Sailing Questions . . .

[gbanker]

Why are your shrouds attached to "chain plates"? I never knew any chain was involved in the standing rigging of a sailboat. And why "portholes" and not "starboard" holes?

[forsailbyowner]

Chainplates go way back when chains were used below deadeyes, starboard holes? Dunno

[David M]

A "port" is something that things go through, like sunlight ....or data through a computer port.

[Celestialsailor]

And why don't Motorcycles have doors???

[Christian Van H]

...and why are asteroids asteroids, while hemorrhoids hemorrhoids?

[GordMay]

The language of sailing ~ by Richard Mayne

The language of sailing - Google Book Search

Often, terms like these owe their usage to Greek or Latin words.
ie: The Latin "porta" means opening, gate, & etc. This leads to such English words as "portal" (entrance), and hence to porthole, portlight, and computer port, etc.

And as George Carlin asked: "Shouldn't a hernia be called a hisnia?"

[NW Craig]

Why, why, why....

Just a lot of other thoughts:
Why do we drive on parkways and park in driveways?
Why are apartments so close together?
Why does the bible talk about St. Paul but no where mentions Minneapolis?

so many things to ponder........

[Ex-Calif]

Are we there yet? Are we there yet?

What's this thing called, luv?

[Tropic Cat]

Fiddlesticks