GLOSSARY

Aft/After:
Toward the rear or stern of a boat.

Bow:
The front end of the boat.

Capacity Label:
The manufacturer's panel that indicates maximum loading or powering capacity.

Capsize:
Boat turns upside down.

Current:
The horizontal movement of water.

Danger Zone:
An arc of 112.5 degrees, measured from dead ahead to starboard.

Deck:
Any permanent covering over a compartment.

Draft:
The depth of the boat below the waterline.

Forward:
Toward the bow of the boat.

Hull:
The body of the boat.

Impeller:
A type of precision propeller in a pump that pressurizes the water and forces it toward the back of the boat.

In Sight:
Vessels shall be deemed to be in sight of one another only when one can be observed visually from the other.

Inland Navigational Rules/Inland Rules:
Governs the conduct of vessels and specifies the lights, shapes, and sound signals that apply on inland waters.

Inland Waters:
The navigable waters of the United States shoreward of the international demarcation lines dividing the high seas from harbors, rivers and other inland waters of the United States.

International Regulations:
International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, including annexes currently in force for the United States.

Length & Breadth:
A vessels length overall and greatest breadth

Mono-Hull Boat:
A boat that the line of intersection of the water's surface and the boat, at any operating draft, forms a single closed curve.

Navigation Rules:
The nautical traffic rules for preventing collisions on the water. See Handbook Page 24 | Navigation Rules.

Not Under Command:
A vessel which through some exceptional circumstance is unable to maneuver in accordance with the Navigation Rules and unable to keep out of the way of another vessel.

PFD:
Personal Flotation Device. Life jacket.

Personal Watercraft:
Inboard boats powered by an inboard engine and jet pump mechanism.

Port:
The left side of the boat when you are aft of and facing the bow.

Power-Driven Vessel:
Any watercraft propelled by machinery.

Reverse Bucket:
A device which may be positioned over the open end of the water jet nozzle to force the water toward the front of the boat, causing the PWC to move backward.

Restricted Visibility:
Any condition in which visibility is restricted by fog, mist, falling snow, heavy rainstorms or any other similar causes. Vessels shall be deemed to be in sight of one another only when one can be observed visually from the other.

Right-of-Way:
A term that applies to vessels on the western rivers and Great Lakes; a vessel heading downstream, with the current, has the right-of-way over an upbound vessel.

Rules of the Road:
See Handbook Page 24 | Navigation Rules.

Sailing Vessel:
Any vessel under sail provided that propelling machinery, if fitted, is not being used.

Stand-On Vessel:
The vessel that is to maintain course and speed.

Stay Out Of The Way Vessel:
The vessel which must keep clear of the stand-on vessel.

Starboard:
The right side of a boat when you are aft of and facing the bow.

Steering Control:
A device for controlling the direction of movement of a boat.

Steerable Nozzle:
A device for directing a stream of water in a desired direction.

Stern:
The rear end of the boat.

Throttle:
A device for regulating the amount of fuel delivered to an engine to control speed.

Underway:
A vessel in motion, i.e., not moored, at anchor, or aground.

Vessel:
Every description of watercraft, other than a seaplane on water, that can be used as a means of transportation across water.

Vessel Constrained By Her Draft:
A power-driven vessel which, because of her draft in relation to the available depth and width of navigable water, is severely restricted in her ability to deviate from the course she is following.

Vessel Engaged In Fishing:
Any vessel fishing with nets, lines, trawls, or other fishing apparatus which restricts maneuverability, but does not include a vessel fishing with trolling lines or other fishing apparatus which do not restrict manageability.

Vessel Not Under Command:
A vessel not making way. The vessel must display two all-round red lights in a vertical line where they can best be seen; or two balls or similar shapes in a vertical line where they can best be seen.

Vessel Restricted In Her Ability to Maneuver:
A vessel which from the nature of her work is restricted in her ability to maneuver and is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel.

Wake:
Moving waves, created by vessel motion. The track, or "path" that a boat leaves behind when moving across the water.

Western Rivers:
Mississippi River, its tributaries, South Pass, and Southwest Pass, to the navigational demarcation lines dividing the high seas from harbors, rivers and other inland waters of the United States, and the Port Allen-Morgan City Alternate Route, and that part of the Atchafalaya River above its junction with the Port Allen-Morgan City Alternate Route including the Old River and the Red River.