Boat and Yacht Glossary

A general operator license for powered water leisure craft over 5 horsepower.

The official guide lists a written passing score of 60 and a general practical passing score of 60.

A water leisure craft with a fixed or detachable propulsion engine.

Personal watercraft, motorboats, inflatable boats, and sailing yachts require license checks based on their actual structure and propulsion.

Mandatory safety education for license issuance or renewal.

New applicants take 3 hours in person; renewal education is listed as 2 hours online or 3 hours in person.

Basic life-saving equipment that provides buoyancy in the water.

Prepare one for every person on board and check that it is worn before departure.

A plan for departure point, route, destination, return time, and emergency contacts.

The front of the boat.

The operating area where the helm and crew sit or work.

A small, light sailing yacht often used for training or short practice.

A cushion that protects the hull during docking or alongside another boat.

The control area with the steering wheel, throttle, gauges, and switches.

A forward sail set in front of the mast.

The main sail of a sailing yacht.

The vertical spar that supports the sails on a yacht.

An engine mounted outside the hull.

A rigid-bottom inflatable boat with air tubes attached to the sides.

The steering blade that changes the boat’s direction.

Adjusting sail angle and tension for the wind direction.

A transport device connected to a vehicle to move a boat on land.

A device that helps handle lines under heavy load.

The direction and speed of flowing seawater.

It affects docking, undocking, return time, and fuel use.

Bringing a boat or yacht alongside a dock or berth.

The time or state when sea level becomes high.

It can help with depth, but may reduce clearance under bridges, so check separately.

A marine distance unit. One nautical mile is about 1.852 km.

💡 Example · 10 nautical miles is about 18.52 km.

A mark that helps vessels identify position, danger, route, or safe water.

The right side of the boat when facing the bow.

The height difference between high tide and low tide.

On large-range days, check ramps, shallow water, mooring-line tension, and bridge clearance with more margin.

Sea level height relative to a reference datum.

Tide-table heights vary by local datum and time, so choose the closest official station.

Leaving a dock or berth to depart.

The distance you can see. Fog and rain can reduce it quickly.

The height of waves; a key factor in deciding whether a small boat can operate safely.

Water leisure activity conducted within 10 nautical miles from the departure port.

Official guidance describes voluntary near-distance reporting.