Glossary of Nautical Terms - W

W

Wake

Turbulence behind a vessel. Not to be confused with wash.

Waft

A signal flag on a vessel.

Waist

the central deck of a ship between the forecastle and the quarterdeck.

Wales

A number of strong and thick planks running length-wise along the ship, covering the lower part of the ship's side.

Warp

1. To move a vessel by hauling on a line or cable that is fastened to an anchor or pier; especially to move a sailing ship through a restricted place such as a harbor.

2. A line or cable used in warping a ship.

Wash

The waves created by a vessel. Not to be confused with wake.

Watch

A period of time during which a part of the crew is on duty. Changes of watch are marked by strokes on the ship's bell.

Watercraft

Water transport vessels. Ships, boats, personal water craft etc.

Waterline

The line where the hull of a ship meets the water's surface.

Watersail

A sail hung below the boom on gaff rig boats for extra downwind performance when racing.

Waterway

1. Waterway, a navigable body of water.

2. A strake of timber laid against the frames or bulwark stanchions at the margin of a laid wooden deck, usually about twice the thickness of the deck planking.

Way

Speed, progress, or momentum. To make way is to move; to lose way is to slow down.

Way-landing

An intermediate stop along the route of a steamboat.

Waypoint

A location defined by navigational coordinates, especially as part of a planned route.

Wearing ship

Tacking away from the wind in a square-rigged vessel. See also Gybe.

Weather gage or weather gauge or weather-beam

Favorable position over another sailing vessel with respect to the wind.

Weather deck

Whichever deck is that exposed to the weather—usually either the main deck or, in larger vessels, the upper deck.

Weather side

The side of a ship exposed to the wind.

Weatherly

A ship that is easily sailed and maneuvered; makes little leeway when sailing to windward.

Weigh anchor

To heave up (an anchor) preparatory to sailing.

Well

Place in the ship's hold for pumps.

Well-found

Properly set up or provisioned.

Whaleboat

1. A type of open boat that is relatively narrow and pointed at both ends, enabling it to move either forwards or backwards equally well.

2. On modern warships, a relatively light and seaworthy boat for transport of ship's crew.

3. A type of vessel designed as a lifeboat or "monomoy" used for recreational and competitive rowing in the San Francisco Bay area and coastal Massachusetts.

4. Informally, any whaler of any size or any vessel engaged in whale watching.

Whaler

1. A specialized vessel designed for catching or processing whales.

2. A person engaged in the catching or processing of whales.

Wheel or ship's wheel

The usual steering device on larger vessels: a wheel with a horizontal axis, connected by cables to the rudder.

Wheelhouse

Location on a ship where the wheel is located; also called pilothouse or bridge.

Whelkie

A small sailing pram.

Wherry

A type of boat traditionally used for carrying cargo or passengers on rivers and canals in England, particularly on the River Thames and the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads.

Whiff

A chiefly British term for a narrow clinker-built skiff having outriggers, for one oarsman.

Whiskers

Spreaders from the bows to spread the bowsprit shrouds.

Whiskerstay

One of the pair of stays that stabilize the bowsprit horizontally affixed to forward end of the bowsprit and just aft the stem.

White horses or whitecaps

Foam or spray on wave tops caused by stronger winds (usually above Force 4).

Wide berth

To leave room between two ships moored (berthed) to allow space for maneuver.

Whiff

Chiefly Brit a narrow clinker-built skiff having outriggers, for one oarsman

Whipstaff

A vertical lever connected to a tiller, used for steering on larger ships before the development of the ship's wheel.

Windage

Wind resistance of the boat.

Windbound

A condition wherein the ship is detained in one particular station by contrary winds.

Wind-over-tide

Sea conditions with a tidal current and a wind in opposite directions, leading to short, heavy seas.

Windward

In the direction that the wind is coming from.

Windlass

A winch mechanism, usually with a horizontal axis. Used where mechanical advantage greater than that obtainable by block and tackle was needed (such as raising the anchor on small ships).

Working up

Training, usually including gunnery practice.

Worm, parcel and serve

To protect a section of rope from chafing by: laying yarns (worming) to fill in the cuntlines, wrapping marline or other small stuff (serving) around it, and stitching a covering of canvas (parceling) over all.