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Boating Glossary of Terms

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daggerboard: A keel-like device that is manually raised and lowered vertically without using a hinge.
davit: A small crane used to hoist a boat or dinghy or other object.
day sailing: To go sailing for a few hours on a small, open sailboat.
daysailer: Small, open sailboat sometimes raced or short-distanced cruised, primarily used for recreational sailing.
dead ahead: Directly ahead of the bow.
deadrise: Degrees of V-shape hull angle measured at the transom of planing powerboats.
deck boat: Blunt-bowed power boat generally characterized by an open deck and generous passenger seating.
deep-V: A hull shape characterized by a sharp deadrise, typically more than 20 degrees.
depth sounder: Electronic sonar device that displays water depth.
deviation: The amount of error from displaying magnetic north in a boat's compass caused by the boat's own magnetic interference.
differential GPS (DGPS): A highly accurate global positioning system (GPS) that utilizes a differential radio beacon and receiver to compute and correct the error of all visible satellites sending data to a conventional GPS unit.
dinette: A small dining area usually consisting of a table and facing bench seats; it can often be converted into a berth.
dinghy: A small sailboat often raced that can be sailed on and off a beach. Also a tender, either rowed or equipped with power, used to go to and from a larger vessel.
direct drive: An engine configuration in which the drive shaft runs in a straight driveline through the bottom of the hull.
displacement: The weight of water displaced by a hull. Also, a type of hull that smoothly displaces water as opposed to riding on top of it.
displacement hull: A hull shape designed to run through water rather than on top of it in the manner of a planing hull.
downrigger: A gunwale-mounted weighted line device used for deep-water trolling.
draft: Vertical distance a boat penetrates the water.
drogue: A parachute-like sea anchor.
dry weight: Weight of the boat without fuel and fresh water.
dual-console boat: A type of boat with twin dashboards separated by a centerline walk-through deck leading to the bow.

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