DaySailer.org Forum

use of correct nautical language would be better. Just because daysailers are easy to buy, and in some cases entry level boats, that doesn't mean that we should butcher the language of the sea with non nautical words to describe our boats and hardware. "Cutty" is a great scotch, but the little opening in a Daysailer is a CUDDY CABIN! the little thingy that the ropes run through are a "pulley" when in a cloths line, but a BLOCK on a sail boat. The "rope" in fact is a LINE (especially at these prices!) Nautical words have developed over thousands of years of experience, and are used, not just because they sound salty, but because they are precise descriptions that convey exact meanings. I also object to the use of the word NUC-U-LER, but that really doesn't belong on this forum.
Hope i haven't offended anyone. Happy Thanksgiving all.
Mike

Should have joined the navy years ago. Thanks for the heads up on terms.

I would agree being both a small boat sailor AND a Naval Nuclear plant operator on a submarine.

Some other tems:

GUNWALE. Pronounced "gunnel"
BOATSWAIN. Pronounced "bosun"
TACKLE (as in block and tackle): Pronounced "Tay-kle"
LEEWARD. Pronounced "looward"
FORECASTLE. Pronounced "foe-ksle"
SUBMARINER. Pronounced "Submareener" not "sub-mariner"

Also, the device that measures a boat's speed is called a "log", not a speedometer.

Exceptions to the LINE rule include "Bolt rope" (the part of the sail that goes in the channel of a mast and boom) and "wire rope" (which land-lubbers pronounce "cable").