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HAWSER - A heavy rope or cable used for mooring or
towing.
HEAD - A toilet or lavatory area.
HEADING - The direction that a vessel is going with ref-
erence to true, magnetic, or compass north.
HEADWAY - The forward motion of a vessel through the
water.
HEAVE TO - To bring a vessel up in a position where it
will maintain little or no headway, usually with the bow
into the wind.
HEAVY WEATHER - Stormy weather with high seas and
strong winds.
HEEL - To tip to one side.
HELM - The wheel or tiller that manually controls the
boat's steering system.
HELMSMAN - The individual steering the vessel.
HIGHS - A center of pressure surrounded by lower pres-
sure on all sides. Caused by a mass of cooler, sinking,
drier air. This raises the area ground level air pressure
and provides clear skies.
HULL - The main body of a boat.
INBOARD - 1. From either the port or starboard side of
a boat toward the fore-and-aft centerline of a boat. 2.
The dock side of a moored boat.
INLAND RULES - Nautical "Rules-of-the-Road" that ap-
ply in U.S. lakes, rivers, and coastal waters.
INTERNATIONAL RULES - Nautical "Rules-of-the-Road"
that are in effect by international agreement to the high
seas.
ISOBARS - Lines of equal air pressure that connect all
the local points on a weather map. These lines are usu-
ally closed and define high or low pressure air masses.
ISOTHERMS - Isotherms are lines that are similar to
Isobars except that Isotherms connect all the points that
are of equal temperature.
JETSAM - Refuse that sinks when discharged overboard.
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KEDGE(S) - One or more anchors set out from a
grounded vessel, usually astern, to 1) keep it from being
driven further aground and 2) to aid in refloating.
KEEL - 1. The centerline of a boat hull bottom running
fore and aft, 2. The backbone of a vessel.
KNOT - 1. A maritime unit of speed equal to one nautical
mile per hour (6076 feet). 2. A term for hitches and bends.
LANYARD - A short line made fast to an object to secure
it.
LATITUDE - The measure of angular distance in degrees,
minutes, and seconds, north or south of the equator.
LAZARETTE - Storage compartment in the deck at the
stern.
LEADLINE - A weighted line used to take depth mea-
surements.
LEE - The direction opposite that of the wind.
LEEWARD - Away from the wind.
LIST - A vessel that inclines to port or starboard.
LORAN - Long Range Navigation. An electronic system
whereby a navigator can determine position regardless
of weather.
LONGITUDINAL - Running lengthwise.
LOWS - A region of low atmospheric pressure. Hurri-
canes are extremely concentrated low pressure systems.
LUBBER LINE - A mark or line on the compass parallel
to the keel indicating forward.
MAST - A spar that is set upright to support lighting, rig-
ging, or sails.
MOORING - An arrangement for securing a boat to a
mooring buoy or pier.
NAVIGATION LIGHTS - A set of red and green or white
lights which must be shown by all vessels between dusk
and dawn.
OVERHEAD - A ceiling or roof of a vessel.
OVERBOARD - Over the side of the boat.
Glossary
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