LESSON ONE

KNOW YOUR BOAT

 Key Topics

 Vessel classifications
 Hull types and shapes
 Vessel parts
 Kinds of engines
 Personal Watercraft (PWC)
 Sailboats
 Objectives

You should …

► be able to identify the different types of hulls and

their performance characteristics.

► be able to identify the basic parts of a boat, a PWC,

and a sailboat.

► be able to identify the different kinds of engines

commonly found in recreational vessels and their
uses.
 Length Classes

Vessels divided into classes by length which dictates

equipment necessary to comply with federal and state
laws.
 Length Classes (cont.)

Four most common length classes are:

 Less than 16 feet (Class A)

 16 feet to less than 26 feet (Class 1)

 26 feet to less than 40 feet (Class 2)

 40 feet to less than 65 feet (Class 3)

 Hull Types and Shapes

Displacement hulls are

designed to cut through
water.

Planing hulls rise up and

glide on top of the water.
 Hull Types and Shapes (cont.)

There are four basic hull shapes

Hull Shapes Advantages Disadvantages

Flat Bottom Hull Planing hull with shallow Rides roughly in

draft; good for fishing in choppy waters.
small lakes and rivers.

Deep Vee Hull Planing hull gives Takes more power

smoother ride in rough to move than a flat
water. bottom hull; may
roll or bank in sharp
turns.
 Hull Types and Shapes (cont.)

Hull Shapes Advantages Disadvantages

Round Bottom Hull Typical displacement hull Has a tendency to roll

that moves easily through unless it has a deep
water even at slow speeds. keel or stabilizers.

Multi-Hull Another displacement Needs large area

hull; has greater stability when turning.
because of wide beam.
Vessel Terminology
 Vessel Terminology (cont.)

Transom: Vertical surface at the back of the hull

 Engine Types—Outboards

 Complete power unit

 Higher HP-to-WT ratio

than other engine types

 Separate fuel tanks

 Internal combustion engines

 Steered by controlling tiller or steering wheel

 Engine Types—Inboards

 Mounted inside hull’s

midsection or in front
of transom

 Four-stroke automotive
engine adapted for
marine use

 Two-stroke engine on PWC

 Steering is controlled by rudder behind the propeller
(except PWC and jet drive boats)

 PWC steering controlled by jet flow of water

 Engine Types—Stern Drives

 Known as inboard/outboards (I/O)

 Mounted inside vessel

and attached through
transom to drive unit

 Four-cycle automotive
engines adapted for
marine use

 Steering controlled by drive unit that swivels like

outboard
 Engine Types—Jet Drives

 Jet drives propel vessel by jet of water forced out back of

vessel. Directing jet steers vessel.

 PWC are most common type of vessels using jet drive.

 Engine Types—Jet Drives (cont.)

 May power larger vessels—commonly used for vessels

designed for shallow water conditions. Jet boats can
have inboard or outboard jet drives.
 Personal Watercraft (PWC)

 PWCs are small vessels which use an inboard jet drive as

primary source of propulsion.

 U.S. Coast Guard includes PWC in group of inboard

vessels, less than 16 feet in length.

 PWCs are subject to same laws and requirements of any

other vessel plus some specific to PWCs.
Personal Watercraft (cont.)
Sailboats

Sailboats basically consist of

four components:

 Hull

 Rigging

 Keel or centerboard

 Rudder