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The Basic Parts of a Sail Boat
from: Mark HarrisHave you ever had the privilege of sailing across the oceans in a sail boat? This is one of the most enjoyable and exciting experiences that you can imagine.
A sail boat is a boat that uses the wind as the primary source of propulsion to move across the water. There are many different variations of the sail boat that includes everything from big yachts to small personal craft.
Regardless of how big or how small sail boats are they all have certain features in common. Here is a quick primer to familiarize you with the sail boat basics.
There are eight basic parts to a sail boat that you want to be familiar with. Having a fundamental understanding of each one of these parts will help you to have a safe sailing experience when you are out on the water. The eight basic parts are:
1. Bow
2. Stern
3. Tiller
4. Deck
5. Sail
6. Hull
7. Mast
8. Rigging
The bow is the front part of the boat and the stern is the back of the boat. You steer the boat with the tiller and the deck is the area of the sail boat where you can stand. Of course, the sail is the part of the boat that the wind catches and propels you across the water. The hull is the body of the ship that rides in the water and is the central point of the boat. The hull provides the buoyancy that keeps the boat afloat.
The mast is the tall vertical pole on which the sails are supported. The larger sail boats require several masts to support the sails properly. The rigging refers to the ropes and lines that are attached to the hull and are used to hoist or trim the sail.
If you plan on doing some sailing, even as a passenger, it is important to be familiar with these sail boat fundamentals. For safety reasons, having a basic understanding about the different parts of a sail boat will help you handle yourself while out on the water. When the skipper says to move up to the bow, you will know what that means. This is just good common sense.
For the sail boat owner, it is important to keep the boat and the sails in the best condition possible. The time to attend to proper sail boat maintenance is before you go out on the water. It's much more difficult to attend to a tear or rip in your sails while on the water. You depend on the sails to get you back home. The best safety policy and procedure is to insure that all parts of your sail boat are kept in top condition.
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