that is somewhat more protected than the open deck, from which the tiller or wheel is handled
• Downhaul - a line, attached to the tack, that adjusts tension in the sail
• Fairlead - a fitting used to change the direction of a line without chafing
• Foot - the bottom part of a sail
• Foremast - the forward mast of a boat with more that one mast
• Foresail - the jib
• Genoa - a large foresail that overlaps the mainsail
• Gooseneck - a device that connects the boom to the mast
• Ground Tackle - the anchor, chain and rode
• Gunwale - the railing of the boat at deck level
• Halyard - the line used to raise and lower the sail
• Head - top of the sail
• Headsail - a sail forward of the mast, a foresail
• Headstay - a wire support line from the mast to the bow
• Helm - the tiller or wheel, and surrounding area
• Jib - a foresail, a triangle shaped sail forward of the mast
• Keel - a fin down the centerline of the bottom of the hull
• Lanyard - a line attached to any small object for the purpose of securing the object
• Lazarette - spaces below the deck that are designed for storage
• Leech - the back edge of a sail
• Lifeline - a cable fence that surrounds the deck to assist in the prevention of crew falling overboard
• Line - rope or cordage
• Luff - the front edge of a sail, and the flapping in the wind of the front of the sail (luffing)
• Mainsheet - the line that controls the boom
• Mizzen - the shorter mast behind the main mast on a ketch or yawl
• Outhaul - the line that adjust tension along the foot of the sail along the boom
• Painter - a line tied to the bow of a small boat for the purpose of securing it to a dock or to the shore
• Pennant - a triangular flag
• Port - the left side of the boat
• Rigging - the standing rigging is the mast and support lines, running rigging is the lines with which you adjust the sails
• Rode - the line and chain that connect the anchor to the boat
• Rudder - a fin under the stern of the boat used in steering
• Sheave - the wheel of a block pulley
• Sheet - a line used to control the sail
• Shrouds - support wires for the mast
• Spinnaker - a large, light sail used in downwind sailing
• Spreaders - struts used to hold the shrouds away from the mast
• Starboard - the right side of the boat
• Step - the frame that the bottom of the mast ends into
• Stern - the back of the boat
• Tiller - controls the rudder and is used for steering
• Topping lift - a line that holds up the boom when it is not being used, also the line that controls the height of a spinnaker pole
• Transom - the back, outer part of the stern
• Traveler - a device that the mainsheet may be attached to which allows its position to be adjusted
• Whisker pole - a light spar which holds the jib out when sailing downwind
• Winch - a metal drum shaped device used to assist in trimming sails

Resources:

• Brainy Dictionary
• Virtual Frigate
• Schooner Diagram
• Boating Basics: Glossary of Nautical Terms