Garboard Meaning in Sailing

A garboard consists of the very first row of planks (strakes) on either side of the keel at the bottom of a boat. This is the lowest part of the hull and is responsible for providing significant structural strength to the junction of the keel and the sides. In traditional wooden construction, the garboard seam is the most difficult to keep watertight because of the immense pressure it faces. One specific example involves a shipwright carefully fitting a thick oak garboard plank to a new wooden hull. This area is often where the ‘garboard plug’ or drain plug is located to let water out when the boat is on land. Because it is the deepest part of the hull, it is the first area to be checked for leaks or structural damage. Proper maintenance of the garboard ensures the foundational integrity of the entire vessel. It is a critical component of the boat’s ‘backbone’ and overall seaworthiness.