Pad Eye, Painted Waterline, Painter, Palm, Pan Pan, Parallax Error,
Parallel, Parallel Of Latitude, Parallel Rulers, Parcel, Parrot Beak,
Passage, Patant Log, Pay Out, Pedestal, Pelican Hook, Pelorus, Pendant,
Pennant, Peril, Personal Flotation Device, Picking-Up, Pier, Pilot,
Pilot House, Piloting, Pinch, Pintle, Pitch, Pitch Poled, Planing,
Planing Hull, Planking, Plot, Plow Anchor, Plug, Pocket Cruiser, Point,
Point-Of-Sail, Poop Deck, Pooped, Port, Porthole, Port Tack,
Position Doubtful (PD), Position Line, Pound, Pram, Pratique,
Prefeeder, Preferred-Channel-Buoy, Prevailing Winds, Preventer,
Prime Meridian, Privileged Vessel, Proa, Progressive Wave,
Propagating Wave, Propeller, Prop-Walk, Prop-Wash, Protractor, Prow,
Puff, Pulpit, Pump Out, Pump Out Station, Purchase, Pushpit,
Put About, Put Down, Put In, Put Out, Put Up.
PAD EYE
(Lug Pad)
A Fitting with a hole or ring, usually mounted or fixed on the
Deck of a Vessel, used for guiding Lines.
(Also, see FAIRLEAD)
PAINTED WATERLINE
A painted line on the sides of a boat indicating where Freeboard
ends at the Waterline.
PAINTER
A Line attached to the Bow of a small boat.
(Also, see BOW LINE and PENDANT)
PALM
(See Sailmaker's Palm)
PAN PAN
[Pronounced, “Pahn Pahn”]
Pan Pan is an international emergency radio message that is sent to
and from Shore stations providing information regarding the safety
of the Vessel-At-Sea or something urgent about people or property
On-Board.
[Pan Pan is to be used only for non-life threatening emergencies.
For life threatening emergencies, use the MAYDAY call. Both Mayday
and Pan Pan messages have priority on the radio channels and are
not to be interrupted. For Less urgent safety messages, such as
reporting navigational hazards, use the SECURITE call.]
PARALLAX ERROR
The apparent displacement of an observed object due to a change in
the position of the observer.
[e.g., Parallax error of a Compass Reading can result when the one
observing the instrument is not reading it directly from the front.]
PARALLEL
A navigational term used to describe a Latitude line since all
Latitude lines run along the same direction and are equidistant
at all points, never converging with or diverging from one another.
PARALLEL OF LATTITUDE
(See PARALLEL and LATTITUDE)
PARALLEL RULERS
A pair of straightedges connected by two pivoted crosspieces of
equal length so as to be parallel at all times, used for moving a
line on a Chart from one location to another without changing
its angle, such as when moving a plotted course to a Compass
Rose and then walking the line across a flat Chart.
PARCEL
Material wrapped around a Line to prevent Chaffing.
PARROT BEAK
(See SNAPHOOK)
PASSAGE
(Voyage)
A course of travel by a Vessel-At-Sea, from one Port to another.
PATANT LOG
A mechanical device with a counter attached to a rotor that is towed
on a Line behind a Vessel to measure its distance and speed.
PAY OUT
To let out.
[e.g., "Pay out the Line to give it some Slack.]
(Also, see EASE)
PEDESTAL
(See STEERING PEDESTAL)
PELICAN HOOK
A hook that is hinged and can open when under load by moving the
locking ring away from the Hook. A Pelican Hook is used mostly
to secure a Lifeline (i.e., Guardrail) on a Sailboat.
(Also, see SNAP HOOK)
PELORUS
(Dumb Compass)
A device, usually a card marked in degrees, used for measuring
the relative Bearings of observed objects.
PENDANT
(Pendent)
A small Line connected to a larger Mooring Line.
PENNANT
1. A small flag used for signaling.
2. A tapered flag, longer in the fly than in the Hoist and flown
at the Main Masthead of old square rigged ships indicating a
commissioned Vessel.
PERIL
A term used to describe hazardous situations at Sea, especially with
regard to Salvage operations.
PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE
(PFD)
A Life Jacket, Life Preserver, or Life Vest used to keep one afloat.
PICKING UP
A term used to describe an increase in Wind Velocity.
[e.g., "The Wind is Picking Up from Force 2 to Force 4."]
(Also, see FRESHEN)
PIER
A structure built on pilings or posts extending from land and out
over the water, used as a landing place for boats.
PILOT
An individual with specific knowledge of a Harbor, Canal, river,
etc., qualified or licensed to guide Vessels through the region.
PILOT HOUSE
(Wheelhouse)
An enclosed compartment on the Deck from which to Steer the Vessel.
PILOTING
Navigation by landmarks.
PINCH
To Sail a higher Course than that for which the Sails are Trimmed.
(Also, see FOOT]
PINTLE
A Fitting mounted on the Stern of a Sailing Vessel, which is inserted
into the Gudgeon to complete the Rudder hinge assembly.
Pintles (as well as Gudgeons) are mounted in pairs, with
the lower pin being longer than the upper pin in order
to facilitate assembly on the water.
PITCH
1. A Fore-And-Aft rocking motion of a boat.
2. The curve of a propeller.
PITCH POLED
When a boat's Stern is thrown over its Bow.
PLANING
[Pronounced: "plane-ing"]
When the boat rides on its own Bow Wave and moves on top of the water.
PLANING HULL
Flat or round bottom Hulls without an extended Keel.
PLANKING
Wood strips used to cover the Deck or Hull of a wooden Vessel.
PLOT
(Plot-a-Course, Lay-a-Course)
To determine a Vessel's Course on a Chart.
PLOW ANCHOR
(CQR)
An Anchor designed to bury itself easily into a variety of Bottoms
by virtue of its heavy plow shaped Fluke. The major feature of a
Plow Anchor is that the Shank pivots on a hinge longitudinally to
reduce the tendency for the Anchor to break loose when the Vessel
changes its direction of pull due to Swinging.
(Also, see DANFORTH ANCHOR and KEDGE ANCHOR)
PLUG
(1) A tapered device, usually made from wood or rubber, which can be
forced into a hole to prevent water from flowing through it. Plugs
should be available on board to fit every Through-Hull.
(2) The act of using anything to stop the water from flowing through
a hole in the boat.
POCKET CRUISER
(Tabloid Cruiser)
A small Keelboat (Usually 33 feet or less in length), used primarily
for pleasure Sailing, with a Cabin equipped for sleeping, cooking,
and the like.
(Also, see DAY SAILORS)
POINT
One of thirty-two equidistant divisions (points) on a Steering
Compass Card, eleven degrees and fifteen minutes (11° 15´) apart.
There are eight Divisions per each Cardinal Point. The four Cardinal
Points are North, South, East, and West. The four Half Cardinal
Points are Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, and Northwest, etc.
[e.g., A sighting of an object, four points off the Starboard Bow,
when on a North Compass Heading of 0°, would make that object
45° Northeast of the existing Heading.]
POINT-OF-SAIL
(Point-Of-Sailing)
The Course or Heading of a Sailboat in relation to the Wind.
A Point-Of-Sail could be any one of the following: Close-Hauled,
Close-Reach, Beam-Reach, Broad-Reach, or Running.
POOP DECK
A boat's Aft Deck.
POOPED
When a Wave breaks over the Stern and into the Cockpit of the boat.
PORT
(Larboard)
1. The left side of a Vessel when facing the Bow.
[Opposite of STARBOARD]
2. A place where ships and Sailing Vessels Dock.
PORTHOLE
(Port)
A watertight Hatch, usually round and constructed in the side of a
boat, used as a window which, if not Fixed shut, can be opened.
PORT TACK
When Sailing on a Port Tack, the Wind is coming over the Port side
of the boat, with the Boom out on the Starboard side.
(Also, see STARBOARD TACK)
POSITION DOUBTFUL
(PD)
A "PD" notation entered on a Chart indicates that the accuracy of
the Fix is questionable.
POSITION LINE
(See LINE-OF-POSITION)
POUND
The action of a boat's Bow repeatedly slamming into oncoming waves.
PRAM
A type of Dinghy with a flat Bow.
PRATIQUE
The practical exercise of port authorities to issue health certificates
to foreign Vessels who want to use the Harbor (i.e., allow the Crew to
come Ashore), only after it is determined by the host country that the
Vessel and Crew are not carrying any fatal or infectious disease.
PREFEEDER
(Feeder)
A device at the opening of the Mast Slot (or Sail Slot) through which
the Luff Cord (or Bolt Rope) is fed first for the purpose of feeding
the Sail smoothly up the groove of the Head Foil.
PREFERRED-CHANNEL-BUOY
(See JUNCTION BUOY)
PREVAILING WINDS
The typical winds for a particular region and time of year.
PREVENTER
A Line used to prevent an Uncontrolled Jibe when Running.
[e.g., A Preventer can be Rigged by Leading a Guy from the Boom, running it
through a Block attached to the Stem Plate or Foredeck Cleat, and then
Securing Guy to the Secondary Winch or a Horn Cleat near the Cockpit.]
PRIME MERIDIAN
(Greenwich Meridian)
The Meridian at 0° Longitude (running through Greenwich, England)
from which Longitude East and West are measured.
PRIVILEGED VESSEL
(See STAND-ON VESSEL)
PROA
Any of various types of Indonesian sailing Vessels with Fore-And-Aft
Rigged Lanteen Sails, with the Lee side flat, and balanced by a single
Outrigger.
PROGRESSIVE WAVE
(Propagating Wave)
A Wave that travels significant distances along the Sea surface
or at an intermediate depth.
(Also, see SWELL and TSUNAMI)
PROPAGATING WAVE
(See PROGRESSIVE WAVE)
PROPELLER
(Screw)
A rotating underwater accelerating device, located below the waterline,
Astern and just before the Rudder, having two or more blades that
radiate out from a revolving hub connected to the drive shaft of
the boat's internal engine. The rotation of a Propeller may be
right-handed (Clockwise) or left-handed (Counterclockwise) when
the engine is in forward gear. Propellers may have two to four
blades, and the blades may be of a feathering, fixed, folding,
or Variable Pitch.
(Also, see PROP-WALK)
PROP-WALK
The Sternway motion of a Vessel when the Propeller is in reverse.
[e.g., A right-handed Propeller in reverse will Prop-Walk the
Stern of the Vessel to Port and the Prop-Wash can be seen at
the Stern from the Starboard side. A left-handed Propeller
in reverse will Prop-Walk the Stern of the Vessel to
Starboard and the Prop-Wash can be seen at the Stern
from the Port side.]
(Also, see PROP-WASH)
PROP-WASH
The flow of water emitted from a rotating Propeller.
(Also, see PROP-WALK)
PROTRACTOR
A Navigation tool used to measure angles on a Chart.
PROW
The part of the Bow forward of where it leaves the Waterline.
PUFF
(Flaw)
A short and sudden gust of Wind that is greater than its mean velocity.
PULPIT
(Bow Rail
A metal framework or platform extending forward and around the Deck
at the Bow with a safety rail rising from the Deck about 18 to 30
inches, to which the Lifelines are Secured.
PUMP OUT
Removing waste from a Holding Tank.
PUMP OUT STATION
A facility, usually located in Marinas, used to Pump Out Holding Tanks.
PURCHASE
To get better leverage on something that is being Hauled, moved, or
raised through mechanical means such as a Block-And-Tackle or lever.
PUSHPIT
(Stern Pulpit Rail)
A sturdy railing around the Deck at the Stern.
PUT ABOUT
(See COME ABOUT)
PUT DOWN
(Helm's Down)
Moving the Helm or Tiller to Leeward so the Vessel will Head Up.
PUT IN
(Putting-into-Port)
When a Vessel enters a Harbor from Sea.
PUT OUT
(Putting-Out-To-Sea)
When a Vessel leaves a Harbor and out to Sea.
PUT UP
Moving the Helm or Tiller to Windward so the Vessel will Fall Off.
