Nautical Terminology
When out on the boat do you use the proper nautical terms for things like directions or parts of the boat. For instance port & Starboard, for left & right? Or deck & bulkhead in place of floor & walls? I try to educate/initiate my land lubber friends to this when out on the water, do you? I've had several that said they don't think they would ever be able to keep port & starboard, for left & right, correct in their mind. I tell them the easy way to remember it is, left & port are both 4 letter words, right & starboard are more than that. Most of them catch on to it pretty quick when you give that explanation to them. Another term I see used incorrectly, even by seasoned sailors who should know better is pier & dock. The pier is the structure you walk on & the boat gets tied to, the dock is the area NEXT to the pier where the boat sits. You can walk on a pier but not a dock unless it is a DRYDOCK that has been pumped out. Maybe this all goes back to my years in the navy and the fact they make sure you know/use the right words for what you mean.
When out on the boat do you use the proper nautical terms for things like directions or parts of the boat.
I use nautical terms even in my car. For example, if I have the right of way at an intersection I may scream "Staaarrrbooaarrdd!" at the other driver lol! Kidding, but I've been tempted to do that on occasion because it seems more polite than just blowing the horn.
But yes, unambiguous communication on the water is important especially in an emergency situation. "Left" means port only when you're facing the bow. But when facing the stern, "left" can be confusing. Especially if neither person knows which way the other is facing. Fortunately most of my friends are boat people so I don't often need to explain nautical terms and why they're important. I do cut land lubbers some slack. But learning a few of the basics is usually part of their boat ride.
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