Glossary of Nautical Terms - R

R

Rabbet or rebate (/ˈræbət/)

A groove cut in wood to form part of a joint.

Radar

Acronym for RAdio Detection And Ranging. An electronic system designed to transmit radio signals and receive reflected images of those signals from a "target" in order to determine the bearing and distance to the "target".

Radar reflector

A special fixture fitted to a vessel or incorporated into the design of certain aids to navigation to enhance their ability to reflect radar energy. In general, these fixtures will materially improve the visibility for use by vessels with radar.

Ram

1. A weapon consisting of an underwater prolongation of the bow of a vessel to form an armored beak, intended to be driven into the hull of an enemy vessel in order to puncture the hull and disable or sink that vessel.

2. An armored warship of the second half of the 19th century designed to use such a weapon as her primary means of attack.

3. To intentionally collide with another vessel with the intention of damaging or sinking her.

4. To accidentally collide bow-first with another vessel.

Range lights

Two lights associated to form a range (a line formed by the extension of a line connecting two charted points) which often, but not necessarily, indicates the channel centerline. The front range light is the lower of the two, and nearer to the mariner using the range. The rear light is higher and further from the mariner.

Ratlines

Rope ladders permanently rigged from bulwarks and tops to the mast to enable access to topmasts and yards.

Razee

1. A sailing ship that has been cut down to reduce the number of decks.

2. To cut down a sailing ship to reduce the number of decks.

Reaching

Sailing across the wind: from about 60° to about 160° off the wind. Reaching consists of "close reaching" (about 60° to 80°), "beam reaching" (about 90°) and "broad reaching" (about 120° to 160°). See also beating and running.

Ready about

A call to indicate imminent tacking (see going about).

Receiver of Wreck

A government official whose duty is to give owners of shipwrecks the opportunity to retrieve their property and ensure that law-abiding finders of wreck receive an appropriate reward.

Receiving hulk or receiving ship

A hulk used in harbor to house newly recruited sailors before they are assigned to a crew.

Red Duster

Traditional nickname for the Red Ensign, the civil ensign (flag) carried by United Kingdom civilian vessels.

Reduced cat

A light version on the cat o'nine tails for use on boys; also called "boys' pussy".

Reef

1. Reefing: To temporarily reduce the area of a sail exposed to the wind, usually to guard against adverse effects of strong wind or to slow the vessel.

2. Reef: Rock or coral, possibly only revealed at low tide, shallow enough that the vessel will at least touch if not go aground.

Reef-points

Small flat lengths of braided cord attached by eyelets to a sail along the reef band, used to secure the excess fabric after reefing. Typically, a reef point consists of two lengths of cord which taper towards their ends—the narrow end of each is threaded through an eye in the wide end of the other and then the pair are rove through the eyelet in the reef band such that one length hangs before and the other abaft the sail.

Reef-bands

Long pieces of rough canvas sewed across the sails to give them additional strength.

Reefer

1. A shipboard refrigerator.

2. A refrigerated cargo ship, used to carry perishable goods that require refrigeration (also reefer ship)

Reef-tackles

Ropes employed in the operation of reefing.

Reeve

(Past tense rove) To thread a line through blocks in order to gain a mechanical advantage, such as in a block and tackle.

Regatta

A series of boat races, usually of sailboats or rowboats, but occasionally of powered boats.

Relative bearing

A bearing relative to the direction of the ship: the clockwise angle between the ship's direction and an object. See also absolute bearing and bearing.

Rigging

The system of masts and lines on ships and other sailing vessels.

Righting couple

The force which tends to restore a ship to equilibrium once a heel has altered the relationship between her centre of buoyancy and her centre of gravity.

Rigol

The rim or 'eyebrow' above a port-hole or scuttle.

Rip rap

A man-made pile of rocks and rubble often surrounding an off-shore lighthouse or as a base for an aid to navigation.

Rode

The anchor line, rope or cable connecting the anchor chain to the vessel. Also Anchor Rode.

Roll

A vessel's motion rotating from side to side, about the fore-aft/longitudinal axis. Listing is a lasting, stable tilt, or heel, along the longitudinal axis. Roll is also an alternate name for the longitudinal axis (roll axis).

Rolling-tackle

A number of pulleys, engaged to confine the yard to the weather side of the mast; this tackle is much used in a rough sea.

Roll-on/roll-off ship (also RORO or ro-ro)

A vessel designed to carry wheeled cargo that can drive on and off the ship on its own wheels.

Romper

In a convoy, a ship that breaks ranks and "romps" ahead.

The ropes

the lines in the rigging.

Rope's end

A summary punishment device.

RORO or ro-ro

See #Roll-on/roll-off ship.

Rowlock (/ˈrɒlək/)

A bracket providing the fulcrum for an oar. Also see thole.

Royal

1. In large sailing ships, a mast right above the topgallant mast.

2. The sail of such a mast.

Rubbing strake

An extra plank fitted to the outside of the hull, usually at deck level, to protect the topsides.

Rudder

A steering device which can be placed aft, externally relative to the keel or compounded into the keel either independently or as part of the bulb/centerboard.

Rummage sale

A sale of damaged cargo (from French arrimage).

Rum-runner

see 'Go-fast boat'.

Running gear

The propellers, shafts, struts and related parts of a motorboat.

Running rigging

Rigging used to manipulate sails, spars, etc. in order to control the movement of the ship. Cf. standing rigging.

Running before the wind or running

Sailing more than about 160° away from the wind. If directly away from the wind, it's a dead run.