Re: boat terminology?
To get you started with your boat education here are answers to the questions nobody bothered to answer:
Keel: The structural member that runs from the bow of the boat, down the center to the transom. It is the backbone of your boat.
Starboard: This is the right side of the boat as you face forward. When someone says turn to starboard you turn right. Dumb huh?
Port: This can have two meanings. On a boat it is the left side of the boat as you face forward. When someone says turn to port, you turn left. Also dumb huh. You can remember port from starboard as left and port both have four letters. Port is also the name for a destination or your home port. Return to port means to go home. Confused yet?
Beam: Width of the boat.
Then there are chines, garboard plugs, helms, stanchions, and a gazillion other rediculous terms. By the way -- B-O-A-T stands for break out another thousand (as in dollars). Have fun, boat safely, and by all means get educated in three categories 1) your boat, 2) navigation, and 3) safety