Boating Equipment and Supply Key Terms

Learn lingo related to boat safety

By Kristina Seleshanko

If you're fairly new to the boating world, you may feel overwhelmed by the vast vocabulary specific to even the simplest boat. Indeed, whole books have been written defining boating terminology and outlining boating equipment and supplies. But nowhere is it more important to understand boating lingo than when it comes to safety and navigation terms. With this in mind, here are a few commonly used words and phrases related to safety lights, lines and other boating safety equipment.

Telltale

A telltale is a line that's attached to sails and blows in the direction of the wind. Telltales help in navigation.
Try: United States Sailing Association offers tips on the importance of telltales. See the section labeled "jib" under the title "Trimming the Sails on a Close Reach."

Tender

A tender (also called a dinghy) is a small boat that carries people or cargo from boat to shore. It may be used in emergency or non-emergency situations.
Try: Inflatable Boat Specialists offers tips on buying an inflatable tender, including how to know if one is right for your circumstances.

Anchor light

An anchor light is a white light typically found on the masthead and used while at anchor. It must be visible from every direction.
Try: The Boat Owner's Association of the United States gives full requirements for anchor lights, including guidelines on which vessels must have them.

CQR anchor

CQR anchor is short for coastal quick release anchor. It is sometimes also called a plow anchor, because of its shape. A CQR anchor buries into the ground, including ground covered with weeds or grass. It's considered one of the most reliable types of anchors.
Try: The book "One Hand for Yourself, One Hand for the Ship," featured on Google Books, offers advice about CQR anchors.

Lifeline

A lifeline is a line that runs between the stern and bow of a craft. People onboard can attach themselves to the lifeline in rough seas to prevent being thrown overboard.
Try: For guidelines on how to find and maintain a truly safe lifeline, see DIY Boat Owner Magazine.

Running lights

Running lights are types of navigational lights and are required on almost all boats. In their simplest form, running lights are white in color to the stern of the boat, red-colored to port and green-colored to starboard.
Try: For a step-by-step, do-it-yourself guide to outfitting a small boat with appropriate running lights, see eHow.