Where is the gunwale on a boat

The gunwale () is the top edge of the hull of a ship or boat.[1]

Where is the gunwale on a boat
The gunwale of an undecked boat

Originally the structure was the "gun wale" on a sailing warship, a horizontal reinforcing band added at and above the level of a gun deck to offset the stresses created by firing artillery. Over time it remained as a valuable stiffener mounted inboard of the sheer strake on commercial and recreational craft. In modern boats, it is the top edge of the hull where there is usually some form of stiffening, often in the form of traditional wooden boat construction members called the "inwale" and "outwale".

On a canoe, the gunwale is typically the widened edge at the top of its hull, reinforced with wood, plastic or aluminum, to carry the thwarts.

On a narrowboat or canal boat, the gunwale is synonymous with the side deck[citation needed]—a narrow ledge running the full length of the craft.

A gunwale is the upper side of a ship or boat or the uppermost planks of a wooden vessel. Originally, the gunwale of a ship was the part of the deck where the guns were mounted and the term was spelled gonne wale, meaning gun plank. Gunwale is pronounced GUNnull.

Gunnel is an alternate spelling of gunwale; the definition of gunnel is also the upper side of a ship or boat or the uppermost planks of a wooden vessel. This spelling is gaining momentum as it is closer to how the word is pronounced, though many editors still frown upon the simplified spelling. Gunnel is also a small ocean fish.

Examples

Luckily, I found it within a couple of hours floating full with water and only a bit of the gunwale and the front of the bow could be seen on the surface. (World Fishing & Aquaculture Magazine)

Time for a snack, I braced my rod against the gunwale with just enough forethought to tuck it under a cleat. (Field & Stream Magazine)

I jumped in the water then grabbed the gunwale of the boat as the residual current from the wind tried to sweep me away. (The Fiji Times)

He also explained that it was not practical to construct safety rails on the gunwale or side deck of the boat as this would be constantly damaged due to the boat-to-boat contact. (The Borneo Post)

Penny Gough, the medical co-ordinator for the Volvo Ocean Race, said the most common illnesses were skin infections and sores with 67 incidents, followed by 54 cases of “gunwale bum” – apparently a painful, pimply condition caused by spending too much time in damp gear. (The New Zealand Herald)

The gunnel height is perfect for keeping you securely in the boat but not so high that you can’t land a fish over the side. (Florida Sportsman Magazine)

The boat pulled up to a mooring ball; the divers sat on the gunnel (upper side of the boat) and one by one rolled backward into the water. (The Miami Herald)

If you want to be a boater, you’ll need to learn a new vocabulary because boats don’t have a front and back, or a kitchen and a bathroom. Here’s a guide to basic nautical terminology, specifically having to do with the parts of a boat.

1. Ballast – Weight in the form of heavy material (water, metal or stone) placed low in a boat hull to improve stability and performance of the boat.

2. Berth – A bed or bunk if it’s in a boat or a slip for a boat to dock in.

3. Bilge – The lowest part of a boat hull that sometimes collects water.

4. Bimini – A canvas or composite (hard) top attached to a boat to provide protection from sun and rain.

5. Bow – The front of the boat. Multihulls may have two or three bows.

Where is the gunwale on a boat

6. Bulkhead – An upright wall within the hull of a boat that may add structural integrity or a separation of living spaces.

7. Cabin – A room inside the boat, which can refer to the entire interior or just one room designed for sleeping.

8. Casting deck/platform – A surface at the front or back part of a boat that’s elevated so you can fish without obstructions and have a better view of the water.

9. Cleat – A wood, plastic or metal fitting onto which you tie or loop a line. This can be on a boat or a dock.

10. Cockpit – A protected, somewhat enclosed space on deck, usually from where a boat is controlled or steered.

11. Console – A raised structure on the deck of a boat that usually holds the helm or steering station and may include a toilet or stowage space in the compartment below.

12. Deck – The exterior flat surface of a boat.

13. Dinette – An area of the boat with a table and seats used for dining.

14. Flybridge – Also referred to as a “flying bridge” this is the area on top of a boat cabin, which usually holds a steering station and sometimes a social space.

15. Galley – A boat kitchen, which may be inside the boat or outside on deck.

Where is the gunwale on a boat

16. Gunwale – Also known as gunnel, this is the outermost top edge of a boat hull, usually where the deck and hull come together.

17. Hardtop – A top or roof added to a boat cabin-top or console. It serves to protect the driver and sometimes also passengers from the elements.

18. Hatch – An opening in the deck or cabin of a boat that serves as a window or door.

19. Helm – The steering station, which includes engine controls and a wheel or joystick.

20. Hull – The body or shell of the vessel.

21. Livewell – A tank designed to keep caught fish or bait alive during fishing.

22. Propeller – A rotating device with blades designed to move a boat forward or backward through the water.

23. Rigging – The wires, cables or lines, which support a mast on a boat.

24. Rudder – An appendage below the waterline that steers the boat.

25. Saloon – A room in a boat that is an interior social space used like a living room in a house.

26. Stern – The back part of the boat.

27. Swim platform – A structure fixed to the transom or aft portion of the boat designed to make getting onto the boat from the water or dock easier.

28. T-top – A metal or composite structure designed to hold a canvas or hardtop to protect the boat driver from the sun.

29. Transom – The back of the boat that comes up from the hull bottom and connects the two hull sides together.

30. V-berth – A bed in the bow of a boat. Since bows are usually pointy, the bed or the room that holds that bed is V-shaped.

Read Next: 10 Nautical & Sailing Terms to Know


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What is a boat's gunwale?

Definition of gunwale : the upper edge of a ship's or boat's side.

What is the function of gunwale?

Gunwale was referred to as a reinforced ledge that surrounded decks of warships where guns and other artillery was mounted. The gunwale gave soldiers the ability to not only grip whatever weapons they were using but also improved their accuracy.

Which part of a boat is the gunnel?

Gunwale – Also known as gunnel, this is the outermost top edge of a boat hull, usually where the deck and hull come together.

Is a gunnel and a gunwale the same thing?

Gunnel (ship element), also known as "gunwale", the top edge of the side of a boat.