Parts OF A Sail Boat

Ever thought of doing ocean sailing? It is a wonderful experience. To feel the wind move you gracefully across the water. The feeling is the same whether you are in a yacht or sunfish.

Regardless of how big or how small sail boats are they all have certain features in common. To help you get familiar with the different parts of a sail boat the basic parts and their meanings are listed below.

To have as much knowledge about a sail boat it is essential to realize there are eight basic components. To have a safe experience out on the water understanding the fundamental parts of a sail boat can be helpful. The eight basic parts are listed below.

1. Bow
2. Stern
3. Tiller
4. Deck
5. Sail
6. Hull
7. Mast
8. Rigging

The bow is the front part of the boat and the stern is the back of the boat. You steer the boat with the tiller and the deck is the area of the sail boat where you can stand. Of course, the sail is the part of the boat that the wind catches and propels you across the water. The hull is the body of the ship that is the central point of the boat. This part keeps the boat afloat the most since it has the most buoyancy.

The sails are supported by the mast. Mast size ranges from several feet on up. Usually the more masts used to hang sails the bigger the boat. The rigging is the ropes and lines that are attached to the hull which are used to hoist or trim the sail.

To handle yourself out on the water it is advisable to learn the names of the parts that make up the boat. This will help you when talking with your friends as things need to get done, such as changing direction. Learning as much as possible on how a boat works is good for everyone's safety. Understanding how a sail boat works is just good common sense especially if something happens to the captain or the person controlling the operation of the boat.

And obviously your safety depends on keeping the sails and the boat in good condition. If your equipment is worn or if you have a tear or rip in your sails, you will run into problems that can become big safety issues.


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