Boating Fun Facts You Probably Didn't Know

Whether you're an old salt or a young salt, there's always something new and exciting you can learn about your boat. That goes from important everyday matters such as how to boat safely and how to keep your vessel in tip-top condition to fun facts and trivia you and your crew might have a gam about as you enjoy snacks and beverages together in a quiet cove with the waves lapping against your watercraft's gunwales.

Here at Bakes Marine, we have been selling, working on and playing on performance boats for more than three decades. That has given us ample time to learn about the ins and outs of getting the most out of time on the water. Along the way we have also picked up some fascinating factoids about the boating life. Even the savviest old sea dog can learn something new about boating. Jump on board and sail along with us if you want to learn some boating fun facts you probably didn't know.

Getting the Lingo Right

As in any pursuit, when it comes to boating, you have to know the lingo. For boating newbies, boating nomenclature can seem especially mysterious at first blush. As far as the typical tyro is concerned, terms such as starboard and larboard might as well be ancient Greek.

Starboard simply means right (when you are facing the boat's front, which only landlubbers would describe that way. The correct word for the front of the boat would be bow.)

Why is it called starboard? That's easy. Well, actually it's not that easy. Understanding the word requires a trip back in time to ancient boating methods as well as a dip into long-gone languages like Old English and proto-German. Starboard comes from the Old English word steorbord, meaning rudder and side. It describes how boats once were maneuvered, with a steering paddle positioned on the boat's right

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