Canoe Nomenclature

Beam: The width of the canoe, typically provided in three measurements: waterline, gunwale and maximum width.
Bow: The front end of the canoe.
Carry Handle: handle used to carry the canoe, you can use the deck also.
Carry Thwart or Yoke: ergonomically curved thwarts designed to make carrying canoes easier on your shoulders. Often includes two yoke pads for more comfort.
Chine: a sharp change in angle in the cross section of a hull.
Deck: wood pieces fitted between gunwales at the extreme canoe ends.
Draft: portion of the hull below waterline.
Freeboard: portion of the hull between gunwales and waterline.
Flotation: Buoyant material set into the ends (or other panels) of a canoe to make it float if upset.
Foot-brace: A wood or metal bar against which a paddler braces his or her feet. Foot-braces help secure the paddler in the canoe and so add to the efficiency of his or her strokes.
Gunwale: Trim around the Shear-line to stiffen hull and mount thwarts, seats, carry handles, decks.
Hogged: A canoe with a bent-in keel or keel-line.
Hull: body of canoe, symmetrical hull (the shape of the canoe is identical fore and aft) The widest point of a asymmetrical canoe is not at center.
Initial/Primary Stability: Steadiness when upright and paddled under calm conditions.
Inwale: the inner part of the Gunwale.
Inwale Slots: Machined into the inwale to offer an alternative aesthetic look & provide tying points, reduces weight a small amount and allows water to drain when canoe is inverted.
Keel-line: Center-line on bottom of canoe, extending from bow to stern. Sometimes with a keel strip, sometimes without, depending on construction.
Kneeling Thwart: offers an alternative solo paddling position.

Leeward: A sheltered place out of the wind. Also, the direction toward which the wind is blowing.
Outwale: the outer part of the Gunwale.
Painters: Ropes attached to the bow and stern of a canoe used for lining or pulling.
Planking: flat sections of wood forming the hull, fitted lengthwise over ribs, in wood canoes.
Ribs: curved pieces of wood to attach planking, forming cross-sections of hull, in wood canoes.
Rocker: viewed from the side of the canoe, rocker is the amount of curve along the keel-line or bottom of the hull.
Scupper: cutout in a deck to allow water to drain out.
Secondary/Final stability: The resistance to capsizing in wind, waves or lean.
Shear-line: top edge extending around the canoe hull from bow to stern.
Skid plate: A piece of thick Kevlar® that is glued to the bottom ends of a canoe. Prevents abrasion of the skin of the canoe.
Stem: The most extended part of the bow or stern, ascending from the keel to the deck.
Stern: The rear end of the canoe.
Thwart: crosswise supports between gunwales which help canoe maintain shape

Tracking: The ease with which a canoe can be paddled along a straight line.
Tumblehome: The inward curve of the sides of a canoe above the waterline.

Waterline: The place to which water comes on the hull of the canoe when it is set in the water.