Sailing Reference

Engines and Systems

Propulsion, electrical, plumbing, and onboard system vocabulary used in ownership and maintenance.

Level
foundation
Read time
7 min
Sources
1
Engines and Systems shown as a compact visual reference.
Knowledge category

Engines and Systems: facts

  • Propulsion, electrical, plumbing, and domestic systems should be described separately.

  • Inboard, outboard, shaft, saildrive, and propeller terms identify how thrust reaches the water.

  • Seacocks and through-hulls are hull openings; their condition is a survey priority.

  • Battery, alternator, shore power, and inverter terms describe different parts of the electrical path.

Onboard System Groups

Inboard / Outboard

Engine mounted inside the hull or externally on the transom/bracket.

Shaft / Saildrive

Drive arrangements that transfer inboard engine power to the propeller.

Seacock / Through-hull

Hull fittings and valves for water intake, discharge, instruments, or drains.

Battery bank / Shore power / Inverter

Storage, dock supply, and conversion parts of the electrical system.

Engines and Systems terms

Each link opens the exact terminology entry with a definition, example, aliases, and related terms.

AlternatorAn engine-driven generator that charges batteries while the engine is running.Battery bankA group of batteries wired to supply onboard electrical loads.Bilge pumpA pump used to remove water from the lowest interior part of the hull.Cutless bearingA water-lubricated bearing that supports a propeller shaft near the hull exit.Freshwater tankA tank that stores potable or domestic water for onboard use.GalleyThe cooking and food preparation area onboard.HeadThe marine toilet or the compartment containing it.Holding tankA tank that stores toilet waste until it can be pumped out or legally discharged.ImpellerA flexible pump rotor that moves cooling water through many marine engines.InboardAn engine mounted inside the hull, usually driving a shaft or saildrive.InverterA device that converts battery DC power into AC power for household-style loads.OutboardA self-contained engine mounted outside the transom or on a bracket.PropellerThe rotating blades that convert engine power into thrust through the water.Raw-water coolingA system that uses outside water to remove engine heat directly or through a heat exchanger.SaildriveA compact drive leg through the hull that connects an inboard engine to a propeller.SeacockA valve mounted on a through-hull fitting to control water entering or leaving the boat.ShaftThe rotating metal rod that transfers engine power to the propeller.Shore powerElectrical power supplied from the dock to the boat.Through-hullA fitting that passes through the hull for water intake, discharge, instruments, or drains.Zinc anodeA sacrificial metal anode fitted to reduce galvanic corrosion of underwater metals.
References

Sources and Method Notes

Boatpedia reference

Boatpedia terminology reference

Marine vocabulary reference for definitions, aliases, examples, and related terms.

Open source
Next reference
OwnershipBoat Survey Prep Checklistworking / 9 minA survey prep checklist turns model data, documents, common issues, and ownership records into questions for a viewing or pre-purchase survey.Sailing ReferenceHull and Deckfoundation / 6 minThe main physical parts of a boat, from underwater structure to cockpit and steering gear.