A Course for Safe Boating

Chapter 3 u Vessel Operation

SAILING Sailboats come in a variety of sizes and designs and have four basic parts: the hull, sails, centerboard or keel, and rudder. The hull is designed to carry the crew, support the mast and rigging, and to move the boat through the water easily. The sails provide the power. The centerboard and the keel help keep the boat stable, so it won’t get pushed sideways by the wind. The rudder steers the boat. Smaller sailboats, commonly called day sailors, usually have flat bottoms or vee-shaped hulls. On a smaller sailboat, the rudder is mounted on brackets at the stern. The rudder has a wooden or metal bar called a tiller that is used for steering. When the tiller is turned one way, the boat moves in the opposite direction. For example, if you push the tiller to starboard the boat will turn to port. Using the tiller to steer the boat may take some practice.

masthead

As the size of the sailboat increases, so does the equipment. Large cruising sailboats come in a variety of mast and sail designs, and most have backup engines. Most larger

mast

sailboats have round bottoms and fixed keels. Larger boats use wheels instead of tillers to steer. The boat turns in the same direction that the wheel is turned.

topping lift

forestay

starboard shroud

Sailboat from Side View

port shroud

PORT

clew

gooseneck

coaming

boom

side deck

tiller

transom

foredeck

cockpit

BOW

STERN

topsides

chine

rudder

gunwale

turnbuckle

centerboard trunk

chainplate

centerboard

STARBOARD

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California Boating  A Course for Safe Boating