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FAIR - To adjust to proper shape or size.

FAIRLEAD -A fitting used to change the direction of a line without chafing.

FAIRWAY BUOY – A buoy that marls landfall; the entrance to a channel, or the center of a channel

FALL - The hauling part of the tackle to which power is applied.

FALL OFF – The movement when a ship is steered or blown off course to leeward

FAKE - One circle of a coil or rope. To coil or arrange a rope ornamentally with each fake flat, or almost flat, on the deck, usually in a circle or figure-of-eight pattern.

FAKE DOWN – To coil down a rope so that each fake of rope overlaps the next one underneath, and hence the rope is clear for running

FAST - Said of an object that is secured to another.

FANTAIL - The area of the upper deck of a ship that is nearest the stern.  More specifically, a rounded afterdeck that overhangs the propeller and rudder.

FATHOM - Six feet.

FEATHERING - Sailing upwind so close to the wind that the forward edge of the sail is stalling or luffing, reducing the power generated by the sail and the angle of heel.

FEATHER SPRAY - Foaming water that rises upward immediately before stem of any craft being propelled through water.

FENDER - A cushion, placed between boats, or between a boat and a pier, to prevent damage.

FETCH - The distance that wind and seas (waves) can travel toward land without being blocked. In areas without obstructions the wind and seas can build to great strength, but in areas such as sheltered coves and harbors the wind and seas can be quite calm. Fetch is also used to describe the act of sailing to a location accurately and without having to tack.

FID - Similar to a Marlin Spike, but usually larger, and made of wood. Used in the same way as a Marlin Spike but usually for larger rope and cable. See Marlin Spike.

FIDDLE - A small rail on tables and counters used to keep objects from sliding off when heeled or in heavy seas.

FIFE RAIL - A rail around the mast with hole for belaying pins

FIGUREHEAD - Decorative dummy found on sailboats. See CAPTAIN

FIGURE EIGHT KNOT - A knot in the form of a figure eight, placed in the end of a line to prevent the line from passing through a grommet or a block.

FILL - The thread that runs across sail cloth from edge to edge.

FITTING OUT – The process of readying for use after a period of inactivity

FIX - the determined boat's position found by bearings or astronomical position

FLAG - Any of a number of signaling pennants or ensigns, designed to be flown upside down, in the wrong place, in the wrong order, or at an inappropriate time.

FLAKE - To coil a rope so that each coil, on two opposite sides, lies on deck alongside previous coil; so allowing rope to run freely

FLAME ARRESTER - A safety device, such as a metal mesh protector, to prevent an exhaust backfire from causing an explosion; operates by absorbing heat.

FLARE - The outward curve of a vessel's sides near the bow. A distress signal.

FLASHLIGHT - Tubular metal container used on shipboard for storing dead batteries prior to their disposal.

FLEETING - Shifting the moving block of a tackle from one place of attachment to another place farther along. Moving a man, or men, from one area of work to area next to it.

FLEMISH DOWN – To coil flat on deck, each fake outside of the other beginning in the middle and all close together

FLOOD - An incoming current associated with a rising tide

FLOORBOARDS - The surface of the cockpit on which the crew stand.

FLOTSAM - Floating items of a ship or its cargo at sea, floating debris.

FLUKE - The palm of an anchor.

FLUKE - the digging end of the anchor; also wind irregularity

FLY – The horizontal length of a flag

FLYING BRIDGE - An added set of controls above the level of the normal control station for better visibility. Usually open, but may have a collapsible top for shade.

FO’C’SLE / FORE CASTLE - The extreme forward compartment of the vessel.

FOLLOWING SEA - An overtaking sea that comes from astern. The Letter “D”.

FOOT - Bottom edge of sail.

FORCE 8 - gale force wind on the Beaufort Wind Scale

FORE - The forward part of the vessel

FORE AND AFT - In a line parallel to the keel.

FORECASTLE - The section of the upper deck of a ship located at the bow forward of the foremast

FOREDECK - The forward part of a boat's main deck

FOREFOOT – The point where the stem meets the keel

FOREMAST - The mast in the forepart of a vessel, nearest the bow.

FORESAIL - is set on the foremast of a schooner or the lowest square sail on the foremast of Square riggers

FORESTAY - Wire from top of mast to bow.

FOREPEAK - A compartment in the bow of a small boat.

FORE-REACHING – The capacity of a boat to carry forward way or coast due to it’s momentum

FORE-TRIANGLE – The area formed between the masthead, the base of the mast at the deck level, and the lower end of the forestay

FORWARD - Toward the bow of the boat.

FOTHERING - Closing small leaks in a vessel's underwater body by drawing a sail, filled with oakum, underneath her.

FOULED - Any piece of equipment that is jammed or entangled, or dirtied.

FOUNDER - When a vessel fills with water and sinks.

FOURTH -CLASS LIBERTY - Watching the shore when confined to the ship

FRAMES - The wooden ribs that form the shape of the hull.

FREEBOARD - The minimum vertical distance from the surface of the water to the gunwale.

FREEZING THE BALLS OFF A BRASS MONKEY - A brass monkey is a brass triangle, which is put on the ground and used to keep cannonballs in a neat pile or pyramid beside a gun. When the weather gets very cold the brass triangle contracts more than the iron and causes the cannonballs to roll off, hence the saying.

FRESHENING - Wind getting stronger

FRESHEN THE NIP - To veer or haul on a rope, slightly, so that a part subject to nip or chafe is moved away and a fresh part takes its place.

FRONTS - Used in meteorology to describe boundaries between hot and cold air masses. This is typically where bad weather is found.

FUEL - Sailboats without auxiliary engines do not require fuel as such, but an adequate supply of a pale yellow carbonated beverage with a 10 percent to 12 percent alcohol content is essential to the operation of all recreational craft.

FULL KEEL - A keel that runs the length of the boat. Full keels have a shallower draft than fin keels.

FULLY BATTENED - A sail having battens that run the full horizontal length of the sail.

FULL AND BY - Sailing close-hauled with all sails drawing.

FURL - To fold or roll a sail and secure it to its main support.

FURNITURE - The essential fittings of a ship, such as masts, davits, derricks, winches, etc.

FUTTOCK - A curved or vertical timber that when paired with a floor or additional futtocks makes the frame of a wooden ship.