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fair

Smooth, easy, comfortable. A fair wind is astern, fair weather is sunny. A fair hull has no bumps or rough spots, and to fair a hull is to make it that way. To make a lead fair on a line, arrange it and the block so there is no chafe.

fairway

The middle of a channel.

fake

See flake.

fall

See tackle.

fall off

1) To tumble down a steep wave. 2) To head off.

family boat, family cruiser

A roomy, easy-to-handle boat.

fast

Secured. To make fast is to secure by cleating, tying, shackling, etc.

Fastback Enclosure

Taylor Made® design provides instant all weather comfort and protection. Easily and instantly converts the aft cockpit of a typical cruiser into an enclosed living space.

fastenings

The screws, bolts, etc., holding a boat together.

fast pin

See clevis pin.

Fastnet Gale

The storm that hit the fleet in the 1979 sailing race from England to Fastnet Rock off Ireland and return. Fifteen sailors died, making this the greatest disaster in the history of pleasure sailing.

fat, heavy

Describes a sail that is trimmed too flat or a sailboat that is steered too far off the wind. Compare with light, luff, skinny.

Fathometer

A brand name for a depthsounder.

favor

To ease or help. A favoring (favorable) wind shift is a lift or other shift in wind direction that allows a boat to sail closer to her destination.

FCC, Federal Communications Commission

The government agency supervising radios and airwaves.

feather

1) See pinch. 2) Turn a propeller or oar so the blade is edge-forward, in order to reduce resistance to water or wind.

federal system

See buoy, buoyage.

feeder

A slot through which a sail's luff enters a grooved headstay or mast. A prefeeder is a device that ensures proper alignment.

feel

The pressure on the helm.

fender

Padding hung over the topside to protect it from an object alongside. A fenderboard is a plank hung outboard of several fenders to improve the protection.

fend off

Push off, hold off.

ferrocement

A boatbuilding material consisting of mortar laid over wire mesh.

fetch

1) To clear a buoy, point of land, or other object without having to alter course. Also to lay or to make. When fetching, the compass course to the object is the layline. 2) The distance over which the wind blows unobstructed.

fiberglass, glass, glassfibre, glass reinforced plastic,

GRP, fiberglass reinforced plastic, FRP

A construction material composed of layers of glass fibers and cloth laminated together by a glue (resin), often sandwiched around a foam or balsa wood core, and finished on the outside with a hard, glossy surface (gelcoat). These components are laid into a cavity (female mold) that was formed around a full-scale model of the boat (plug). When the components are dry, the pieces are extracted from the mold and assembled with furnishings and gear to make the boat. If water leaks through the gelcoat, the layers of fiberglass and resin may come apart (delaminate) and fiberglass blisters (osmotic blisters) may form. The mold and plug are called tooling.

fid

See marlinespike.

fiddle

A strip of wood secured edgewise on a table to keep small objects from sliding as the boat rolls.

fighting chair

See fishing chair.

fill, fill in

When a sail fills, it catches wind. A calm ends when the wind fills in.

fill pipe

The inlet for a fuel or water tank.

fine-ended

Describes a boat with a narrow bow and stern. Compare with entry and full-ended.

finger pier

See pier.

finish

1) The polish on woodwork and other surfaces. A nicely finished boat has gleaming paint and varnish. 2) the end of a race.

first

There are several types of firsts in races. The first boat across the finish line is first to finish or first on elapsed time. If handicaps are used, the winning boat in the fleet is the one with the lowest corrected time and is first overall. The one in each division or class with the lowest corrected time is first in class. In a one-design race, the boat that is first to finish is also first overall. See handicap and rating rule.

fish

1) To repair a broken spar by lashing splintlike lengths of wood or metal over the fracture. 2) To lead an internal halyard or messenger through a mast.

fish box

An on-deck stowage area for fish that have been caught.

fishhook

Besides the usual meaning, a sharp broken strand in a wire.

fishing boat, fishboat

A powerboat designed or used for fishing.

fishing chair, fighting chair

A chair, often equipped with a restraining belt or harness, used by fishermen when catching and fighting fish.

fit out

To prepare a boat for use.

fitted

Permanently installed, for example a fitted bilge pump.

fitting

A cleat, fairlead, or other small piece of gear.

fix

In navigation a fix is the most reliable calculation and plot of a boat's position. In coastal navigation, a running fix based on one bearing is carried forward from a previous fix. See navigate.

fixed

Permanent. A fixed light on a buoy or lighthouse is always lit at night and in poor visibility. Compare with flashing.

flags

Official and nonofficial flags are flown to communicate information or simply for the fun of it. They often are hoisted on light lines called flag halyards. Code flags are official flags representing letters, numbers, and phrases under the International Code of Signals. Pleasure boats also fly flags that identify the owners and their clubs. A flagstaff is short spar on which flags are flown. Flag etiquette is the name for the rules and customs that govern the display of flags on and near boats. See burgee, dress ship, ensign, pig stick, and private signal. Flag officer, see commodore.

flake, fake

To coil a line or fold a sail so it will run out easily.

flare, pyrotechnics

1) A highly visible distress signal that signals for help (red flare) or to gain the attention of nearby boats (white flare). Flares are fired from small flare guns, dropped by parachute from a rocket, or handheld. 2) The outward sweep of a boat's side near the deck, generally near the bow, to direct spray outboard.

flashing

Describes a light on a buoy or lighthouse that automatically turns on and off at regular intervals. Compare with fixed.

flat

1) Describes a boat that is not heeling or rolling. 2) Describes a sail with very little draft (camber). To flatten a sail is to pull all its sail controls tight. 3) See calm.


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flat-bottomed

Describes a boat with a flat or nearly flat bottom with no rocker. Compare with round-bottomed and V-bottomed.

flat-out, serious

Highly specialized. A flat-out (serious) sportfisherman is a boat designed and used only for that purpose.

flats boat

An outboard engine-driven powerboat around 16 feet long, used for fishing in shallow water.

flattening reef

See reef.

fleet

A particular group of boats, for example sportfishing fleet, yacht club fleet.

float, flotation

An object that provides buoyancy to keep another object afloat. A float is a platform on the water for supporting people, a small buoy supporting an anchor rode at a mooring, or the outside hull of a trimaran. A float coat is a parka with enough buoyancy to support the wearer in the water. A personal flotation device (PFD) provides buoyancy for an individual. See buoyancy and PFD.

float plan

The written, planned itinerary for a cruise, fishing trip, or other time spent afloat. A copy is left ashore with a reliable person who could notify the Coast Guard or other authorities should the boat be overdue.

float switch

See bilge.

flog

When a sail or line flaps wildly.

flood, flood tide

The rising or incoming tide.

floor

Athwartships structural support inside the boat's bottom.

flopper-stopper, paravane

A device hung alonside in the water from a powerboat's outrigger, to limit rolling.

flotsam

Wreckage debris in the water. Compare with jetsam.

flukes

See anchor.

fluky

Describes a light, shifty wind.

flush deck, raised deck

A flat or slightly rounded deck with no cabin protruding.

fluxgate compass

See compass.

fly

Abbreviation for masthead fly, a wind indicator at the top of the mast.

fly bridge, flying bridge

See bridge.

fog

Condensed water vapor near the water or land that causes poor visibility. Vessels and lighthouses make fog signals on their foghorns.

foil

A rudder or other appendage or sail shaped like an airplane wing. A hydrofoil is a horizontal foil on a strut under the hull; the hull lifts out of the water and the boat rides on her foils at high speed.

following

From astern, for example following sea, following wind. Compare with head.

foot

1) The bottom edge of a sail. A foot line (foot cord) is a light line sewn into the foot that can be adjusted to shape the sail. 2) To foot is to sail fairly close-hauled without pointing as high as possible, in order to maximize speed. See full.

Force

A category in the Beaufort Scale.

Fore, Forward

At, near, or toward the bow. Compare with aft, after. To go forward is to walk toward the bow. Forward of the beam is the area of the boat between abeam and ahead. Fore and aft is running from bow to stern, for example in a fore-and-aft rig the sails line up with the boat instead of athwartships, as in the square rig.

The words identify equipment by location: The foredeck is the front part of the deck. The forebody is the boat's bottom and sides near the bow. The forefoot is the forwardmost part of the underbody, or the area under water.

The forward cabin (stateroom) is the sleeping cabin near the bow. The forecastle (pronounced "focs'l") or forepak is a stowage compartment in the very forward part of the boat.

The forestay is a stay running from the forward deck to part-way up the mast, and a forestaysail is set on the forestay. The foretriangle is the area in which jibs are set, over the foredeck and between the mast and the headstay. The foremast is the forward mast on a schooner. The foreguy is a line holding the spinnaker pole down the leads to the foredeck.

forehandedness

Anticipation of problems and planning for emergencies.

forereach

To sail slowly almost into the wind.

foresail

Pronounced "fore-sul". 1) British term for jib. 2) In a schooner, a small sail set between the two masts.

forestaysail

See staysail.

forgiving

Describes a boat that is tolerant of her steerer's mistakes. She will not readily capsize or be hard to steer.

foul

1) Nasty. Foul weather is unpleasant, we weather. 2) To entangle. When a line is fouled on a cleat, it is wrapped around it. 3) To violate a racing rule.

foul-weather gear, slicker, oilers, oilies

Waterproof clothing. Often specified by type, for example foul-weather jacket, slicker pants.

found

Furnished, equipped. A well-found boat is thoroughly equipped.

four-stroke

A four-cycle outboard motor.

fractional rig

See rig.

frame

Athwartships structural support for the hull, running up the boat's sides from the bilge.

free, freeing

1) Sailing free is sailing on a broad reach or a run. 2) A free wind is one that shifts aft.

freeboard

The height of the topsides.

freewheel

To spin without effect. A freewheeling propeller rotates without providing propulsion.

freshen

A freshening wind is a wind whose speed is increasing. A boat freshens her wind by heading up from a run to a reach in order to increase her apparent wind.

fresh wind

Wind of 16 to 22 knots.

front

The front edge of an arriving weather system, heralding a change of wind and weather.

frostbite

To sail during the cold months.

FRP, fiberglass reinforced plastic

See fiberglass.

full

Describes a sail that is not luffing. Compare with fat and luff. Full and by is sailing with sails full.

full-ended

Describes a boat with a wide bow and stern. If only the bow is wide, she is bluff-bowed. Compare with entry and fine-ended.

full sail

With all sails set and not reefed. A boat under full sail is sailing with all sails set.

furl

To get a sail out of the way by folding it on a boom or rolling it up on a roller furler.