Red and Green Lights
After dark a red light is carried on the port side and a green light on the starboard side of all vessels in motion. If you can remember that port wine is red, and that the port light is of the same color, you will always be able to tell in which direction an approaching craft is pointing by the relative location of the lights.
"When both lights you see ahead,
Port your helm and show your red!
Green to green and red to red,
You're all right, and go ahead!"
If you are a real landlubber, the verse quoted will be of little service, because you will not know how to port your helm. In fact, you probably will not know where to look for the helm or what it looks like; but only a few of our readers are out-and-out landlubbers, and most of them know that the helm is in some way connected with the steering apparatus.
The rudder is the movable piece of board at the stern of the boat by means of which the craft is guided. The rudder is moved by a lever, ropes, or a wheel.
The tiller is the lever for moving the rudder, or the ropes used for the same purpose ([Fig. 123]).
Fig. 123.—Helm—Lever, or stick, for tiller.
The wheel is the wheel whose spokes end in handles on the outer edge of the rim, or felly, and it is used for moving the rudder ([Fig. 124]).