Nautical Terms and Phrases

The letters of the alphabet are listed with their corresponding phonetic alphabet term. The phonetic alphabet is used when spelling terms over a radio so that the listener does not confuse one letter for another.

The terms will show up below the list of letters when you click a letter.

A - Alpha N - November
B - Bravo O - Oscar
C - Charlie P - Papa
D - Delta Q - Quebec
E - Echo R - Romeo
F - Foxtrot S - Sierra
G - Golf T - Tango
H - Hotel U - Uniform
I - India V - Victor
J - Juliet W - Whiskey
K - Kilo X - X-Ray
L - Lima Y - Yankee
M - Mike Z - Zulu




Earing A rope attached to the cringle of a sail, by which it is bent or reefed.
Ease To let out a line or sail slowly.
Ebb A receding current.
Engine Bed A structure of wooden or metal supports that make up the mounting for a ship's engine.
EPIRB Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon. An emergency device that uses a radio signal to alert satellites or passing airplanes to a vessel's position.
Escutcheon The part of a vessels stern where her name is written.
Even Keeled The situation of a vessel when she is so trimmed that she sits evenly upon the water, neither end being down more than the other.
Eye Splice A loop spliced into the end of a rope.



Used Boat Values