So you just bought your first Grady-White boat and you’re ready to spend all your extra time on the water—congratulations! Before you sail off into the sunset, you’ll want to make sure your prepped and ready for every situation that could arise.

First up in our Boating 101 series: boating terminology! Here are a few basic terms you should know before you head out.

Port

If you are facing the front of the boat, the port side is the left side (A trick to remember is that the word left has four letters and so does the word port.)

Starboard

If you are facing the front of the boat, the starboard side is the right side

Bow

Refers to the front area

Helm

The area where the captain drives the boat

Aft/Stern

The back

Gunwale (pronounced “gunnel”)

The top horizontal surface on the sides of the boat

Berth

The sleeping area, usually inside a cabin or a console

Galley

The kitchen

Head

The bathroom

Dock lines

Ropes used to tie the boat to the dock, or to other boats

Cleat

Metal hardware with two points (called horns) that is used to secure the boat to a dock with a rope

Fender

A small bumper (often made of inflatable rubber) that typically hangs off the boat and is used to keep it from being damaged when it bumps into the dock

Wake

Waves that occur behind a boat when it moves

Propeller

A device on the bottom of the engine that spins and helps to propel the boat through the water

Cockpit

The area in the back of a boat—often where fishing takes place or where guests can ride

Console

An area on the boat where you can sit or stand; on some boats, this is where you steer

Windlass

A machine some boats have that electronically drops and picks up the anchor

VHF

A marine radio used to communicate with other boats or to call for help