Boating terms and definitions

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Here are some common boating terms and their definitions:

1. Aft: The back of the boat.

2. Bow: The front of the boat.

3. Stern: The rear of the boat.

4. Port: The left side of the boat when facing the bow.

5. Starboard: The right side of the boat when facing the bow.

6. Hull: The body of the boat, including the bottom, sides, and deck.

7. Draft: The depth of the boat below the waterline.

8. Keel: The centerline structure that runs along the bottom of the hull.

9. Mast: A tall vertical pole used to support sails.

10. Boom: The horizontal pole that extends from the mast to support the bottom of the sail.

11. Rudder: A flat piece of metal or wood that is attached to the stern of the boat to steer it.

12. Propeller: A rotating blade that propels the boat through the water.

13. Bilge: The lowest part of the boat's interior where water collects and is pumped out.

14. Head: The toilet on board a boat.

15. Galley: The kitchen area on a boat.

16. Knot: A unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour.

17. Nautical mile: A unit of distance used in navigation, equal to 1.15 statute miles.

18. GPS: Global Positioning System, a satellite-based navigation system used to determine a boat's position.

19. VHF: Very High Frequency, a type of marine radio used for communication and emergency calls.

20. Life jacket: A flotation device worn by boaters for safety in the event of an emergency.