All these boating jargon is confusing

[salmonee]

I'm reading the launching and retrieval threads to properly launch my first soon to be boat. However, all the boating jargons has gotten me confused. There are talks about "fenders" and "transom savers" that I have no clue what they are referring to? Is there a dictionary somewhere on this site that will give a complete newbie understanding to what these boating terminology means?

Side note: I watch a boat come flying off the trailer and hitting the pavement as the owner was pulling it out of the water. I faintly recall that the winch was spinning as the boat was coming down. I assume that the reason for this was because the owner did not lock the winch down? Is this one reason why some of the boaters want to tie a safety chain to the bow eye, in case the winch strap ever gave out? If so, where do you normally tie the other end of the safety chain to?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: All these boating jargon is confusing

This boater did a couple things wrong. A winch has a ratchet or pawl on it that can be released to allow you to pull the strap or cable outward when retrieving the boat. You then flip the ratchet or pawl so it clicks as you winch the boat onto the trailer. That pawl prevents the winch from rotating backward thus allowing the boat to slide off the trailer again. The safety chain serves two purposes. 1) to prevent what happened. 2) If you are ever in a collision when towing, the laws of physics state that an object in motion tend to stay in motion. So in a crash, the boat tends to ride up over the winch post and land in the back of your truck. That's the reason the winch strap or cable should be routed UNDER the bow stop rather than over it. The safety chain attaches to the trailer frame and the bow eye and keeps the boat from being pitched into your vehicle.

Fenders are the white (or other color) bumbers that you place on the side of the boat when tied to a dock or to another boat. They prevent damaging the boat.

Transom savers are an adjustable bar that attaches to the trailer frame and supports the engine when the boat is being towed. Some people swear by them, some swear at them but the theory is that when a motor is tilted up for transport, it can flop up and down which increases stress (twisting forces) on the transom. This bar prevents that from happening.

If you can't find the descriptions you need, ask here. That's what this forum is for. When you run across a term you don't understand, type that term in the "search" box for Google or Yahoo and hit the search button. Chances are you will find your answer.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: All these boating jargon is confusing

also we use terminology so everyone speaks the same language.

directions, you always consider you are standing in the back of the boat looking forward. port is to the left, starboard to the right, astern or stern is the back of the boat, behind you, bow is the forward part of the boat. one way to remember port and starboard, is left and port only have 4 letters.

 

[gbb]

Re: All these boating jargon is confusing

I am new to boating and have a pontoon boat. I read all the info here and asked questions and got alot of great info. But I also went to a ramp and watched and learn there also. Have put my pontoon in an out several times now and so far soooo good.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: All these boating jargon is confusing

The terms are not jargon. They are words that describe things that are unique to the boating world. It does take a little time to learn them, but that's part of the fun of getting involved in a new hobby or vocations.

Some terms could probably be switched for other terms, like port and starboard, but they're traditional, and mean specific things, as Tashasdaddy described.

You can find several lists of nautical terms by doing a Google search for boating glossary. Here's a pretty good one:

http://www.boatingbasicsonline.com/course/safety/gloss.htm

As TD suggested, other terms can simply be typed into Google and you'll get an explanation pretty quickly.

Taking a boater safety course online will also teach you many of the terms, and what they mean, along with teaching you how to use them. The link I gave you above is also a site with a good boating safety course.

Every specialized field of interest has its own vocabulary. When you know what all the words mean...and I mean really know what they mean...you know a lot about that field. It's fun to learn.

 

[Dougget]

Re: All these boating jargon is confusing

Jargon is terminology that relates to a specific activity, profession or group. (Wikipedia)

So, every profession, hobby, etc has it's jargon. Google is your friend. Also, if you pick up a few boating magazines or catalogs you'll learn a lot of vocabulary. As previously mentioned, a boater safety course is a great idea too.

Fenders = the bumpers/pads that keep your boat from hitting the dock.
Transom Saver = the bar that some people put between the rear of their trailer and the elevated lower unit part of the outdrive.

A transom saver is probably better suited for outboards where the entire engine is clamped to the transom. With an I/O application, the engine is mounted to the hull in more than one place and the outdrive isn't all that heavy.

Good luck,
Doug

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: All these boating jargon is confusing

we still recommend transom savers on I/O's.

 

[salmonee]

Re: All these boating jargon is confusing

That's the reason the winch strap or cable should be routed UNDER the bow stop rather than over it.

Thanks for the info. It is really informative. However you lost me with the line above. The winch strap comes off the winch and usually is tied to the bow eye, right? I don't know what the "bow stop" is?

 

[CATransplant]

Re: All these boating jargon is confusing

The bow stop is the v-shaped roller or pad that establishes the forward location of the bow of the boat. It stops the bow when it reaches it.

The bow eye, where you snap the winch strap or cable, should be located below the bow stop on the trailer. That will prevent the boat from riding up over the bow stop and into your vehicle.

That said, on lots of boats, it's impossible to set it up that way. A good safety chain will do the same job, if attached properly to the winch post and the bow eye.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: All these boating jargon is confusing

Sal, there's a lot of boating jargon that can't be printed on a family friendly site. It may be a tad different than what a ground-pounder says but folks pick up the similarities when they hear it. Mostly around a ramp or dock. Especially if the hood is off the motor. Or looking at the bill a couple weeks later.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: All these boating jargon is confusing

Here's a diagram of a typical boat trailer, with the parts named:

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: All these boating jargon is confusing

He has a pontoon, thus no bow stop (I assume). Anybody with a toon know the correct way to run the strap?

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: All these boating jargon is confusing

Ditto for the transom saver, not really required for a pontoon?

 

[109jb]

Re: All these boating jargon is confusing

The guy with the toon (gbb) wasn't the original thread starter (salmonee). The original thread starter never said what kind of boat he had.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: All these boating jargon is confusing

Some terms could probably be switched for other terms, like port and starboard, but they're traditional, and mean specific things, as Tashasdaddy described.

what terms do you propose using in place of port and starboard? Left and Right? Left and right change depending on your relative position in the boat, but port and starboard are always the same not matter where you are in the boat or what direction you are facing.

 

[mthieme]

Re: All these boating jargon is confusing

what terms do you propose using in place of port and starboard? Left and Right? Left and right change depending on your relative position in the boat, but port and starboard are always the same not matter where you are in the boat or what direction you are facing.

Huh ?

 

[freddyray21]

Re: All these boating jargon is confusing

If I am manning the helm and my crewman is facing me and I tell him to bring in the starboard line then there is no doubt which side of the boat I am referring to. If I say bring in the line on the right then if he is facing me his right is my left so there is confusion. Port and starboard are always the same left and right change whether you are facing the bow or the stern.

 

[mthieme]

Re: All these boating jargon is confusing

I'll buy that.
You had me going for a minute.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: All these boating jargon is confusing

There is no traditional bow stop on a pontoon trailer but there is a rather stout, two-post setup that serves the same purpose (sort of like the goal posts on a football field). Since a pontoon is not rounded in front like the bow of a boat, it cannot ride up over the posts but simply pushes against them. Like a boat, it is still a good idea to strap the back of a pontoon to to keep it on the trailer should a jacknife or accident arise.

 

[jlinder]

Re: All these boating jargon is confusing

When trailering a boat we all tend to think in terms of normal going driving, not about what happens in an accident. It is real easy to think the boat will sit just fine and forget about the laws of physics and that sudden stop or collision.

Search this forum for pictures of people who forgot that. Here's one to start http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/dsm/763203032.html

Straps on the bow and stern (font and back) are there to keep the boat on the trailer during abnormal conditions. When attaching your straps don't think about normal - think about rear ending the car in front that stopped suddenly. Remember that 4000 pound boat will suddenly pull on the straps and chains with a lot more than 4000 pounds. Size your chain accordingly.

You also need to be concerned not just with making the trailer go but with stopping. When the guy in front hits his brakes suddenly what is going to happen to you? Most trailers will need/have brakes that are activated when you hit your brakes. Make sure they are working.

Don't worry about looking foolish here with your questions. If you boat you need to develop a sense of humor. Just read the stupid human tricks area if you are worried. There are no stupid questions, just the stupidity of not asking when you don't know.

Welcome to the group. We wish you much enjoyment (you will need that, having a boat means you have no cash )