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earing

See reef.

ease, ease out, crack, veer out

Reduce pressure or tension. To ease a sheet is to let it go a little. To ease the helm is to reduce weather helm. When the wind or sea eases, its force is reduced. Compare with cast off, let fly, let go, pay out, start.

easy

Without undue strain. When there is very little weather helm or lee helm the boat has an easy helm. If the boat is not rolling or pitching, she has an easy motion.

ebb, ebb tide

See tide.

eddy

A circular current. Back eddy, see back.

elapsed time

The time it takes for a boat to complete a passage or race. See first, handicap, rating rule.

electronic navigation

See navigate.

electronics, electrics

All the onboard lights, navigation equipment, and other gear operated by electricity.

emergency gear

Backup, safety, and survival equipment used to repair major damage, call for help, abandon ship, rescue a crewmember who has fallen overboard, etc.

encapsulated

Contained within. In a fiberglass-encapsulated keel the keel is sheathed with fiberglass.

enclosed

Separate or private.


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end for end

To reverse a docking line, sheet, or other line so the wear is evenly distributed.

ends

The bow and stern of a boat. See fine-ended, full-ended.

ensign, yacht ensign, colors

The U.S. flag flown from a boat. The U.S. yacht ensign, which may be flown only on boats in U.S. waters, displays the fouled anchor (an anchor tangled in a rope) in place of the stars.

entry

The bow at and under the water. A fine entry is especially sharp, a full entry especially broad. See fine-ended and full-ended.

EPIRB, emergency position-indicating radiobeacon

A radiobeacon that when activated in an emergency sends a distress signal that can be received by satellites, aircraft, and ships. There are two types of EPIRB: the 406 MHz, which has the longest range and identifies the distressed vessel, and the 121.5 MHz.

estimated position, E.P.

See position.

express cruiser

A racy-looking, flush-decked, fast power cruiser longer than about 25 feet, for example a Cigarette. She does not have a fly bridge or a cabin rising above the deck. The cabin is a step down from the cockpit. Compare with sedan cruiser.

eye

1) A loop in a line, or the center of an object. An eye splice forms a loop at the end of a line or wire. Eyelet (lacing eye), see grommet. A padeye is a metal loop. 2) The focus or center. The eye of the wind is the precise direction of the wind. The eye of a hurricane is the center or vortext of the storm. 3) Eyes for seeing. To keep your weather eye open is to be an alert lookout. The eyes of the boat (ship) are the sides at the bow, just below the deck. In many cultures throughout history the vessel is believed to be a living thing, so human eyes are painted on the bow to allow her to see. This also is where round hawseholes for the anchor rode and docking lines are located on ships and large boats.