1) To slacken or pay out slightly; as in: “Ease the stern line.” 2) To bear off slightly, or turn slightly away from the wind; as in: “Ease the helm.” 3) To allow the helm to turn back after being put hard over.
See Also:
harden
Term:
eased (v)
Definition:
1) Slackened or payed out slightly. 2) Born off slightly, or turned slightly away from the wind; as in: ŇAs the wind decreased, he eased the helm.Ó 3) Turned back amidships, referring to the helm, after being put hard over.
See Also:
ease, pay
Term:
East (n)
Definition:
In the general direction 90 degrees off True or Magnetic North. The point on the compass card indicating that direction One of the four cardinal points of the compass.
Term:
easting (n)
Definition:
1) A distance one sails in the westerlies before turning into the trades in order to reach a destination without tacking; as in: “Departing Morgan City, we planned an easting of 800 nautical miles.” 2) A distance to the East of the last position
Term:
ebb (v)
Definition:
To fall from high tide to low tide.
See Also:
flood
Term:
ebb tide, ebb (n)
Definition:
1) The state of the tide when it is falling. 2) The period of time during which the tide is falling.
See Also:
flood tide, flood
Term:
ECDIS (n)
Definition:
Acronym for "Electronic Chart Display and Information System". Modern ships employ a database of nautical charts issued by the National Hydrographic Authority. Appropriate charts can be displayed on computer screens on the bridge, and used for navigation. ECDIS also displays safety information, position, depth and other system readings to aid the watch officer.
See Also:
Integrated bridge
Term:
echo (n)
Definition:
1) The reflection of a radar signal from an object. 2) The display of a reflected signal on a radar screen 3) The phonetic term used on radio transmissions to represent the letter "e".
See Also:
return, phonetic alphabet
Term:
echo ranging (n)
Definition:
The practice of gauging the direction and distance to an underwater target using sonar techniques.
See Also:
sonar
Term:
echo sounder (n)
Definition:
An instrument which transmits sound through the water and receives reflected signals from the bottom, and which, by measuring the elapsed time, computes and displays the depth.
See Also:
sonar, fish finder, acoustic navigation
Term:
eddy (n)
Definition:
A small whirlpool or countercurrent alongside the main flow of water.
Term:
edge fastened (adj)
Definition:
Describing a method of joining planks by driving fastenings through into the adjacent planks rather than into the frame. (This method is often used in handmade monocoque hull construction.)
See Also:
fasten
Term:
eggshell (adj)
Definition:
Describing a type of small boat construction in which thin laminations afford the vessel great strength without the necessity of heavy internal support.
See Also:
cold molding
Term:
Egyptian cotton (n)
Definition:
A fine, high-quality long fibre cotton material once much favored by yachtsmen for light sails.
Term:
eights (n)
Definition:
Slender, light, racing rowboats called shells having eight oars and eight rowers; as in: “Let’s go down to the river and watch the eights race.”
Term:
elapsed time (n)
Definition:
The actual time a vessel takes to travel a specific distance. The term is used in judging sailboat races, and in performing navigation calculations.
Term:
electrolysis (n)
Definition:
The deteriorating effect of spontaneous electrical generation caused by two different metals immersed in salt water. Without protective measures, this battery effect can cause serious damage to the shaft and propeller.
A means of determining position using electronic instruments, principally satellite navigation equipment.
See Also:
SATNAV
Term:
electronics (n)
Definition:
Any or all of the electrically operated instruments used to navigate a ship, such as radar, depth sounder, knotmeter, radio transmitter/receiver, wind speed indicator, and Loran; as in: “The boat is well fitted with electronics.”
Term:
elevation (n)
Definition:
A measurement of the angle of a celestial body above the observer’s horizon
Term:
embark (v)
Definition:
1) To go on board a ship; to board. 2) To set off on a voyage.
Term:
embay (v)
Definition:
To shelter or take shelter in protected waters, such as a bay.
Term:
engine (n)
Definition:
The machinery which propels a vessel, generates electric power, or operates pumps on board.
Term:
engine bed (n)
Definition:
The heavy fore and aft frames fastened to floor timbers on which a ship’s engine is mounted.
See Also:
stringers
Term:
engine compartment (n)
Definition:
A below-decks area where the propulsion equipment is mounted.
