Cruiser Spanish
Somethings are very easy and some are downright difficult when it comes to cruising in Mexico. If you don't know Spanish or your Spanish doesn't include nautical and mechanical terms it can be frustrating. The following is a list of frequently used terms that may help.
Click here to download the .pdf of just about every engine term translated. Other references include the valuable asset to any boat "Spanish for Cruisers" by Kathy Parsons, the Glossary of Nautical Terms: English-Spanish published by the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, or the English-Spanish Maritime Glossary provided by the University of Coruña in Spain. In addition WordReference.com is the best site for translating. It provides the most accurate and comprehensive translations as well as multiple definitions with examples.
| Boat | El barco |
| Sailboat | El velero |
| Catamaran | El catamarán |
| Trimaran | El trimarán |
| Motor yacht | El yate de motor |
| Dingy | El bote |
Sailing
| Sloop | El balandro |
| Yawl | La yole |
| Ketch | La queche |
| Schooner | La goleta |
| Sail | La vela |
| Genoa | El genovés |
| Jib | El foque |
| Mainsail | La mayor |
| Mizzen | La mesana |
| Spinnaker | El balón |
| Tack of sail | El puño de amura |
| Clew of sail | El puño de escota |
| Head of sail | El puño de driza |
| To reef | Rizar |
Rigging
| Stay | El estay |
| Forestay | Estay de proa |
| Backstay | La burda |
| Roller furler | El enrollador |
| Shroud | El obenque |
| Spreader | La cruceta |
| Turnbuckle | El tensor |
| Chainplate | El cadenote |
| Shackle | El grillete |
| Block | El moton |
| Sheave | La roldana |
| Halyard | La driza |
| Sheet | La escota |
Engines & Mechanical
| Watermaker | La desalinizadora |
| Outboard motor | El motor fuera de borda |
| Pump | La bomba |
| Bilge pump | La bomba de achique |
| Spark plug | La bujía |
| Belt | La banda |
| Hose | La manguera |
| Starter | El arranquedor |
| Alternator | El alternador |
| Wire | El alambre |
| Aluminum | El aluminio |
| Bronze | El bronce |
| Brass | El latón |
| Stainless steel | El acero inoxidable |
| Screw/bolt | El tornillo |
| Bulb | El foco |
| Gasket | La junta |
| Motor Oil | El aceite de motor |
| Propeller | La hélice |
Anchoring
| Anchorage | El anclaje |
| Anchor light | La luz de fondeo |
| Anchor | El ancla |
| Anchor windlass | El molinete |
| Anchor chain | La cadena de la ancla |
| Anchor line | La cuerda de la ancla |
| Capstan | El cabrestante |
| Sea anchor | La ancla flotante |
Hull
| Beam | El pantoque |
| Draft | El calado |
| Deck | La cubierta |
| Cockpit | El puente de mando |
| Companionway | La escalerilla |
| Bottom | El fondo |
| Antifouling paint | La pintura anti-incrustante |
| Through-hull | El pasacasco |
| Keel | La quilla |
| Hull | El casco |
| Rudder | El timón |
| Port | El babor |
| Starboard | El estribor |
| Bow | La proa |
| Stern | La popa |
| Centerboard | La orza |
Deck Gear
| Davits | El pescante |
| Stanchion | El candelero |
| Hatch | La escotilla |
| Cleat | La cornamusa |
| Lifelines | Los guardamancebos |
| Steering wheel | El volante |
| Tiller | La caña |
| Winch | El torno |
Interior
| Bunk | La litera |
| Bulkhead | El mamparo |
| Cabin | El camarote |
| Forecastle | El castillo de proa |
| Head | El baño |
Construction
| Fiberglass | La fibra de vidrio |
| Carbon fiber | La fibra de carbono |
| Paint | La pintura |
| Steel | El acero |
| Cement | El cemento |
| Epoxy | El epoxi |
| Wood | La madera |
| Mahogany | La caoba |
| Oak | El roble |
| Teak | La teca |
| Plywood | El triplay |
Underway
| Ahead | Avante por la proa |
| Astern | Atrás por la popa |
| Amidships | El medio del barco |
| Closehauled | Barloventeado |
| Jibe | Trasluchar |
| Leeward | A sotavento |
| In irons | Proa encantada |
| On the bow | Por la amura |
| On the quarter | Por la aleta |
| Reaching | Descuartar |
| Running | Viento en popa |
| To tack | Virar |
| Watch | La guardia |
| Windward | A barlovento |
| Turn left | Doble a la izquierda |
| Turn right | Doble a la derecha |
| Straight ahead | Directo de frente |
| Stop! | ¡Alto! |
| Faster | Más rápido |
| Slower | Más despacio |
| Can you tow us? | ¿Puede remolcarnos? |
Navigation
| Compass | La brújula |
| Dead reckoning | La situación de estima |
| Lead line | El escandallo |
| Offshore | Alta mar |
| A fix | Un situación |
| Onshore | En la costa |
| Depthsounder | El sondador |
| Speedometer | El velocímetro |
| High tide | La marea alta |
| Low tide | La marea baja |
Miscellaneous
| Oars | Los remos |
| Oarlocks | Las chumaceras |
| Lifejackets | Los salvavidas |
| Flare | La luz de bengala |
| Flashlight | La linterna |
| Deep | Muy hondo |
| Not deep | Poco hondo |
| Dock | El muelle |
| Boatyard | Varadero |
| Knot (in rope) | El nudo |
Fishing
| Rod | La caña |
| Reel | El carrete |
| Line | La piola |
| More drag | Mas freno |
| Leader | El empate |
| Swivel | El destorcedor |
| Hook | El anzuelo |
| Gaff | El gancho |
| Bait | La carnada |
| Troll | Trolear |
| Tangled | Enredado |
| Slack | Floja |
| Turtle | La caguama |
| Shrimp | El camarón |
| Lobster | La langosta |
| Whale | La ballena |
| Shark | El tiburón |
| Marlin | El marlín |
| Sailfish | La pez vela |
| Dolphin | El delfín |
| Yellowtail | El jurel |
| Porpoise | La tonina |
| Grouper | La garropa |
| Rock bass | La cabrilla |
| Skipjack | El bonito |
| Crab | El cangrejo |
Thanks to Cindy of La Paz Yachts for her help with this useful information!