ABW June 2017

Sailing Tips
You’ve always been interested to sail, but you know little about boat parts, the confusing technobabble,
and what little you know is making your head spin in four different directions! Worry no
more. This continuing series of articles is for you: it covers tips regarding hardware present on most boats,
as well as common sailing techniques, terms and definitions, the names of the different pieces of hardware,
and much more. This will keep you informed about most things you will need before you begin your own
sailing excursion. Be sure to consult with an experienced sailor and someone knowledgeable about boats.
Some boats may
be steered with a
wheel others with
a tiller.
Article
excerpts
reprinted
from
the book
CRUISER
HANDLING
by BOB BOND
& STEVE
SLEIGHT
Exploded view
78
Sailing Cruiser
Although the layout of most modern medium –
sized boats is broadly similar, both internally and
externally, there are many variations in the detail.
The number of berths will be determined largely
by the size of the boat, as will the number and
sophistication of the various fittings. Very small
boats may not have a heads compartment and
may only have a limited galley area. The only major
difference you are likely to come across is in the
siting of the cockpit. On some of the bigger boats
it is in the center of the boat, rather than at the aft
end. This has the advantage of providing a cabin
in the stern which is separated from the rest of the
living accommodation, giving greater privacy. As
far as the external arrangement is concerned, the
only obvious difference on bemudan boats is in the
size of the coach roof, and the position and size
of the cockpit. Some boats may be steered with a
wheel others with a tiller. The layout pictured is of a
medium sized cruiser racer.