SHIPTALK: A GLOSSARY OF SHIPPING AND MARITIME TERMS

GALLEY – The kitchen area of a boat.
GANGWAY – The area of a ship's side where people board and disembark.
GEAR – A general term for ropes, blocks, tackle and other equipment.
GIVE-WAY VESSEL – A term used to describe the vessel which must yield in meeting, crossing, or overtaking situations.
GRAB RAILS – Hand-hold fittings mounted on cabin tops and sides for personal safety when moving around the boat.

GALLEY – The kitchen area of a boat.
GANGWAY – The area of a ship's side where people board and disembark.
GEAR – A general term for ropes, blocks, tackle and other equipment.
GIVE-WAY VESSEL – A term used to describe the vessel which must yield in meeting, crossing, or overtaking situations.
GRAB RAILS – Hand-hold fittings mounted on cabin tops and sides for personal safety when moving around the boat.
GROUND TACKLE – A collective term for the anchor and its associated gear.
GUNWALE – The upper edge of a boat's sides.
HARD CHINE – An abrupt intersection between the hull side and the hull bottom of a boat so constructed.
HATCH – An opening in a boat's deck fitted with a watertight cover.
HEAD – A marine toilet. Also the upper corner of a triangular sail.
HEADING – The direction in which a vessel's bow points at any given time.
HEADWAY – The forward motion of a boat. Opposite of sternway.
HELM – The wheel or tiller controlling the rudder. HELMSPERSON – The person who steers the boat.
HITCH – A knot used to secure a rope to another object or to another rope, or to form a loop or a noose in a rope.
HOLD – A compartment below deck in a large vessel, used solely for carrying cargo.
HULL – The main body of a vessel.