12 Parts of a Boat Every Boater Should Know
Boats don't just "go."
For a boat to move across the water and provide hours of fun, lots of parts have to work together to move your vessel safely and avoid accidents.
Do you know the parts of a boat? While there are plenty of parts (large and small), boat operators need to know at least a few of the major parts to understand how boats work and how to maintain them in good working order.
You don't need to know about every nut and bolt — but let's cover twelve parts every boater should know.
12 Parts of a Boat You Should Know
Let's review the body of a boat to familiarize ourselves with the terminology used.
- Bilge: A compartment at the lowest point of a boat's hull.
- Bow: The front of a boat is called the bow.
- Cleats: The metal fittings that secure ropes to the vessel are called cleats.
- Gunwales: The upper edges of the boat's hull that provide extra rigidity for the hull are called the gunwales.
- Hull: The body of the boat is called the hull.
- Keel: The structural backbone of a ship that runs along the bottom of the hull is called the keel.
- Port: When standing at the stern of the boat and looking to the bow, the side of the boat to your left is called the port side.
- Sidelights: The red and green lights affixed to the bow of the boat are called sidelights.
- Starboard: When standing at the stern of the boat and looking to the bow, the side of the boat to your right is called the starboard side.
- Stern: The back of the boat is called the stern.
- Sternlight (all-round light): The light affixed to the stern of a boat that shines 135 degrees is called a sternlight.
- Transom: The vertical section at the stern that houses the boat's motor is called the transom.
These critical parts must be in good working order to help your boat move safely when on the water. Understanding what each part does helps you become a safer boater.
Practice Good Boat Maintenance for Boat Parts
The parts of a boat can fail if they're not well-maintained.
Boat owners must keep up with routine maintenance and fix parts that break to keep boats in good working order. Whether you do your own maintenance or hire someone to do it for you, keeping yourself and others safe on the water requires a commitment to inspecting boat parts and ensuring they work well.
Don't take your boat out if it's been a while since you inspected the hull or bow or the other parts we've mentioned today. Damaged or deteriorated parts can lead to boating accidents or becoming stranded away from shore.
Make Sure Your Boat is a Well-Oiled Machine Before Hitting the Water
Knowing the port side from the starboard side and other parts of a boat is a rite of passage for good boat operators. We hope this list helps!
In addition to knowing how your boat works and where the stern is, you also need to know how to stay safe when driving it! ilearntoboat offers fun, online boating education courses that make learning simple and fast.
When you choose the course for your state, you'll learn the boating safety essentials your state requires of boat operators. You'll also enjoy the gamified experience that most people can complete in about three hours.
Learn what you need to boat safely, then enjoy many boating adventures!
Originally published in February 2021. Content most recently reviewed and updated for accuracy and relevancy December 3, 2024.
