If you’re looking to buy a boat for the very first time, you might not know all the parts of it. Learn the sections of a boat in this article so you understand what you are talking about before you enter open water!
Going on a boat ride periodically is not the same thing as maintaining a boat. A few ventures on the water may encourage you to purchase a boat but you need to know one or two things about how these heavy machines work before you can get your first.
The most important knowledge that any boat owner should know is how to operate a boat, the sections of a boat, and the fundamental boating terms on water and weather patterns.
Yeah, and you’re going to need a boating permit to get your boat out.
If you’d like to learn about the boats so that you can buy the one you’ve been observing, keep reading and discover all the components every boat has.
The Hull
The body is the hull of a vessel. Typically, this is the main chunk of the boat.
It stretches from the front of the boat to the tail and involves the underside of the boat that lies on the water. The hulls have different shapes and configurations, depending on the type of boat they’re built for.
The Keel
Talking of the underside, of the boat the next part you need to know is the keel. The keel is a bar on the underside of the vessel that starts at the bow and meets the stern. Those are the other words of the boat you can learn in the points below.
More points to keep in mind about the keel, though, including the fact that the hull is constructed around this part, and there are a few boats with no keels at all! They’re boats with enough strength to push them across the water; they don’t even need a keel to hold them steady.
The Stern
If you’re still curious what the star is, here you go: it’s the back of the port.
It’s important to remember that not all the sterns look the same. Some have a square design while some have smoother edges and a rounder appearance. They’re not there for aesthetic reasons, only.
The shape of the stern plays a major part in how the impact of the waves against the rear of the boat. In some cases, it’s easier to have one kind of stern or another if you’re on rough seas and want to hold you’re tipping down.
The Deck and the Bow
Last up in this quick read up of the boat parts are the deck and the bow. The bow is at the very front of the boat, and the deck is the “hang out” portion of the vessel.
Some vessels have 2 or 3 decks onboard, while some have only one. The deck contains a captain’s area and a wheel (also called a helm), a lounge area for visitors, and larger vessels, a recreation area of some kind, such as a dining table or large chairs on which to lie and sunbathe.
The bow is a lot more sensible. This is the portion of a boat that lets the boat remain above the ripples; it takes the next wave rather than splitting one in half.
These are the main components of a boat. Other parts that you might want to read up about are the cleat, helm, and bilge.