Draught ~ The vertical distance from the waterline to the lowest point of a boat’s keel or hull, equivalent to the shallowest depth of water in which it can travel.

DSC ~ An acronym for ‘Digital Selective Calling’ which is a system whereby a VHF radio transmitter can make an automatic digitized call to another selected VHF station.

Read more about Marine VHF Radios...

Drogue ~ A device - often fabricated with heavy duty canvas and webbing straps - which is towed astern to create drag, thereby slowing down and assisting the control of a boat in heavy weather.

Towed from the stern, a drogue will slow down a boat and keep her stern on to the wind.

Unlike a parachute sea anchor which is rigged from the bow, a drogue does not stop the boat dead in the water.

E...

Echo-Sounder ~ An electronic instrument that measures and displays the depth of water beneath the boat or - more accurately - the depth beneath its transponder. Read more about electronic instruments...

An EPIRB Rescue Beacon is a component part of the GMDSS network

EPIRB ~ An acronym for an ‘Electronic Position Indicating Rescue Beacon’.

This device is part of a system which, once activated, automatically alerts rescue services to your position.

F...

Fairlead ~ A deck fitting used to lead a rope towards a winch or cleat to minimise chafe.

Fairway ~ The main channel into the harbour. That part of an approach channel lying outside of a harbour entrance.

Fall Off ~ A sailboat term meaning to steer a boat away from the wind.

Fast ~ To secure, as in ‘to make fast a line’.

Feathering propeller ~ A sailboat propeller where the blades turn to align with the water flow when they’re not being driven by the engine, thereby reducing drag. Read more about sailboat propellers...

Fiddle block ~ A block with two different sized blocks in line.

Fiddle ~ A rail to contain items that would otherwise slide off when the boat heels. Often seen on the saloon table.

Fend Off ~ To clear another boat or a dock be pushing off it.

Fenders ~ Soft (often air-filled) pads hung over a boat's sides to protect it from anything alongside.

Fetch ~ To reach a destination.

Fix ~ To determine the boats position.

Flare ~ (1) A hull’s upward and outward curves, particularly in the bow section. (2) A pyrotechnic fired aloft, usually to signal an emergency.

Flopper Stopper ~ A device intended to steady a boat in a rolly anchorage. Also known as a roll stabilizer.

The Rocna anchor is widely regarded as being one of the best of the new breed of modern anchors

Fluke ~ The pointed part of an anchor which grabs the sea bed.

The model shown here is the highly regarded Rocna anchor.

Read about the different types of anchors...

Flush deck ~ Where the deck-line from the bow to abaft the mast is not broken by a cabin.

Folding propeller ~ A sailboat propeller where the blades fold around each other to align with the water flow when they’re not being driven by the engine, thereby reducing drag.

Following Sea ~ Waves coming from astern.

Foot ~ The bottom edge of a sail.

Foot block ~ A hollowed-out cheek containing a sheave, with one side flattened so that it can be permanently fitted to a mast or to the deck. Also known as a cheek block.

Forefoot ~ The point where the forward lower part of the keel meets the hull.

Foremast ~ A sailboat term referring to the mast closest to the bow of the boat.

Forepeak ~ The stowage compartment in the forward part of a boat’s hull.

Foresail ~ A sail set on the 'forestay' (see below). Usually smaller than a 'genoa' and often called a 'jib'. Read more about sails...

Next: Sailboat Terms from Forestay to Hove-To