What Is a Gunnel on a Boat? Gunwale Meaning and Location
A gunnel, also spelled gunwale, is the top edge of a boat’s hull where the hull meets the deck, running from bow to stern on both sides.
I write about boats and cruises the way I plan my own trips: by going to the cruise line, the port authority or the state boating agency before anything else. When I answer a question here, whether it’s what a fare type includes, how to print luggage tags, where to park at a port, or how a trailer gets registered without a title, I read the operator’s own pages and the official rules first, and I note the month I checked every price, because these change with the season.
A gunnel, also spelled gunwale, is the top edge of a boat’s hull where the hull meets the deck, running from bow to stern on both sides.
The three ships that Columbus sailed on in 1492 were the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. Here are their real names, sizes, crews and fates.
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The Destination crab boat capsized in the Bering Sea on February 11, 2017, killing all six crew after overloading, freezing spray and an open hatch.
November is a good time to cruise the Caribbean: hurricane risk drops sharply after October, fares stay low, and ships stay quiet until Thanksgiving.
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Freedom Boat Club cost in 2026: how much you pay in initiation ($499 to $8,000) and monthly dues ($180 to $600), plus when membership is worth it.
Check the Galveston ferry wait time on Houston TranStar, by phone or by webcam, and read live Port Aransas ferry waits before you drive to the landing.
Aft means toward the stern, the back of a boat, and it is one of a dozen terms that make boat listings and dock instructions readable.
The US 5th Fleet has no fixed size, usually 15 to 25 major warships, while the 7th Fleet runs 50 to 70 ships and the Royal Navy lists 60.