Design Squad
What Are the Parts of a Sailboat?
Clip | 1m 2sVideo has Closed Captions
See how the different parts of a sailboat work together to move and steer the boat.
See how the different parts of a sailboat work together to move and steer the boat.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Design Squad
What Are the Parts of a Sailboat?
Clip | 1m 2sVideo has Closed Captions
See how the different parts of a sailboat work together to move and steer the boat.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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A sail harnesses wind to propel a boat.
A large mainsail is supported vertically by a mast and horizontally by a boom that can rotate 180 degrees to catch the wind.
A smaller, fixed sail called a jib adds more power.
The hull is the body of the boat, and sailboats can have more than one.
Multi-hulled boats are more stable because their hulls are narrow and spread apart, so they're harder to flip over.
A keel is a heavy blade on the bottom of the hull that prevents the boat from moving sideways.
When the wind pushes against the sail, the flat side of the keel pushes against the water, resisting the sideways motion to keep the boat moving forward.
Smaller sailboats have a centerboard, which is a keel that can be raised or lowered.
And a rudder and tiller steer the boat.
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