Modern non nautical boat speak

[Latestarter1]

I fully expect to be in a majority of one on this subject however in with both feet.

Looking at Jack Haines reports on Fairline Phantom and Princess 43 I found reports incredibly cringe worthy.

Let me explain, I went to pre sea training aged 16 in order that by the time I was actually on board ship I at least had a degree of nautical vocabulary.

For example terms such as 'going downstairs' meaning going below and ceiling when referring to to the deck-head as ceiling leaves me speechless, as spar ceiling is the side of cargo hold and ceiling is under deck of ships cargo hold.

Jack is not the only offender, however unless being on board represents a change in culture, perhaps more boat owners should purchase a caravan instead.

 

[DougH]

I fully expect to be in a majority of one on this subject however in with both feet.

Looking at Jack Haines reports on Fairline Phantom and Princess 43 I found reports incredibly cringe worthy.

Let me explain, I went to pre sea training aged 16 in order that by the time I was actually on board ship I at least had a degree of nautical vocabulary.

For example terms such as 'going downstairs' meaning going below and ceiling when referring to to the deck-head as ceiling leaves me speechless, as spar ceiling is the side of cargo hold and ceiling is under deck of ships cargo hold.

Jack is not the only offender, however unless being on board represents a change in culture, perhaps more boat owners should purchase a caravan instead.

Not like you to be so grumpy.

 

[rustybarge]

The only problem with technical names is that it excludes ordinary people from participating in boating without specialist knowledge. EG: apparently there are over a hundred ropes on a gaff rigged sailboat which are not shared with any standard Bermudan sailboat; Learn that!

i say to the kids:
tie up the front
the loo is at the front
its in the kitchen
turn left/right
go backwards/forwards

I'd be embarrassed using nautical terms in everyday circumstances.......

 

[jfm]

Tee hee. I can't help by joining your majority Latestarter! On my boats we have upstairs and downstairs, ceilings, kitchens, floors and of course bathrooms/shower rooms. I do use port and starboard more than left and right, but that's as far as I want to go with nautical terminology thart doesn't convey something that another word can't deal with perfectly well. I'm quite happy to hear that I'm wrong on this

Of course when there is no other word for it then it's different. For things like clews, tacks, heads, leaches, feet and luffs I'd say those words rather than "corners" and "edges". And when someone says "bolt" when it's a set screw I do shudder a bit

 

[rubberduck]

My thinking is it matters not, so long as you are consistent, otherwise misunderstandings can creep in, usually just when you don't need them !

 

[Elessar]

Tee hee. I can't help by joining your majority Latestarter! On my boats we have upstairs and downstairs, ceilings, kitchens, floors and of course bathrooms/shower rooms. I do use port and starboard more than left and right, but that's as far as I want to go with nautical terminology thart doesn't convey something that another word can't deal with perfectly well. I'm quite happy to hear that I'm wrong on this

Of course when there is no other word for it then it's different. For things like clews, tacks, heads, leaches, feet and luffs I'd say those words rather than "corners" and "edges". And when someone says "bolt" when it's a set screw I do shudder a bit

What do you call a rope?

 

[MapisM]

For example terms such as 'going downstairs' meaning going below...

Hehe, I see your point. Even if I normally deal with nautical terms in another language, your comments are still valid.
Trouble is, with some guests not so familiar with nautical jargon, when they ask where's the toilet, I have no other choice than telling them it's downstair, second door on the right...

 

[jfm]

What do you call a rope?

Just a "rope". I don't use the word much on a boat. It's more of a litigation tool -something you give plenty of to certain insurance companies to hang themselves with

 

[alt]

I can't comment as i'm not a subscriber, but even 'herself' (is that a nautical term?!) knows to understand the nautical basics when on-board, such as:

"We're running out of wine"
"Is the food ready yet?"
"Ah Jaysus, I said drop the fenders on the other side"
"Nah, let more anchor chain out"
"Would you please wash the side of the boat. [When completed with one side] No, the other side" (Lads, this one is invaluable!)

 

[Greg2]

Being ex-Navy I am with Latestarter1 on this

 

[Latestarter1]

Responses came as no surprise, the creeping caravan club boating mentality which started to become apparent in the 1980s has now fully taken hold and we are completely into a a front, back, left right boating culture.

Journalists were sometime referred to as wordsmiths, the fact that boat seats are now 'chairs' just confirms sloppy use of vocabulary is now acceptable even when non nautical terms are used.

 

[Momac]

Not everyone who owns a leisure boat (or 'pleasure boat' as our local professionals call them) has a present or former naval or other maritime career , or mechanical engineering.
And not everyone has been brought up with boats from a young age. So some people will not be familiar with a wide range of nautical terms.

I do attempt to use nautical terms - the obvious being port and starboard, bow and stern.
But for me a 'rope' is a 'rope' regardless of its use.
Also we do refer (humorously) to the lounge, conservatory and sun terrace on our boat.

.



.

 

[prv]

It might be interesting to pose the same question on the sailyboat forum

Pete

 

[burgundyben]

And when someone says "bolt" when it's a set screw I do shudder a bit

I tend to have an anger episode when I hear that, resulting in a tourette style 'its a ****ing set screw' outburst.

Even worse is when idiots say topsides when they mean superstructure.....

 

[RogerRat]

N
I do attempt to use nautical terms - the obvious being port and starboard, bow and stern.
But for me a 'rope' is a 'rope' regardless of its use.
Also we do refer (humorously) to the lounge, conservatory and sun terrace on our boat.

I fully accept that Jack Haines as a reporter on articles to the new to boating and just interested public has to appeal to the widest audience available. In a report aimed at existing or experienced boaters, use of the correct vocabulary would be nice.

Being critical, is either a sign of age or your early introduction to boats. I was taught to sail as a toddler and my father always made the point that if I didn't know what things were called, it could create confusion at a time that may contribute to a capsize, contact/crash or just falling in etc. Now obviously, this doesn't apply to modern motor cruisers. A toilet is a toilet so no confusion there, you wouldn't want someone peeing on your head eh?

But when it comes to things like ropes, it simple. I buy rope in a 'shiny shop' and keep some in stock. Once it's been cut to size and spliced etc, for a task it then is given the name for the task, mooring line, spring, halyard, paynter. etc. It's less confusing to ask for a spring to be removed than the 'big rope in the middle.' " No the long one!" :encouragement:


RR

 

[Aardee]

I fully expect to be in a majority of one on this subject however in with both feet.

Looking at Jack Haines reports on Fairline Phantom and Princess 43 I found reports incredibly cringe worthy.

Let me explain, I went to pre sea training aged 16 in order that by the time I was actually on board ship I at least had a degree of nautical vocabulary.

For example terms such as 'going downstairs' meaning going below and ceiling when referring to to the deck-head as ceiling leaves me speechless, as spar ceiling is the side of cargo hold and ceiling is under deck of ships cargo hold.

Jack is not the only offender, however unless being on board represents a change in culture, perhaps more boat owners should purchase a caravan instead.

While I do see where you're coming from (and tend to use "proper" nautical language when sailing with experienced crew), if Jack uses everyday terms 100% of his readership understands him, even though some may cringe a bit. If he uses nautical terms, that figure may drop to 50% or less...We need to accept that not all readers are time-served seamen, and some (heaven forbid) don't know their bumpkin from their baggywrinkle

 

[Hurricane]

Tee hee. I can't help by joining your majority Latestarter! On my boats we have upstairs and downstairs, ceilings, kitchens, floors and of course bathrooms/shower rooms. I do use port and starboard more than left and right, but that's as far as I want to go with nautical terminology thart doesn't convey something that another word can't deal with perfectly well. I'm quite happy to hear that I'm wrong on this

Of course when there is no other word for it then it's different. For things like clews, tacks, heads, leaches, feet and luffs I'd say those words rather than "corners" and "edges". And when someone says "bolt" when it's a set screw I do shudder a bit

And, of course there are Bedrooms.

However, I do feel strongly about Port/Starboard/Left/Right
These are all correct and all have their place.
People try to get clever on a boat and say things like "to port when entering a harbour"
Nothing wrong with that but "on the left" seems more appropriate to me and any of my visitors instantly understand.
Conversly, it would be better to refer to the "port engine" rather than the one on the left because you might be facing backwards.
Port/Starboard are absolute descriptions Left/Right are relative.
Just a point that annoys me

Apart from that I agree with the OP

 

[James L]

The only place I find the correct terms important is the boat shows, other than that I use terms that will be understood by whoever I'm talking to.
With my wife, that will be front/back/left/"right, no your other right"

 

[Nick_H]

Once it's been cut to size and spliced etc, for a task it then is given the name for the task, mooring line, spring, halyard, paynter. etc.

Isn't it a mooring warp?

 

[kcrane]

People try to get clever on a boat and say things like "to port when entering a harbour"
Nothing wrong with that but "on the left" seems more appropriate to me and any of my visitors instantly understand.
Conversly, it would be better to refer to the "port engine" rather than the one on the left because you might be facing backwards.
Port/Starboard are absolute descriptions Left/Right are relative.
P

Yep, that's my take too. I tend to use "The Winking Prawn is on the left as we go into Salcombe" if I'm talking to non-boatie friends and "We'll go bow in, starboard side to" when talking to SWMBO.
But if she said "Where are the waterproofs?" I'm just as likely to say "In the wardrobe in our bedroom" as "In the port locker, forward cabin", but it could be either.

Basically nautical terms when they mean something specific and avoid confusion, otherwise I default to non-boatie terms, even if there is a suitable nautical term.