helmsman
Vessel's wheel operator
A helmsman is the person who steers a ship, operating the helm or wheel.
The term extends to anyone who guides or directs an organization or enterprise: He served as helmsman of the company through turbulent years.
The figurative use suggests steady guidance through difficulty, as a ship's helmsman navigates through storms.
Boat steerer and commander
- quartermasterOfficer managing military supplies
- boatswainShip's deck petty officer
- captainOne who commands
- skipperVessel's commanding officer
mate · watch · oarsman · rower · bowman · lookout · midshipman · able seaman
Boat steering lever
- rudderPivoting stern blade
- wheelRotating circular frame
- coursePlanned path forward
- navigateGuide through terrain
maneuver · bearing · trim · tack · gybe · starboard · port · heading
Device showing cardinal directions
- chartData shown visually
- sextantMaritime angular measurement device
- astrolabeAncient altitude-measuring instrument
- latitudeGeographic or personal freedom
longitude · waypoint · celestial · nautical · currents · tides · dead reckoning · passage
Leader or instruction book
- directionWay something faces
- destinyPredetermined course of events
- fatePredetermined course of events
- steerDirect movement or castrated bull
course · journey · leader · pilot · charting · vision · steady · ship of state
Large pleasure vessel
- shipSeagoing transport vessel
- sloopOne-masted fore-and-aft rigger
- ketchTwo-masted fore-and-aft vessel
- schoonerMulti-masted sailing craft
catamaran · trimaran · dinghy · galley · trireme · longship · dhow · junk
Authoritative instruction given
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- decisionSettled course of action
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
steady hand · cool head · experience · vigilance · trustworthy · reliable · calm · seasoned
coxswain
Boat steerer and commander
- quartermasterOfficer managing military supplies
- boatswainShip's deck petty officer
- captainOne who commands
skipper · mate · watch · oarsman · rower · bowman · lookout · midshipman · able seaman · deck hand
tiller
Boat steering lever
navigate · maneuver · bearing · trim · tack · gybe · starboard · port · heading · conn
compass
Device showing cardinal directions
- chartData shown visually
- sextantMaritime angular measurement device
- astrolabeAncient altitude-measuring instrument
latitude · longitude · waypoint · celestial · nautical · currents · tides · dead reckoning · passage · plotting
guide
Leader or instruction book
steer · course · journey · leader · pilot · charting · vision · steady · ship of state
yacht
Large pleasure vessel
schooner · catamaran · trimaran · dinghy · galley · trireme · longship · dhow · junk · sampan
command
Authoritative instruction given
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- decisionSettled course of action
judgment · steady hand · cool head · experience · vigilance · trustworthy · reliable · calm · seasoned · veteran
- nauticalanchor, anchor chain, anchors, boat, boats
- marinerscaptain, sea captain, ship captain, boat captain, skipper
- maritime jobssailor, captain, first mate, seaman, fisherman
- maritime travelerssailor, captain, passenger, crew, navigator
- navigatorsnavigators, navigator, pathfinders, wayfinders, guides
- sailorscaptain, sailor, seaman, mariner, skipper