Outboard Engines

• Outboard - self-contained gasoline powered propulsion system. Power and transmission are contained in one housing. The outboard is attached to the boat transom. The engine(s) act as a rudder when swiveled left or right by either a tiller or steering cables connected to a steering wheel.

• Inboard – an engine (gas or diesel) mounted inside the hull, usually along the centerline. Provides power and the transmission in the same unit. Transmission is connected to a drive shaft that exits through a hole in the hull (through-hull fitting). A propeller is connected to the end of the drive shaft. Steering is made possible by a separate rudder located behind (aft) the propeller. The rudder is attached to the to the hull and steering cables connect it to the steering wheel. It swivels left or right as the steering wheel is turned, redirecting water and turning the boat.

Stern Drive

• Inboard/Outboard , commonly referred to as an “I/O” or “Stern-Drive” – Engine mounted inside the boat, while the gearbox and propeller (lower unit) are mounted outside the hull. The I/O system eliminates the need for a separate rudder since the lower unit swivels left or right as the wheel is turned to provided steering capabilities.

• Jet-Drive – inboard gasoline engine that uses a drive shaft connected to an impeller (similar to a propeller in design, but contained inside a housing). As the impeller spins, it grabs water coming through an intake area and forces the water through a steerable nozzle to provide thrust and steering. Examples of jet drive boats are Personal Watercraft (PWC) and Jet Boats. Jet drives units can also be attached to outboards instead of the traditional propeller.

• Human Powered Craft – manually propelled by a person(s). Examples are canoes, kayaks, and paddleboats.
  
  
• Sailing – uses sails to capture the force of the wind and propel the boat.

Open Bow

• Bow is not enclosed; has seating for passengers.
• Safety of passengers in the bow area is critical.
• Waves easily break over the bow.
• Typically used in inland lakes and rivers.
• Ideal for towing skiers.

Closed Cabin (cuddy)

• Ideal for inland lakes and rivers, and can handle heavier seas than an open bow.
• May have sleeping quarters, small sink and toilet.
• Ability to securely store equipment.
• Less room for passengers on main deck area.

Cruiser

• May have full kitchen, sink, and bathroom.
• May have multiple sleeping quarters.
• Some have generators and shore power connection.
• Have enclosed super structures.
• Can travel long distances and handle larger seas.

Bass

• Open construction with flat deck space.
• Multiple storage areas, including live wells.
• Fast and maneuverable.
• Typically use outboard motors.
• Low freeboard .
• No shelter from the elements.

Jon

• Low freeboard, flat bottom and narrow beam.
• Use for calm inland lakes and rivers only.
• Limited passenger and cargo capacity.
• Lightweight, easily transported and launched.

Pontoon

• Stable platform with large deck space.
• Can be outfitted with many amenities.
• Easily take water over the bow.
• Have large turning radius.

Ski

• Inboard engines keep propellers away from skiers.
• Can have a limited amount of extra weight added (bladders) for increased wave height.
• Center towing pylon or high towers keep boards and tubes out of passenger area and allows good lift.
• Not made for rough seas.

Dingy

• Small boat carried onboard, or towed behind, a larger boat.
• Used to transport people and supplies from ship to shore.
• Low freeboard, limited capacity.

Inflatable

• Lightweight and easily transported.
• Available in various sizes.
• Can handle rough seas.
• Easily punctured by sharp objects, but multiple air compartments help keep craft afloat.

Rigid Hull Inflatable

• A combination of a fiberglass hull with an inflatable upper freeboard.
• Very good multi-purpose boat.
• Inflatable compartments require monitoring to ensure proper inflation.

Sailing is very different than power boating. They handle differently, have more parts and require much greater training to master than a powerboat.
All sailboats have five basic components.

• Hull - supports rigging (mast, spars, etc.).
• Mast – supports the sails
• Sail(s) –catches the wind and provides force to move the boat.
• Keel or Centerboard – stablizes the hull.
• Rudder – used to steer the hull.

The force the wind transfers to the sails actually makes the sailboat move forward.  The air moving across the sails creates lift.
The keel or centerboard keeps the boat from being pushed sideways by the wind. The resistance from the hull and the keel transfers the lift to forward motion. Sailboats don’t just move forward on a straight line, they also move slightly sideways (leeway).
The rudder is used to steer the boat. On sailboats with wheel steering, the boat turns the same way that the wheel is turned. Tillers are moved in the opposite direction of the course you want to go.