Tennessee Boating Safety Terms Quiz

Boat Parts and Terminology

• The bow is the front of a boat.
• The stern is the rear of a vessel.
• The starboard is the right side of a vessel.
• The port is the left side of a vessel.
• The hull is the frame or body of a ship.
• The gunwale is the upper edge of the side of a boat or ship.
• A cleat is a metal fitting on which a rope can be fastened.
• A propeller rotates and powers a boat forward or backward.
• The beam is the maximum width of a vessel.
• The freeboard is the distance from the water to the lowest point of the boat where water could come on board.
• The draft is the depth of water needed to float a vessel.
• The keel is the main centerline (backbone) of a vessel or the extension of the hull that increases stability in the water.

Hull Types

• A displacement hull moves through the water by pushing the water aside and is designed to cut through the water with very little propulsion.
• Displacement hulls are limited to slower speeds and are typically found in large cruisers and sailboats.
• A planing hull is designed to rise up and glide on top of the water when enough power is supplied.
• Planing hulls may operate like displacement hulls at slow speeds but climb toward the surface of the water as they move faster.
• Planing hulls are typically found in small power-driven vessels, including personal watercraft (PWC), and some small sailboats.

Planing Hull Speeds

• Displacement mode: a planing hull cuts through the water like a displacement hull at very slow speeds.
• Plowing mode: a planing hull has a raised bow, reducing the operator's vision and throwing a large wake, at increased speeds.
• Planing mode: a planing hull glides on top of the water when enough power is applied.

Hull Shapes

• Flat bottom hull: has a shallow draft, but rides roughly in choppy waters.
• Deep Vee hull: gives a smoother ride than a flat bottom hull in rough water, but takes more power to move at the same speed.
• Round bottom hull: moves easily through the water even at slow speeds, but has a tendency to roll unless it has a deep keel or stabilizers.
• Multi hull: has greater stability due to its wide beam, but needs a large area when turning.

Vessel Length and Equipment

• Vessel length dictates the equipment the vessel must have to comply with federal and state laws.
• Length overall is measured from the tip of the bow in a straight line to the stern of the vessel.
• Bowsprits, rudders, outboard motors, and other fittings are not included in the measurement.

Length Classes

• Class A: less than 16 feet
• Class 1: 16 feet to less than 26 feet
• Class 2: 26 feet to less than 40 feet
• Class 3: 40 feet to less than 65 feet

Outboard Engines

• Have more power per pound of weight than inboard engines.
• Are a portable, self-contained package of an engine, gear case, and propeller that is attached to the transom of a boat.
• Many are of four-stroke design.