You Favorite Mis-Used Naultical Jargon

[thinwater]

Sailor speak is wonderfully concise. Call out the name of a line and the desire action, and all is understood. On the other hand, I commonly hear jargon mis-used, or at least overused, just because it sounds nautical. I'm not above telling a non-sailing guest that the bathroom is up front on the right. He'll find it that way. On the otherhand, I never call a sail adjustment by anything other than it's proper name.

What are your favorites?

Kedge. Frequently sailors refer to their storm anchor as a kedge, because that sounds big to them. In fact, a kedge is a smaller anchor used to move the boat around. In the US, a smaller Fortress is by far the most popular kedge because it is light and holds well. Of course, some use larger Fortress anchors as storm anchors, because they hold tones, and that only adds to a newby's confusion. [Actually that refference is an interesting case. Does it refer to Eric Newby, of a "A brief walk in the Hindu Kush," or is it just slang for new guy?"]

 

[Yorkshire Exile]

Yacht for sale, 5 'birth'.

 

[thinwater]

Yes, malapropisms are fun, but not exactly what I was asking:

"I like to have plenty of wenches in my cockpit."
"What boat is best for cursing?"

 

[dolabriform]

"What boat is best for cursing?"

Any of them

 

[macd]

"Jargan" is Manx for flea. ( I used to live there and got the odd one in my ear, if only figuratively.)
Perhaps you meant something else?

 

[Biggles Wader]

Yatch for sail with new tread grip on topsides and roller furling sheets.
No thyme waisters.

 

[Stemar]

I have a friend who banned "Ready about ... Lee Oh!" from his boat. If you said Lee Oh, Leo would ask what you wanted...

I like the idea of a wench or two on the boat, but Milady has other ideas.

 

[Concerto]

Those who use a dingy.

 

[Amulet]

I take great pleasure in nautical language for the fun of understanding it. However I'm more concerned about being understood than precious about it. In a tight situation I'll normally say "go to the left of that buoy" not "please leave that buoy to starboard".

 

[Ohlin Karcher]

I take great pleasure in nautical language for the fun of understanding it. However I'm more concerned about being understood than precious about it. In a tight situation I'll normally say "go to the left of that buoy" not "please leave that buoy to starboard".

That's not 'precious' just correct, ' to the left' makes my skin crawl. (Although I admit we do say 'she is left handed' , for prop rotation.)
She will do 7 knots an hour , healed. Tow the line you toerag. Make it off or tie it on?
One that makes me cringe, 'wheel to windward' just say 'helm's a'lee' and learn WTF is occuring, it's not hard.

 

[Ohlin Karcher]

To thinwater: No connection with Eric Newby!

 

[Kukri]

There are many, but ‘under weigh’ for ‘under way’ is in there.

 

[chewi]

"unchartered" territory

 

[Kelpie]

What does everybody make of the term 'capsize'?
I have always thought that it has quite a specific meaning, of a vessel turning on to its side in the water. To roll over any further the capsize develops into an inversion or 'turning turtle'.
Yet the word seems to be used quite broadly to mean almost anything unfortunate happening to any sort of water craft, at least among the sloppier journalists out there.

 

[Kukri]

What does everybody make of the term 'capsize'?
I have always thought that it has quite a specific meaning, of a vessel turning on to its side in the water. To roll over any further the capsize develops into an inversion or 'turning turtle'.
Yet the word seems to be used quite broadly to mean almost anything unfortunate happening to any sort of water craft, at least among the sloppier journalists out there.

A singular misunderstanding which was triggered by the use of the word ‘Capsize’ occurred involving three friends of mine.

Scene: Hong Kong, 1980’s. Marcus, a keen yachtsman of South African descent, now working in marine insurance in London, is paying a courtesy call on David, scion of a respected Hong Kong shipowning dynasty, accompanied by Andy, a Norn Irish Prod who was, when not foredeck for Frank Pong, the local agent for Marcus’ outfit.

David remarks that ‘We are thinking of buying a Capesize bulk carrier’. (A ship between 100,000 and 200,000 tons deadweight) Marcus misheard David’s Hong Kong accent and replied ‘A capsized ship - are you sure that’s a good idea?’

Andy had to change the subject in a screaming hurry...

 

[JumbleDuck]

I take great pleasure in nautical language for the fun of understanding it. However I'm more concerned about being understood than precious about it. In a tight situation I'll normally say "go to the left of that buoy" not "please leave that buoy to starboard".

Coarse Sailor: One who in times of crisis forgets all nautical language and shouts "For God's sake turn left."

- Michael Green, in "The Art of Coarse Sailing"

 

[Elessar]

Sailor speak is wonderfully concise. Call out the name of a line and the desire action, and all is understood. On the other hand, I commonly hear jargan mis-used, or at least overused, just because it sounds nautical. I'm not above telling a non-sailing guest that the bathroom is up front on the right. He'll find it that way. On the otherhand, I never call a sail adjustment by anything other than it's proper name.

What are your favorites?

Kedge. Frequently sailors refer to their storm anchor as a kedge, because that sounds big to them. In fact, a kedge is a smaller anchor used to move the boat around. In the US, a smaller Fortress is by far the most popular kedge because it is light and holds well. Of course, some use larger Fortress anchors as storm anchors, because they hold tones, and that only adds to a newby's confusion. [Actually that refference is an interesting case. Does it refer to Eric Newby, of a "A brief walk in the Hindu Kush," or is it just slang for new guy?"]

Sailors who think they can sit or stand on the topsides.
(When the boat is upright!)

 

[prv]

Kedge. Frequently sailors refer to their storm anchor as a kedge

That must be a US thing, I don’t think I’ve ever encountered it.

Pete

 

[johnalison]

I tend to stick to basic terms, and confess to continuing to use lee-ho, which usually has the desired effect. Many so-called solecisms really represent changes of use over time. 'Knots per hour' was in regular use a couple of hundred years ago I believe, though it sounds anachronistic to us now. Perhaps the commonly-used 'amps per hour' is a modern equivalent, even if not very nautical.

I quite like obsolete spellings too. Spinaker and Bermudian come to mind.

 

[Daydream believer]

I suppose these are what you want if "nautical" is not your thing

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