Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index Seamanship is the art of operating a ship or boat. It involves a knowledge of Navigation practices The rules and regulations of navigation Deck seamanship Marlinspike seamanship, including the use of line and knots Watchstanding Sails Engines Communications Weather Small boat handling and other subjects. Progression in Seamanship In the days before mechanical propulsion, a sailor was expected to be able to "hand, and reef, and steer." Training is more formal in modern merchant marines and navies, but still covers the basics. On a man o'war, the bosun, or boatswain, is the petty officer responsible for managing the handling of the ship. The quartermaster is responsible for maintaining the helm of a man o'war. This article is from Wikipedia. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.