California Boating
A Course for Safe Boating
77
Chapter 3
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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.
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
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.
masthead
mast
forestay
port shroud
coaming
foredeck
chine
gunwale
turnbuckle
chainplate
centerboard
centerboard trunk
cockpit
side deck
rudder
transom
tiller
boom
gooseneck
starboard shroud
topping lift
STARBOARD
STERN
BOW
PORT
clew
topsides
Sailboat from Side View