Important Pleasure Craft Terminology

Vessel – includes every description of water craft, including non-displacement craft and seaplanes, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water.

Pleasure craft – means a vessel that is used for pleasure and does not carry passengers, and includes a vessel of a prescribed class.

Operate – means the action of controlling the speed and course of a pleasure craft.

Power-driven vessel – means any vessel propelled by machinery.

Sailing vessel – means any vessel under sail provided that propelling machinery, if fitted, is not being used.

Bow – the forward part of a pleasure craft

Stern – the after part of a pleasure craft

Port – the left side of a pleasure craft looking forward

Starboard – the right side of a pleasure craft looking forward

Hull – the body of a pleasure craft exclusive of masts, sails, rigging, machinery and equipment

Design waterline – in respect of a pleasure craft, means the waterline at the recommended maximum gross load capacity.

Freeboard – means the minimum vertical distance at side between the gunwale and the design waterline.

Draft – the depth of water which a pleasure craft requires to float freely

Wake – the disturbed column of water around and behind a moving pleasure craft, which is, set into motion by the passage of a pleasure craft

Restricted visibility – means any condition in which visibility is restricted by fog, mist, falling snow, heavy rainstorms, sandstorms or any other similar causes.

Give-way Vessel – Every vessel which is directed to keep out of the way of another vessel shall, so far as possible, take early and substantial action to keep well clear.

Stand-on Vessel – Where one of two vessels is to keep out of the way the other shall keep her course and speed

Strong Wind Warning – (20 – 33 knots) or (37 – 61 km/h)

Lifejacket (Small Vessel Lifejacket) – is a buoyant life-saving apparatus designed to assist the wearer in remaining afloat . They are approved for use on small commercial vessels of less than 15 tons and on small passenger vessels. They are available only in red, yellow, or orange and they are only found in three sizes. (under 18kgs; between 18 kgs & 41kgs;over 41kgs).In Canada, Transport Canada grants approval status on Small Vessel Lifejackets. They have less floatation than a standard lifejacket and they will turn you on your back but it may be slower than a standard lifejacket

Personal flotation device (pfd) – is a buoyant life-saving apparatus designed to assist the wearer in remaining afloat .Pfd’s are available in a wide range of sizes,colors,and designs.In Canada, they must approved by Transport Canada or Department of Fisheries and Oceans or Canadian Coast Guard (check the label).They must be the approriate size for the wearer and they must be in good condition.Damaged,altered,or repaired pfd’s are void.It is important to note that a pfd may float a person in thewater but they may not have the ability to turn an unconsious person on to their back,thus keeping their nose,mouth,& chin above the water and enabling them to breathe

Standard lifejacket – is a buoyant life-saving apparatus designed to assist the wearer in remaining afloat .In Canada, they are only appoved by Transport Canada (check the label).They are available in two sizes- child( less than 40 kgs) and adult (greater than 40 kgs).As far as colors go,they are only found in red,yellow,or orange.Unlike the pfd’s and small vessel lifejackets,if worn correctly they have the ability to right an unconsious person in the water thus enabling