Logo-BVISailingSchool.gif (2340 bytes)

Online Cruising Course
Sloop Parts & Jargon
No Frames    Frames

I. GENERAL ORIENTATION TO THE BOAT

A. The Boat, its Parts & Functions-The Modern Sloop

1. The hull-length
-freeboard
-beam (width at widest)
-displacement & hull speed
-running lights
-type of hull-rounded

2. The keel
-draft of keel (distance of waterline to keel's lowest point)
-ballast (weight) of keel

Importance of draft re going aground

How depth meter reads: ? from waterline

3. The mast, its fittings & halyards
-mastheigth
-the anchor light, the sheave fitting for halyards, the windvane at top of mast
-the main & jib halyards, how strung to cockpit, winches, stops & cleats
-sorting halyards by pulling on each end
-main & jib shackles: their detailed inspection & use; problem of losing halyard upwards
-the spinaker halyards & the spinnaker pole, topping lift & downhaul, & their leads (note in passing-do not need to teach)
-type of halyard line used-Dacron polyester for non-stretch, combined with wire

4. Standing rigging

-stainless steel wire & fittings: turnbuckles, clevis pins, & safety rings; inspect for breaks, rusting, etc.

-shrouds, stays & spreaders (note tendency of halyards to get caught behind spreaders)

5. The boom & its fittings

-the gooseneck, the reefing hook, & downhaul

-the sailtrack & the outhaul (how adjusted)

-the topping lift & its function

-the pigtail & how to release & secure

-the boom vang (a block & tackle) & its use

-the main sheet, traveller & cam cleat

6. The mainsail-show how to remove & replace on boom

-roped foot of mainsail slid in boom slot

-clew cringle shackeled to outhaul

-tack cringle shackeled to fitting by downhaul

-head cringle shakeled to main halyard

-head led on by hand & up mast track by sliding on sailslides attached to luff of mailsail

-important to check condition of sail- slides against jamming which would prevent lowering of mainsail

-engage sailslide stop at bottom of sail track

-reefing points-cringles at luff & leech some distance up

-reefing used to reduce sail area in heavy wind

-the sail cover-its use to protect sail from weathering, especially ultraviolet radiation

6. The deck & its related gear

-the foredeck, the jib tack shackel & forestay

-its chocks & cleat used in anchoring & docking

-the foredeck hatch & its latching positions

-the lifelines, stanchions, & gunwale

-the cabintop hatch-how to slide for "flooring"

7. The foresail or jib

-size of jib carried-working jib & genoa

-size relation to wind strenth re overpowering

-hank on tach of jib to foresail shackel

-"bend" rest of sailhanks on forestay

-shackel jib halyard on jib head cringle

-run jib sheets properly & put in stopper knot

if lose jib sheet, luff up or tack & retrieve

-do temporary tie down

8. The cockpit & its parts & uses

-seats, floors & drains

-hatches: storage for fenders, lines (how secured), swim ladder, bilge pump, anchor

-jib sheet blocks, winches, & jam cleats

-instruments on cabin wall & their use
depth meter, knot meter, etc.

-halyard stops, winches, cleats on cabin deck

-cabin hatch & its panels & locks

8. The rudder, rudder post & wheel or tiller (emergency tillers)

9. The lazerette (engine well)

-latch cover to backstay to keep open for venilation while operating motor

10. Outboard engine

Starting-check for adequate fuel, vent tank, pump in-line bulb firm, put throttle on start, put gear shift in neutral, engage & pull starting cord w/ clear travel path of hand & elbow, when engine starts, throttle up & push in choke, check water exit stream, let engine warm up

Running-always shift at low speed

Fueling-add oil with boat oil measuring device

B. The Cabin

1. Sleeping arrangements-staterooms, v-berth & dinette berth

2. The marine head & its operation

3. Seacocks-parallel open v. perpendicular settings

-importance of closing when finishing vogage

-rule that handle to head outlet seacockmust be removed in US (can be nearby)

4. Checking & pumping the bilge

5. The electrical system-master & related switches

-importance of turning off when finishing voyage

6. The radiotelephone and its use

7. Locate safety equipment & discuss use

-life jackets (PFDs)-one for each person

-horseshoe & lifesling-use & difference

-horns-practice use as warning device

-flag-visual warning device

-flares

-fire extinguisher-read instructions re use

-first aid kit

8. Locate boat license, trash & oil pollution warning signs, radio license

9. Locate equipment: winch handles, tiller hiking stick, flashlights

-whiskerpole & its use holding out jib

-boathooks & their use in docking

Guide | BVI Map | Island Central | News | Discounts | Transport
Sailors | Charter | Bareboat | Crewed | Day Sails | Schools |
Stay&Sails
BVI Tour | Treasure Is. | Peter Is. | Cooper & Salt Is. | Jost Van Dyke
Road Town | Nanny Cay | Maya Cove | Fat Hog's Bay | Trellis Bay
Tortola:Villas-Ocean- North Coast | Soper's Hole | Cane Garden Bay
Virgin Gorda:Villas
-The Baths-Beach Coast-North Sound | Anegada
Vacations | Families | Lodging | Dining | Culture | Music | Books
Beaches
| Nature | Guana | Nightlife | Dive| Real Estate| Activities| Shops

AmazonHonorSystemPaybox.gif (7084 bytes)

BVI Telephone Area Code (284)
Please ask your questions at
TravelTalk
and TravelTalkOnline
Free to print out for your personal use
And please mention the B-V-I Guide

� 1997-2004 B-V-I Guide All Rights Reserved
Terms of Use

TravelSiteDesignLogo.gif (2640 bytes)