Access Plate - An access plate or panel with a removable inset and is usually found in the splash well that will allow access to the rigging area.
Actuator - The assembly in the coupler of a trailer that is equipped with brakes that activates the brakes on the wheels. The actuator is engaged by the transfer of the weight of the rig during braking by the tow vehicle. The surge that activates the actuator is how the name Surge Brakes was given to this braking system.
Adjustable Seat - This typically refers to a seat that has a slider built into the seat to allow front-to-rear adjustments of the seat.
Aerator - In a livewell system, the aerator is an electric pump that brings water from outside the boat into the livewell, then mixes air with the flow of water to increase the oxygen mix and help keep fish or bait alive and healthy.
Aft - Aft refers to the back of the boat, toward the transom. In many cases, it is used to describe anything that is behind the console or behind the middle (midship) of the boat.
Anodized - This is a process used on aluminum that seals the metal against the elements and protects against oxidation. Anodized aluminum has a very durable finish with a natural aluminum appearance. In many cases color, can be added when needed for specific needs.
Anti-Backsplash Transom - This design, typically a rounded area or extension to the transom, provides lift when a wave or backwash encounters the transom, preventing water from pouring onto the deck.
Backwash - Baskwash refers to disturbed water caused by propeller action when the boat is reversing or stopped quickly.
Baitwell - This is a receptacle in a boat used to keep bait alive. It can have a removable insert for easy access to the bait.
Baitwell Insert - This is an insert in a livewell with a buckt to hold minnows or other live bait that require water. This provides the advantage of requiring only one plumbing system to operate both the livewell and the baitwell.
Battery Charger - A system to keep batteries completely charged and ready for use.
Beam - The beam is the width of the boat, measured at the widest point, perpendicular to the center line.
Bilge - This is the lowest point in a boat's interior hull. It is also the part of the hull between the bottom and the topside.
Bimini Top - This is a top, typically canvas supported by a series of metal supports or straps, that protects the cockpit area from sun and other elements. The Bimini Top, unlike a convertible top, does not directly attach to the windshield.
Blower - This is an electric motor/fan designed to remove fumes from the engine compartment. Usually found on all inboard/sterndrive powered boats, it must be run several minutes prior to starting the engine and during times when the boat is operating at low speeds (e.g., No Wake or Idle zones) which limit the flow of fresh air into the engine compartment.
Bottom Width - One of the most important measurements of any boat, the bottom width is a large determining factor of stability and overall performance.
Bow - This refers to the most forward section of the boat hull.
Bow Cover - This is typically a canvas covering for the entire bow cavity. It is also referred to as a tonneau cover. The bow cover will also help seal the cockpit from air, which is especially useful for operation in cooler times of day.
Bow Eye - The bow eye is typically a metal loop located close to the front most part, or bow, of the boat. The bow eye is used to attach the trailer winch strap, which holds the boat firmly on the trailer.
Bulkhead - This refers to a wall or divider used to make compartments in the interior of a boat. Many of these are attached directly to the stringer and contribute to more robust structural support for increased hull strength.
Bunk - A bunk is the carpet-wrapped support on a trailer on which the running surface of the hull rests when the boat is on the trailer.
Canopy Top - This is the term used to describe the material or cloth portion of a pontoon top.
Capacity - This is the amount of weight the boat can support, expressed in either total pounds or the number of people that the hull will support. It is always calculated using the weight of the largest motor for which the boat is rated.
Capacity Plate - A placard affixed to the hull that states the total weight capacity and the maximum number of people for which the boat is rated.
Cavitation - This takes place when the propeller breaks loose from the water, causing the engine to rev at a higher rpm because there is no resistance on the prop blade. It also can occur when the water hitting the prop is very turbulent and filled with air. When a prop cavitates, it loses its 'bite' in the water and therefore its ability to propel the boa. Excessive cavitation can lead to premature propeller wear.
Changing Room - A pop up or portable screen or canvas that provides the privacy to change clothes or out of a wet swimsuit.
Chine - The intersection of the hull side and the hull bottom (running surface). It is called a 'hard' chine when the intersection has a pronounced angle and a 'soft' chine when the transition is rounded or is less well-defined.
Cleat - A hardware device, or composite fitting, used to secure lines, sheets, halyards, etc. While they may be placed in several locations, cleats are typically found on the gunnel (gunwale) of fiberglass and aluminum boats and on the decks of pontoon boats.
Coaming Bolster (Pad) - These are upholstered cushions that usually are attached to the inside of the gunnel (gunwale) area for greater comfort or back support when leaning against the boat sides.
Compression - The stroke, or cycle, in an internal combustion engine during which the piston compresses the fuel mixture in the cylinder head just prior to ignition.
Console - The boat part which houses the steering wheel, instruments, switches, and engine controls. Depending on the boat, the console may be made from fiberglass, composites, plastics, or metal.
Corner Casting - This is a casting, usually from aluminum, that is applied to the corners of a boat.
Coupler - This is the section of the trailer that 'couples' the trailer to the tow vehicle. Typically, the coupler is welded to the trailer frame.
Cowling - Comparable to a hood on a car or truck, the cowling is the cover for a marine engine which can be removed for access to the power head.
Cranking Battery - This is the main battery that supplies the power to 'crank' the engine. All boat functions other than the trolling motor are powered by the cranking battery.
Deadrise - The angle of a boat's bottom at the keel relative to the horizontal. Compare a flat bottom boat with a 0-degree deadrise with a Deep V hull at 25 degrees. Deadrise, or Dead Rise, can be measured at different points along the boat's bottom, typically at the widest point.
Deck - This typically refers to the upper side of a boat, and may designate different areas, depending on the boat type: the floor (deck) of a pontoon boat, the entire upper side of a sport or deck boat and the raised flat surfaces of a fishing boat (fishing decks).
Deep V Hull - A hull design featuring a running surface with a deeper V angle, or higher deadrise, from bow to stern. This hull design produces a smoother, drier ride in rougher water.
Depth Finder - An electric device (sonar) that uses sound waves to indicate the depth of water underneath the boat. A depth finder shows water depth, but will not locate/show fish. Sonar units which locate fish are called Fishfinders.
Diameter - The diameter, or distance, from one side of a circular object to the other as measured at the center, or widest part. It is the standard way of sizing pontoon boat logs.
Displacement - The volume/weight of water displaced by the floating hull, or the volume of water that would occupy the area beneath the waterline. Displacement determines whether an object will float. Displacement is often referenced in boats that do not plane or actually ride on top of the water.
Double Bimini - A double bimini top significantly expands the area protected from the sun and other elements. It is available on many models.
Draft - Draft refers to the distance below the waterline of the lowest-hanging part of the boat. This measure defines the minimum water depth needed to operate the boat and is valued by shallow-water anglers. Smaller draft measurements translate to being able to operate in shallower water. Draft is affected by overall weight, distribution of weight and whether the engine is in or out of the water.
Drain Plug - The most important part of every boat. The drain plug is located on the transom at the keel, or the lowest part of the boat exterior. Its purpose is to provide an outlet for water that accumulates in the boat. The drain plug must be in place and secure before the boat is put in the water, otherwise water will come into the boat through the drain outlet.
EFI - Internal combustion engine with Electric Fuel Injection inject the optimal fuel/air mixture directly into the combustion chambers without the use of carburetors.
ELPTO - This designation refers to Two-Stroke, carbureted engine. ELPTO indicates an engine with (E)lectric start, (L)ong shaft (20"), (P)ower trim and tilt, (O)il injection.
Extended Motor Pod - A motor pod used on outboard-powered pontoons, which extends behind the deck of the boat, creating additional usable room on the pontoon deck. Depending on the model, the pod may include a built-in fuel tank.
Fish Finder - An electric device (sonar) that uses sound waves to indicate the depth of water underneath the boat, as well as to graphically illustrate the bottom, structure and the presence of fish. Many units also indicate the surface temperature of the water.
Four-Stroke - A type of internal combustion engine which delivers one power stroke for every four strokes of the piston. They are very friendly to fisheries and the environment in general, since they burn cleaner than traditional carbureted Two-Stroke engines.
Freeboard - The distance from the water level to the upper edge of the boat side.
Fuel Gauge - A device that shows the approximate level of fuel in the fuel tank.
Fuel Injected (EFI) - Any of several methods by which fuel is vaporized and sprayed into the engine cylinders for combustion. Fuel injection systems are typically cleaner burning as well as more fuel efficient.
Full Enclosure - A boat cover that completely encloses the deck of a pontoon boat. It is also called a camper enclosure.
Fuse Panel - A type of fuse panel commonly used in the automobile industry which features plug-in fuses, color coded based on amperage, for easy replacement.
Gas Vent - The vent on the side of the boat or in the fill cap that allows the release of air from the fuel tank, allowing fuel to flow in freely and unrestricted by trapped air during refueling.
Gauge - A reference to the thickness of aluminum used in boat construction, or the thickness of wiring used in electrical systems.
Gelcoat - Gelcoat is a material used to provide a high-quality finish on the visible surface of a fiber-reinforced composite material, such as a fiberglass hull.
Glass Matting - Fiberglass material used in construction of a figerglass boat.
Gunnel - Also called gunwale, this is the top surface of the edge of the boat.
Helm - The steering apparatus of the boat (steering wheel, tiller). The person who steers the boat is called the helmsman.
Holeshot - In boating, this refers to the time it takes for a boat to go from dead stop to on-plane under full acceleration.
Hot Foot - A foot-controlled throttle used in a boat which enables the operator to keep both hands on the steering wheel.
Hull - The watertight body of a boat, consisting of a running surface and hull sides which define the interior of the boat.
I/O - Refers to an inboard/outboard, outdrive or sterndrive. It's a propulsion system that combines an inboard engine with an outboard driveshaft and propeller.
Inboard - Refers to a propulsion system that uses an engine located inside the boat with a shaft to the propeller which is fixed in one position. Steering is accomplished by using a rudder.
Jack Plate - An assembly for mounting an outboard motor which enables repositioning the motor for improved performance. Moving the motor back of the transom accesses undisturbed water for overall better performance. Raising the motor can produce higher top end or better operation in shallow water. A water pressure gauge is mandatory in order to avoid running the engine out of the water in either case.
Keel - The very bottom, or lowest part, of the hull that runs front to back the full length of the boat. Also a flat structure extended beyond the hull bottom for greater control and stability.
Keel Guard - Material applied to the keel for the added strength and protection.
Kicker - A small outboard motor, often used in reference to a secondary outboard used for trolling.
Lifting Strake - A distinct longitudinal shape in the running surface (pontoon logs also) which runs fore and aft and is designed to improve performance.
Livewell - A tank in a boat which can be filled with water to store live fish and bait. Often aerated to extend the life of its contents.
Longitudinal - Refers to the directional alignment of a boat structure which is applied parallel to the boat center line, from bow to stern, as in longitudinal stringers.
Lower Unit - The lower half of an outdrive, or an outboard consisting of the drive gears, propeller shaft and propeller.
Modified V Hull - The type of hull used in boats that operate primarily in shallower water. The hull on these boats typically has a V starting to the bow to cut through the waves, and then gets progressively flatter aft, or to the back of the boat. The flatter hull bottom aids stability.
On Plane - Describes a boat running with only the rear 25% (approximately) of the hull in the water. A high performance bass boat will run on plane with only a small portion of the rear hull in the water.
Outboard Engine - An internal combustion engine designed to be mounted on the transom of the boat.
Outdrive - Also termed as an I/O, inboard/outboard or sterndrive. This refers to a propulsion system that combines an inboard engine with an outboard driveshaft and propeller.
Pitch - The theoretical distance a propeller advances through the water in one revolution, assuming no slip. Also, the repeated rise and fall of a boat's bow through waves.
Planing - Skimming over the surface of the water rather than through the water.
Porpoising - A boat moving through the water by hopping across the surface like a porpoise. This is caused by either improper trim, poor weight distribution or bad design.
Propeller - A rotating device, with two or more blades, that acts as a screw in propelling a vessel.
Pump-Out System - A boat livewell feature that enables the emptying of water in the livewell through the activation of an electric pump.
Recirculating Livewell - A livewell with an electric pump that takes the water from the livewell and pumps it through a spray head to introduce more oxygen into the water. Once the livewell has water in it, this feature can be operated at any time.
Rub Rail - The railing or bumper applied to the exterior edge of a boat to prevent damage from minor collisions with a dock or other structure. Rub rails are made from a variety of materials, such as aluminum, plastic, or vinyl.
Rudder - A flat surface extending below the bottom of the boat aft which rotates in response to the steering wheel or tiller controls to steer the boat in the desired direction. Found on sailboats or inboard boats with fixed propellers.
Safety Lanyard - A short cord that attaches the ignition safety switch to your wrist or personal flotation device. It stops the engine if the driver moves suddenly from the helm position.
Skeg - A fin just ahead of the rudder which provides directional stability.
Starboard - The right side of the boat when looking forward, or anything off to the right side of the boat.
Stern - The rear portion of the boat.
Strake - A defined longitudinal shape in the running surface of a boat designed to convey desired performance characteristics.
Stringer System - The backbone of the hull. The stringer system is a series of supports that will support the running surface of every boat.
Supercharged - Use a belt-driven compressor to force pressurized air into the cylinders of an internal combustion engine.
Surge Brakes - A braking system used in trailers which applies brakes in response to the transfer of weight of the rig during braking by the tow vehicle.
Transducer - An electronic sensing device which provides data for the depth sounder and/or speedometer.
Transom - The transverse part of the stern, or back of the boat.
Transverse - Indicates the direction a structure or element is running. Transverse indicates the structure is running from gunnel to gunnel or side to side.
Trim - Adjusts a boat's horizontal running angle by directing the outboard or sterndrive's thrust up or down. This is accomplished by a mechanism that tilts the engine/outdrive. Also, the way a boat floats in relation to the horizon; bow up, bow down or even.
Trim Gauge - This gauge indicates the amount of Trim or angle of the engine. The gauge monitors the angle to prevent an over trimmed situation that could cause water loss to the engine.
Trim Tab - Trim tabs are small surfaces connected to the trailing edge of a larger control surface and used to control the trim of controls. By adjusting trim tabs the operator can minimize the manual adjustments required to maintain the desired position.
Trolling Battery - A heavy-duty battery used to power our trolling motors. These batteries have a slower discharge rate to prolong a day of active fishing.
Trolling Motor - A small, usually electric, motor used to propel small boats, such as flat boats or bass boats, as they troll or fish.
Two-Stroke - This refers to an internal combustion engine that utilized two cycles, or strokes, in its operation; one for compression and the other for exhaust. Two-Stroke engines have fewer moving parts than Four-Stroke designs and burn a mixture of oil and gasoline, which also provides lubrication to the engine.
Walk-Thru Windshield - Walk thru windshield with a folding center hatch and is constructed using tempered safety glass.
