The side of the boat that rests against a dock is called what?

• A. Port
• B. Starboard
• C. Side to
• D. Amidships

Answer: (C)

The important idea is how we name the side of a boat that’s pressed up against something else, like a dock. When a vessel is tied up, the side that’s alongside the dock is described as the “side to” the dock. That term directly communicates which hull side is in contact, which is exactly what you need to know for mooring and securing lines.

Port and starboard are left and right sides of the boat, respectively, but they don’t tell you which side is touching the dock since that depends on how the boat is oriented. Amidships refers to the middle portion of the boat, not a side. So the phrase “side to” is the best fit because it specifically means the side of the boat that’s alongside the dock.