Question about Sailboat Terms

[IsabellaRose]

Hi,

I hope it is ok if I post this here.

I am writing a book that involves boating, and am trying to understand some different terms.

It is quite confusing, and I want to be very accurate, and so I thought that perhaps the members of this forum might be kind enough to help?

If it ever gets made into a movie, I shall credit you all. :big grin:

Right now, I just a have a few questions:

1) What is the living space on a sailboat called? The hull?

2) What is the "steering wheel" called?

I was able to look up a few other terms online.

Thank you for all of your helps!

[Adelie]

Originally Posted by IsabellaRose

Hi,



I hope it is ok if I post this here.



I am writing a book that involves boating, and am trying to understand some different terms.



It is quite confusing, and I want to be very accurate, and so I thought that perhaps the members of this forum might be kind enough to help?



If it ever gets made into a movie, I shall credit you all. :big grin:



Right now, I just a have a few questions:



1) What is the living space on a sailboat called? The hull?



2) What is the "steering wheel" called?



I was able to look up a few other terms online.



Thank you for all of your helps!

1. Cabin

2. The general term is helm.
A. If the vessel uses a wheel for steering it is usually called "the wheel". Occasionally it is called "the steering wheel", usually by neophytes or by experienced giving directions to neophytes or non-boaters when the goal is to be very clear with folks not aware of the jargon.
B. If the boat is steered by a wooden board attached to the top of the rudder and extending forward that is called a tiller. The driver holds
The forward end and pushes or pulls to control the rudder.

[jkindredpdx]

See answers embedded in Quote.

Originally Posted by IsabellaRose

Hi,



I hope it is ok if I post this here.



I am writing a book that involves boating, and am trying to understand some different terms.



It is quite confusing, and I want to be very accurate, and so I thought that perhaps the members of this forum might be kind enough to help?



If it ever gets made into a movie, I shall credit you all. :big grin:



Right now, I just a have a few questions:



1) What is the living space on a sailboat called? The hull?

A: main area is the Cabin or Saloon. Sit in the settee. Cool in the galley, pee and bath in the head. Sleep forward in the V berth. Enter the cabin through the companionway from the cockpit.



2) What is the "steering wheel" called?

A: wheel... also Helm. The wheel turns the rudder via cables.



I was able to look up a few other terms online.



Thank you for all of your helps!

[psk125]

You may want to research by reading "The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle", by Avi, "Carry On Mr. Bowditch", by Jean Latham, and any of the Hornblower or Aubrey/Maturin series, by C.S. Forester and Patrick O'Brian, respectively. "Wind in the Willows", by Kenneth Grahame and Swallows and Amazons, by Arthur Ransome would be good as well. You are right to want to get terms down correctly, though it may be wise to avoid going into too much detail. Doing that can get you into a lot of trouble, because sailors are quite particular about things being just "right". (Note the threads about errors in sailing movies...) Good luck!

[roverhi]

The living area is typically called the 'cabin.' or 'below' to distinguish it from being on deck. The cabin is divided into parts. The cooking area is called the 'galley' often with the 'chart table' opposite it on boats under 45' or so. The seating area in the main cabin is called the 'saloon' in England. The water closet is known as the 'head' often with a closet called the 'hanging locker' opposite. The sleeping area in the bow is the 'vee berth. In the saloon their are often beds outboard of the seating area called 'pilot berths'. If the seats make up into beds, they are 'transom berths' unless it is a dinette where the table can be dropped down to make a berth. If there is a bed aft under the cockpit seating, it is called a 'quarter berth'.