It is indicated with a.

Bow of boat port side. The front of a boat is called the bow while the rear of a boat is called the stern. A trick to remember which side port and starboard each refer to. Bow and stern of a ship starboard side and port side of a boat draft waterline wake pfd hull lifejacket pleasure craft vessel under sail.

The left side of a boat when youre seated and looking forward. The widest part of the boat on the starboard side is called the starboard beam. The common abbreviation PS.

The usage derives from the tradition of having the bow rowers oar be on the starboard or right side of the boat. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations National Ocean Service the terms port and starboard are used instead of left and right because they are always fixed as relates to the ships bow. It is indicated with a red navigation light at night or during heavy fog.

In Cornish pilot gigs the bow rowers oar is on the port left side and therefore bow side refers to the port side of the boat. The port surface of the vessels hull that is located behind the beam is called the port quarter. The right side of a boat when youre seated and looking forward.

When youre facing forward toward the bow the port side is to your left and the starboard side is to your right. Because port and starboard are not relative to the observer like left and right would be there is never any confusion while on board about which direction you are facing or headed. Starboard is the corresponding word for the right side of a boat.

Port is the left side of the boat while facing forward. When looking towards the bow the left-hand side of the boat is the port side. If you are standing at the rear of the boat looking forward or to the bow the entire right side of the boat is the starboard side and the entire left side is the port side.