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Parts of a sailboat, clearly explained.
Learn the hull, sails, rigging, steering and controls—what each part is called, where to find it and what it does aboard.
Start with the boat map.
Use this side view to locate the major parts first. The detailed sections below explain the smaller controls, fittings and sail edges.
Learn your way around the boat.
These fixed reference words help every crew member give clear directions, even when people are facing different ways.
Bow
The forward end of the boat.
Stern
The aft, or back, end of the boat.
Port
The left side of the boat when facing the bow.
Starboard
The right side of the boat when facing the bow.
Hull
The main body of the boat that provides buoyancy and keeps water out.
Deck
The upper surface that covers the hull and supports crew movement.
Cockpit
The recessed area where the crew sits and the boat is commonly steered and controlled.
Transom
The flat or nearly flat surface forming the stern of many sailboats.
Beam
The width of the boat at its widest point.
Freeboard
The vertical distance from the waterline to the deck edge.
What keeps the boat
stable and on course.
The keel resists sideways motion and contributes stability. The rudder redirects water flow to turn the boat while it has steerageway.
Keel
The underwater structure that provides stability and resists sideways motion.
Rudder
The underwater steering blade controlled by a wheel or tiller.
Tiller
A lever connected to the rudder. Moving the tiller one way turns the bow the opposite way.
Wheel
A steering control that turns the rudder through cables, chains or a hydraulic system.
Waterline
The line where the surface of the water meets the hull.
Draft
The depth of the boat below the waterline, measured to its lowest point.
Tiller one way,
bow the other.
Move a tiller to port and the rudder turns so the bow moves to starboard; move it to starboard and the bow moves to port. Make small, smooth corrections.
Three corners.
Three edges.
Once you know the corners and edges of a triangular sail, instructions about trim, tension and reefing become much easier to follow.
Mainsail
The principal sail set behind the mast and controlled by the mainsheet.
Jib
A triangular headsail set forward of the mast.
Genoa
A larger headsail whose clew extends aft of the mast when set.
Head
The upper corner of a triangular sail.
Tack
The lower forward corner of a sail.
Clew
The lower aft corner of a sail where a sheet is commonly attached.
Luff
The forward edge of a sail.
Leech
The aft edge of a sail.
Foot
The lower edge of a sail between the tack and clew.
Standing supports.
Running controls.
Rigging falls into two useful groups. The first supports the mast; the second moves and adjusts the sails.
Standing rigging
Stays fixed in normal use and supports the mast against sailing loads.
- Forestay / headstay
- Supports the mast from forward and commonly carries the jib or genoa.
- Backstay
- Supports the mast from aft.
- Shrouds
- Support the mast from the port and starboard sides.
- Spreaders
- Horizontal struts that hold the shrouds away from the mast to improve their supporting angle.
- Chainplates
- Strong fittings that connect stays or shrouds to the hull structure.
Running rigging
Moves through blocks, winches or fittings to hoist, lower and control sails.
- Halyard
- Raises or lowers a sail.
- Sheet
- Controls a sail's angle to the wind.
- Mainsheet
- Controls the angle of the mainsail and boom.
- Jib sheets
- A pair of lines used to trim the jib from either side of the cockpit.
- Boom vang
- Pulls the boom downward and helps control mainsail twist.
- Outhaul
- Pulls the mainsail clew aft to tension the foot.
- Reefing line
- Helps reduce the exposed sail area when reefing.
- Topping lift
- Supports the boom when the mainsail is lowered on boats fitted with one.
Guide, pull
and secure.
Lines work because deck hardware changes their direction, multiplies pulling power and holds them under load.
Search the complete sailing glossaryWinch
A drum that increases pulling power on a loaded line.
Block
The nautical term for a pulley used to guide a line or create mechanical advantage.
Cleat
A fitting used to secure a line.
Cam cleat
A spring-loaded fitting that grips a line between toothed cams.
Rope clutch
A lever-operated fitting that holds a loaded line and can be released under control.
Gooseneck
The fitting that connects the forward end of the boom to the mast.
Do a dockside
walk-around.
Vocabulary becomes memorable when you connect each name to the physical part, its location and its purpose.
- 01Point from bow to sternName port, starboard, forward, aft, beam and quarters.
- 02Follow the mast supportsIdentify the forestay, backstay, shrouds, spreaders and chainplates.
- 03Trace each sail controlFind the halyards, sheets, vang, outhaul and reefing controls.
- 04Name the sail edgesLocate the head, tack, clew, luff, leech and foot.
- 05Connect steering to the rudderNotice how wheel or tiller movement changes rudder angle.
From boat parts
to boat handling.
Use these resources to reinforce the names, test your recall and apply the vocabulary during a real sailing lesson.
See every part
in context.
Lake St. Clair Sailing School provides hands-on American Sailing instruction in Harrison Township, Michigan. Students learn the names while steering, trimming sails, reefing and working together as a crew.
Sailboat parts
FAQ.
Clear answers to the boat-anatomy questions new sailing students ask most often.
What are the main parts of a sailboat?
A modern sailboat can be understood as several connected systems: the hull and deck, steering and underwater appendages, mast and standing rigging, sails, running rigging and deck hardware. Each system has a different job but works together to move and control the boat.
What is the difference between port and starboard?
When facing the bow, port is the left side and starboard is the right side. These terms stay fixed to the boat, so they prevent confusion when crew members face different directions.
What is the difference between standing and running rigging?
Standing rigging supports the mast and is normally fixed in place; examples include stays and shrouds. Running rigging moves or is adjusted to raise, lower and trim sails; examples include halyards and sheets.
What is the difference between a halyard and a sheet?
A halyard raises or lowers a sail. A sheet adjusts the sail's angle to the wind. A useful memory cue is: halyards haul sails up; sheets shape sails.
What are the three corners of a triangular sail?
The head is the top corner, the tack is the lower forward corner and the clew is the lower aft corner. The three edges are the luff, leech and foot.
Do I need to memorize every sailboat part before ASA 101?
No. Start with the major boat directions, sails, steering parts and primary controls. Hands-on instruction helps connect each term to the real part and its job aboard.
Know the parts.
Learn to sail.
Turn sailboat vocabulary into practical skill with hands-on lessons on Lake St. Clair.
