Gunwale

The gunwale, pronounced "gunnel" to rhyme with "tunnel", is a nautical term describing the top edge of the side of a boat.

Related Topics:
Nautical term - Boat

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Wale is the same word as the skin injury, a weal, which too, forms a ridge. Originally the gunwale was the "Gun ridge" on a sailing warship. This represented the strengthening wale or structural band added to the design of the ship, at and above the level of a gun deck. It was designed to accommodate the stresses imposed by the use of artillery.

Related Topics:
Weal - Gun - Sailing - Warship - Deck - Artillery

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In wooden boats, the gunwale remained, mounted inboard of the sheer strake, regardless of the use of gunnery. In modern boats, it is the top edge of the side where there is usually some form of stiffening.

Related Topics:
Sheer - Strake

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On a canoe, the gunwale is typically the widened edge at the top of the side of the boat, where the edge is reinforced with wood, plastic or aluminum.

Related Topics:
Canoe - Wood - Plastic - Aluminum

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On a row boat (especially in sports), the gunwale is usually referred to as the saxboard.

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