Gulet and Yacht Terminology, Dictionary, Sailing Terminology, Yachting Terminology, Cruises Terminology

Yacht Charter Dictionary

Abeam:
A direction at right angles to the side of the boat.

Aboard:
On the boat.

Aft:
Towards the rear of the Vessel.

Agreement for Sale:
A formal, written document in which the purchaser agrees to buy certain Yacht and the seller agrees to sell under stated conditions and terms. BEWARE - Title will generally not pass on to you until you have paid off the whole agreement amount. Consult a Lawyer if you are offered such a transaction. There are some situations, where this can be a good deal for you.

Ahead:
In the direction towards the front of the boat.

Aid to Navigation:
A device or object, external to the boat, located to assist safe navigation: it may be man made or natural.

All-round Light:
A navigation light on a pleasure craft showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 360 degrees.

Amenities:
All aspects of a Yacht that enhances its value. Electronics and gear, sleeping accommodations , machinery extra equipment etc.

Appreciation:
An increase in the value of a Yacht due to changes in market conditions or other causes.

Assessed Value:
The valuation placed upon a yacht by a Independent Marine Surveyor in order to ascertain the general condition and the current market value of the named yacht.

Appraisal:
An independent evaluation of the vessel. The Lender will usually require that you hire an independent appraiser or surveyor to estimate the current market value of the vessel. The appraiser has no vested interest in the purchase/sale and as such can estimate the "fair market value".

Assets:
A list of things of liquid value owned by the applicant/borrower. These can include cash, term deposits, GIC's, RRSP's, real estate properties, automobiles, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, jewelry and other household goods.

Astern:
In the direction of the back of the boat; also, the movement of the boat going backwards.

Advance payment :
(sometimes termed deposit) is the amount of money one needs to pay upon making a reservation and signing the contract. The amount of advance payment is usually 50% or sometimes 30% of the total charter fee.

APA (Advanced Provisioning Allowance) :
is paid by the client to cover extra expenses while on board, including food, fuel, communications, onshore arrangements, etc. APA is usually 25% of the charter fee. Any funds not used will be returned to the client at the end of the charter. In case the expenses exceed the APA, the client is expected to reimburse those expenses. Balance payment is the remaining amount of money one needs to pay at the latest one month prior to charter start date. The amount of balance payment is usually 50% or 70% of the total charter fee, depending on advance payment.

Ballast:
Added weight in the boat's bottom to provide stability.

Beam:
Width of the Vessel.

Bilge:
The deepest part of the inside of a boat; area where water and fumes may collect.

Bilge Pump:
An electric or manual pumping device to rid the bilge of any unwanted water. Having both is recommended.

Bimini:
Cover or roof to protect crew from sun and adverse weather on the command bridge or sun bridge of the Vessel.

Blower:
Ventilation system to rid the fumes from enclosed engine and fuel tank compartments of the Vessel. Blower should be operated for at least four minutes before every start up.

Bollard:
A heavy post set into the edge of the wharf or pier to which the lines of a boat may be tied.

Bow:
Front part of the Vessel.

Bow Line:
A docking line leading forward from a boat's bow.

Bridge:
Control station area of the Vessel.

Buoy:
Floating aid to navigation.

Bridgedeck:
A style of yacht which gained popularity in the thirties, and was virtually perfected by the famous naval architect Ed Monk Sr. The style consists of a low after cabin, with a raised wheelhouse/saloon area amidships or forward of amidships, and a raised foredeck that intersects the bridge area.

Bareboat charter :
is an arrangement for chartering a yacht and being responsible for navigation and safety on board without any help of a professional skipper, provided that you have experience in navigation. Bareboat charter requires a valid certificate of competence in navigation and a VHF radio operator’s certificate.

Cabin charter :
allows you to book a berth or a cabin on a pre-scheduled sailing trip and share a vessel with other guests. This option usually refers to motorsailer charter.

Crewed charter:
includes the services of a professional captain and a crew, which usually consists of a chef, hostess, engineer, or even more members. The captain and the crew take care of all duties on board, including navigation, cooking, cleaning, provisioning, safety and all other details during your journey.

Check-in:
is required before departure and usually lasts one hour at most. A professional skipper goes through check-in and provides advice and instructions for guests on every detail regarding navigation and equipment.

Check-out:
is required after disembarkation. The boat must be inspected for possible damages. If no damage occurs, the security deposit will be refunded to the client.

Classic Yacht Association vessel:
To qualify as a Regular Member of the CYA, a vessel must be a power driven pleasure boat of good design, construction, and maintenance, launched prior to December 31, 1959, which shows no exterior alterations that detract from the designer's original intent. Regular member vessels that were built prior to 1942 fly a red burgee, while those built between 1942 and 1959 fly a blue burgee. Owners of other vessels may be members of CYA, but are not permitted to fly the CYA burgee. A CYA Advocate flag may be flown by these members.

Chafe:
Wearing through of a line, sail, etc. from rubbing.

Chart:
Map of navigable waters.

Chock:
An open metal fitting through which a line is led to a cleat.

Cleat:
A "T" shaped fitting to which lines are hitched.

Cockpit:
Steering and control area on the exterior of the Vessel.

Common or Shared Ownership:
The ownership of property by two of more persons, where on the death of one, his share is credited to his own estate.

Compass:
Instrument for finding directions.

Completion:
The date where the transaction is legally concluded in the Registry Office. The Purchaser pays his money on this date and the Vendor receives it.

Command Bridge:
Upstairs or outside control station of the Vessel.

Compounded:
Indicates the frequency with which interest is computed and added to the principal to arrive at a new actual balance. The essential point to remember if you are a borrower is the the less frequent the compounding, the better deal for you. If you are a Lender (or saver at the bank) the more often the frequency of compounding, the more you will get in return. In Canada, Lenders, generally compound mortgages semi-annually.

Covenant:
Solemn or written agreement.

Current:
Horizontal movement of water.

Danforth Anchor:
A patented lightweight anchor characterized by long, narrow, twin flukes pivoted at one end of the relatively long shank.

Dead Ahead:
Directly ahead.

Deadhead:
A log or heavy timber floating nearly vertical, with little of it's bulk showing above the surface.

Deck:
Any permanent covering over a compartment.

Delinquency:
A loan in which a payment is overdue but not yet in default.

Deposit:
Cash paid to the seller when a formal sales contract is signed.

Depreciation:
A decline in the value of a vessel; the opposite of "appreciation".

Dinghy:
A small, open boat.

Displacement Boat:
A boat meant to move through the water, not skim over it.

Displacement Hull:
Vessels that remain fully immersed when underway, without getting any "lift" from planning surfaces. The advantage of displacement hulls are that they are the most efficient means of traveling through the water in terms of cost per mile. They also allow much greater weights to be carried for the same horsepower, so enabling more comfortable accommodations, greater fuel capacities, etc. Displacement hulls were the predominate hull form of pre-WWII yachts, but were largely replaced by planing and semi-planing hulls (for the smaller yachts anyway), once higher output, lower weight engines became available. Even so, the famous naval architect William Garden once quipped, "A planing hull can't carry enough fuel to get out of sight."

Docking:
The procedure for coming alongside a wharf or jetty.

Dodger:
Protective cover over the cockpit area of the Vessel.

Down payment:
The part of the purchase price which the buyer pays in cash and does not finance with a loan.

Draft:
Minimum depth of water needed to float a boat.

Dry Rot:
A fungus decay which causes wood to become soft and to fall apart.

Equity:
The difference between the market value of a vessel and the owner's outstanding loan balance. If your vessel is worth $100,000 and you owe $65,000, you are said to have 35% equity in your vessel.

Eastern Mediterranean Terms (Greek & Turkish) (EMT):
mean that the charter fee includes the use of the yacht and equipment, crew's wages and food, insurance, breakfast and lunch and fuel for a specified number of hours cruising per day, averaged throughout the charter. Usually, berthing dues and harbor charges also are included. The charterer will be charged for fuel for the tenders, dinner on board, beverages, laundry and telephone.

Fantail:
The lounging area around the aft end of a vessel. Vessels with an overhanging stern, reminiscent of sailing ships, are said to have a fantail stern. If the fantail stern is a prominent defining feature of the boat, then it is referred to as a "fantail" yacht.

Flying Bridge:
"Flying" is from sailing ship terminology and refers to a part of a ship that is above the normal position. Some classics were designed with some smart looking flying bridges, but they became much more common (ubiquitous, in fact) after the war. "Flying bridge" is the proper terminology, not "fly bridge."

Fair Market Value:
The price or value at which vessel is transferred between a willing and informed buyer and a willing and informed seller, each of whom has a reasonable knowledge of all pertinent facts and neither being under any compulsion to buy or sell.

Fathom:
A unit of measure equal to six feet.

Fender:
A device placed between boats, or a boat and a pier, to prevent damage to the boat.

Ferrocement:
Hull of ferrocement construction is a hull formed by an element of mild steel pipes and round bars, some of which are of high tensile steel for the longitudinal stiffeners and then lined with a close knit steel mesh where, for a minimum shell thickness of 1-1/2". Some eight layers of mesh are wired to the element, four internal and four external. The formed element is then made impermeable by impregnating and plastering with a plastic cement mix after which a moist curing period of twenty eight days will give the concrete and steel hull a strong flexible structure with a comprehensive strength of 4500 lbs. per square inch.

Flame Arrester:
A safety device fitted to a carburetor, which prevents an explosion from an exhaust backfire.

Freeboard:
The minimum vertical distance measured on a boat's side from the waterline to the upper edge of the boat.

Furler:
A self winding system for the head sail of a sailboat, which allows one to deploy or store the sail from the cockpit area.

F.W.C.:
Fresh Water Cooled. Engines DO NOT draw water from the ocean to be cooled.

Galley:
The kitchen facilities and area of a boat.

Genoa:
Front sail, usually larger than a jib.

Give-way Vessel:
The boat which must yield in meeting, crossing, or overtaking situations.

Ground Tackle:
Gear used for anchoring.

G.R.P.:
Glass Re-Enforced Plastic (fiberglass)

Gunwale:
The upper edge of a boat's sides.

Harbor fees:
are often called dues in Europe, ande they vary from port to port. Normally this is a small item in the charter budget.

"Hull Speed":
The theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull. It is related to the waterline length of a vessel by the formula, V = 1.34 x SquareRoot(LWL). Above this speed, a hull generally needs to get some "lift", i.e. it enters the semi-planning region.

Hatch:
An opening in a boats deck fitted with a watertight cover.

Head:
The toilet facilities.

Helm:
The wheel or tiller controlling a rudder or outboard motor; the place from which you steer a small boat.

Hull:
A boat's shell.

I/O:
Inboard/Out drive; stern drive.

Inboard Engine:
An engine mounted inside the hull, connected to the propeller by a propeller shaft.

Interest:
Consideration in the form of money, paid for the use of money. Usually expressed as a percentage, compounded semi-annually. Can also mean a right, share or title in property.

Jet Drive:
A drive depending on the forced discharge of water.

Jib:
Front sail used for sailing into the wind.

Joint Ownership:
Ownership of vessel by two or more people. when one dies, his share automatically passes to the survivors.

Keel:
The permanently positioned, fore-and-aft backbone member of a boat's hull; underwater member to prevent sideways motion of a boat.

Knot:
The tucks and loops in a line; Also, a unit of speed equal to one one nautical mile (1852 meters) an hour.

Lee:
The side opposite to that from which the wind blows.

Lee Shore:
Shoreline downwind of a boat (to be avoided).

Leeward (to):
Downwind; away from the wind.

Lien:
A legal claim against a property that must be paid when the property is sold.

Limber Holes:
Drainage Holes through bulkheads or frames.

List:
The tilt of a boat to one side or the other.

Listing Agreement:
An agreement between the Owner of a vessel and a Broker; whereby the broker lists the vessel for sale and uses due diligence to find a buyer for the vessel.

L.O.A:
Length Over All

Mayday:
The international radiotelephone distress signal for life threatening situations.

Masthead Light:
A white light on the pleasure craft's centerline, showing an arc of visibility from dead ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam on either side.

Moorage:
Where the owner of the vessel pays the Dock to park and store their boat. Usually, docks charge by the foot. Extra charges may apply if you require covered moorage.

Mooring:
A buoy firmly anchored to the bottom, to which a boat is secured.

Motor Yacht (M.Y.) vs. Motor Vessel (M.V.):
Although not consistently used, M.V. is generally used to refer to a vessel that is used commercially, including charter yachts, Coast Guard certified passenger vessels, etc. M.Y. should be used for private yachts.

Nautical Mile:
1852 meters; 1.15 statute miles.

Navigational Aids:
Material aboard your boat that will assist in navigating (compass, depth sounder, G.P.S., etc).

One-way charter:
allows you to charter a boat and embark in one port and leave the boat in a different port. One-way charter may sometimes require an additional fee for the relocation of the boat.

Operating expenses :
vary depending on the area you cruise and the yacht you choose. If fuel economy is important, discuss this with your broker at the beginning of your selection process. There also may be some harbor fees and positioning (delivery) charges if your charter involves meeting or leaving the yacht in a place other than it's home port.

Oar:
A device used for rowing a boat.

Operator:
Person in effective charge and control of a boat and who is responsible for the boat.

Outboard Engine (Motor):
A detachable drive unit mounted on a boat's stern.

Owner Financing:
A purchase in which the seller provides all or part of the financing.

P.F.D.:
Personal Flotation Device. Please Note: as of April 1st 1999 lifesaving cushions are no longer approved PFD's.

Planing Boat:
Boat whose hull is designed to skim on the water.

Port:
Left hand side of the Vessel when looking forward; Harbour.

Power Boat:
A boat propelled by mechanical means. Provincial Sales Tax: In British Columbia, we have a Provincial Sales Tax which applies to most vessels. There are exemptions for some buyers. Generally, the tax is 7% of the purchase amount.(depending on where you are buying from). call the Ministry of Finance and Corporate Relations in Victoria, BC at (250) 387-0604.

Plumb Bow:
A vertical or near-vertical stem, common on vessels built in the 20's and 30's. The vessels were designed for efficiency at displacement speeds, and the plumb bows knifed through the water easily, and were easy to construct out of wood. The bows were also fairly high off the water, and at displacement speeds flare was not needed to shed spray.

Refinancing:
The process of paying off one loan with the proceeds from a new loan secured by the same property. This is most often done to get the better interest rates offered by the new loan.

Running Lights:
Proper lights to display when a boat is under way at night or in restricted visibility..

R.W.C:
Raw Water Cooled. Water is drawn from the body of water the vessel is on (ocean) for cooling the engine.

Saloon:
This is the proper term for the living area of any yacht, but especially classics. The word was originally used for the mess area on sailing ships. At some point, some enterprising innkeepers decided to start using it for their shoreside establishments in order to entice sailors into patronizing them. Eventually people began using "saloon" as synonymous with "tavern", but aboard ship saloon is still the proper term, and salon is considered lubberly.

Sailboat:
Boat propelled by wind.

Sidelights:
A green light on the starboard side, and a red light on the port side, showing an arc of visibility from dead ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam.

Sheets:
Ropes.

Spinnaker:
Large front sail, also called a chute. Used for sailing down wind.

Spring Line:
Fore and Aft lines used in mooring to prevent a boat from moving forward or astern while fast to a pier.

Starboard:
Right hand side of the Vessel when looking forward.

Stern:
Rear part of the Vessel.

Stern Drive:
A drive system consisting of an inboard engine, a vertical driveshaft outboard and a propeller.

Security deposit:
has to be left before embarkation in case of damage to boat during the sailing trip. It covers any loss or damage which is not covered by the insurance of the boat. Security deposit is completely refundable, if no damage occurs.

Sternlight:
A white light at or near the boat's stern, showing an arc of visibility from dead astern to 67.5 degrees on either side.

Stow:
To store items neatly and securely.

Swamp:
To fill a boat with water.

Survey:
An inspection done by a Marine Surveyor on a vessel to determine the general condition and the current market value of the vessel.

Term:
The amount of time that the contract is written for and that the interest rate is guaranteed for.

Throttle:
A device to control a boats speed.

Title:
A legal document establishing the right of ownership.

Tidal Current:
Horizontal flow of water due to the gravity of the Moon and the Sun. Usually present in channels or on points of land.

Tide:
Vertical movement of water due to gravity of the Moon and the Sun.

Tiller:
Handle used to steer some boats.

Transfer tax:
State or local tax payable when title passes from one owner to another.

Transom:
The outside part of a boat's stern.

Trim:
The fore-and-aft and side-to-side balance of a boat.

Under Way:
Boat in motion (when not moored, anchored or aground).

Vendor:
The Seller

Vessel:
A general term for all craft capable of floating on water, and larger than a rowboat.

VHF Radiotelephone:
The Very high frequency radio used on a boat.

Wake:
The disturbed column of water around and behind a moving boat which is set into motion by the passage of the boat.

Way:
Movement of a boat through the water, such as headway, sternway, etc.

Weighing Anchor:
Raising the anchor when preparing to get under way.

Well:
Area at the rear part of the Vessel where the motor may be located.

Western Mediterranean Terms (WMT):
mean that the charter fee includes the use of the yacht and equipment, the crew's wages and insurance. The charterer will be charged at cost for all other expenses including fuel, food and beverages for the charter party, berthing charges and port taxes, charges for water and electricity taken from shore, laundry, telephone and SatCom costs. A number of large yachts use WMT while operating in the Adriatic, Aegean and Caribbean.

Windlass:
A power winch on the bow of the vessel to pull the anchor up, usually electric.

Windward:
Toward the direction from which the wind is coming.

Yacht Broker:
A firm or more frequently and Individual who brings the buyer and the seller together. Does the vessel shopping for the Buyer.