Sailing Terms: The Painter

 

The Painter

When you’re learning to sail, it’s not just about wind and waves — it’s also about getting comfortable with the lingo! One term you’ll hear again and again is “painter.” 🚤

👉 A painter is simply the rope attached to the bow (front) of a small boat or dinghy. It’s used to:

• Tie the boat up to a dock or pontoon

• Tow the boat behind another vessel

Just like a bow line on a tender, the painter makes it easy to secure your craft without scrambling for random bits of rope. Most sailors choose a rope that floats, and on boats with a propeller it’s wise to keep the painter shorter than the propeller depth to avoid it getting tangled. Wikipedia

Learn more sailing vocabulary on our glossary 👉 https://pmrsailing.uk/sailing-lessons/Sailing-Terms.html

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