Here is a glossary of terms to help explain some of the references in this blog. Most of these pertain to river travel. Hope this helps or is at least entertaining. 

* A followed by a number e.g. “A 15!” or “A 20!” - the number of barges cabled together moving as one. A 15 is a 3-wide by 5-long group of barges; A 20 is 4X5

Barge - A 195’ long X 35’ wide X 14’ deep vessel used for moving goods on the river. Moves by being pushed by a tow; usually multiple barges are cabled together

*Bilge beer - beer kept cool in the bilge (compartment under the floorboards) when there is no room in the refrigerator. The cooler water flowing under the boat keeps the beer serviceably cool.

*Boat Dinner - cheese and crackers (sometimes with cut fruit or vegetables) served when the galley cook is too tired to cook and/or clean up after

Can - green buoy kept to starboard when moving downbound; kept to port when moving upbound. So named because they look like big green cans floating in the water.

Chamber - part of the lock where you ride up or down. Large doors at one end open allowing you to enter, then they close and the water level rises or falls, and then large doors open at the other end allowing you to exit

Chart - map used on water

Deadhead - a log floating vertically in the water making it barely visible above the water

Downbound - moving with the current

Dredge - digging sand from the bottom of the river to keep the channel at least 10’ deep

*Hug them cans - stay as close to the green cans as possible to get out of the way of a barge

*Gotta be somewhere - what is said when we can’t find something on the boat - Used at least thrice daily

Kts - knots - a measurement of speed. Dagny averages 5 knots which is about 5.7mph

Lock - A place next to a dam that allows vessels to safely move from one water height to another

LDB - left descending bank - left side of the river when traveling downbound

* Making Hydro - used when the solar panels are perfectly placed for maximum battery charging. First coined aboard our former sailboat, TimeMachine

MM - mile marker - denoted on the charts to measure distances

Nun - red conical buoy kept to port downbound; kept to starboard upbound. So named because of their similarity to pointy, nun-like hats.

Pass on the One - pass a tow port to port

Pass on the Two - pass a tow starboard to starboard

Port - left side of the boat

RDB - right descending bank - right side of the river when traveling downbound

Shoaling - a shallow area in the river, usually from shifting sands

Snag - Dead tree or large branch floating in the water

S.O.G. - speed over ground; how fast the boat is moving relative to the bottom of the river beneath us. (There is also Course Made Good which is boat speed relative to our intended destination - used more often when sailing as opposed to motoring)

Starboard - right side of the boat

Tow - a large boat used to push barges in the river

Upbound - moving against the current

VHF - radio used to communicate with lock masters, tow captains, or other mariners nearby

*Walk the Dog - empty the composting head

* Used on Dagny exclusively. All other terms are universally used when traveling on water