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ice bag

The original name of today's tote bag, which was used to carry ice to the boat.

iceboat

A sailboat on ice skates.

ICW

Intracoastal Waterway.

impeller

A small paddlewheel in a through-hull that pushes water into an engine's cooling system or senses a boat's speed.

in

A person sails in a boat, not on her.

inboard

Toward the center of the boat from the side. An inboard engine is inside the hull. Compare with outboard.

inboard/outboard drive, I/O, outdrive, stern drive

A powerboat propulsion system that combines an inboard motor in the boat and an outboard driveshaft and propeller behind the transom.

inflatable

Capable of being inflated. Describes or refers to a PFD, life raft, dinghy, or other floating object whose buoyancy is provided by air inserted by a carbon dioxide cartridge. An automatic inflatable inflates when it goes into the water. The inflation system in a manual inflatable is triggered by hand. A hard-bottomed inflatable dinghy has a small fiberglass hull.

#NAME?

Added to the name of a compass cardinal point to indicate distance made good in a direction. Easting is distance made good to the east.

initial stability

See stability.

inland

Away from the ocean. Inland waters are lakes and rivers. Inland waterway, see Intracoastal Waterway.

Inland Navigational Rules

See Navigation Rules.

inlet

A narrow opening in a shoreline that provides access to a harbor.


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inshore, near shore

Coastal.

instruments

Electronic engine, speed, depth, navigation, and other indicators.

intent-agreement signal

See sound signal.

intercardinal points

See compass.

interior

The cabins.

intermediates

See stay.

international code

Signal flags for letters and numbers.

International Maritime Organization, IMO

An organization that sets standards for maritime safety.

International Measurement System, IMS

See rating rule.

International Rules of the Road, COLREGS

See Navigation Rules.

International Sailing Federation, ISF

The international organization that governs sailboat racing. Formerly the International Yacht Racing Union (IYRU).

interval

The amount of time between flashes of a buoy's or lighthouse's light.

Intracoastal Waterway, ICW, inland waterway

A protected channel running along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

inverter

A device that changes 12-, 24-, or 32-volt direct current (D.C.) to 120-volt alternating current (A.C.). Compare with transformer.

islet

A small island.